The Spanish edition of the Business & Society Symposium marks a new milestone in expanding a successful initiative developed by UCB and the Solvay Brussels School of Economics and Management at the Université libre de Bruxelles. Originally designed to bring together business leaders, civil society, policymakers, and academics for practical, case-based dialogue on how organisations can jointly tackle complex societal challenges, the Symposium has become a reference for understanding how multi-stakeholder collaboration contributes to sustainable and inclusive progress.

Bringing this format to Spain is especially timely. Spain faces pressing environmental, social and economic transformations — from demographic shifts and urban governance challenges to accelerated energy transition, climate adaptation demands, and evolving public expectations of business responsibility. In this context, conversations that explore how diverse actors can align purpose, resources and governance are not only relevant but essential. Multi-stakeholder collaboration offers a pathway to build shared understanding, mobilise collective action, and generate societal impact in a way that reflects both local needs and global sustainability agendas.