Diana Morant, the Minister of Science and Innovation, spoke during the launch of Activos, the Prensa Ibérica group’s vertical arm focused on economic knowledge. She emphasized that Spain should spur private investment in science, following the example set by the world’s most innovative nations. The event featured leaders from Prensa Ibérica, including Javier Moll, chair of the group; Arantza Sarasola, vice president; Aitor Moll Sarasola, chief executive; Margaritis Schinas, vice president of the European Commission and director of economic information for Prensa Ibérica; and Martí Saballs. Sponsors included Caixabank, Iberdrola, CESA, Aena, Indra, Mapfre, Abanca, Cluster Hafesha, and Grant Thornton, with participation from XTB and Trade View. The gathering highlighted the group’s commitment to economic insight through Activos.
Diana Morant thanked Prensa Ibérica for its regional knowledge initiative. She noted that the world has faced recurring crises and warned against the oversimplification of reality. A clear context is needed to regulate economic information, especially in finance. She pointed to inflation, rising interest rates, and market volatility as challenging conditions, yet noted that current projections show growth in Spain ahead of the European Union average next year. Morant described this moment as a paradigm shift driven by innovation. Since 2020, one in four new jobs has appeared in high-skilled sectors, signaling a move from pursuing talent to cultivating the professionals demanded by a changing economy. She underscored that innovation policy is essential for the future and urged continued private investment in science, aligning with what the world’s most innovative countries do. The minister also stressed the media’s crucial role in generating knowledge and value through information, concluding with congratulations to Prensa Ibérica on its relaunch of assets and to the event sponsors.
Javier Moll, heading the Prensa Ibérica group, described Activos as a flagship example of the group’s steadfast commitment to economic knowledge. He noted that the publication network reaches over 50,000 copies distributed through Spain’s newspapers, including the Spain Newspaper, the Catalonia Newspaper, Valencia’s elevator-EMV, and Information. The executive highlighted the growing influence of business, market, and macroeconomic news across regions such as Alicante and beyond, reinforcing the importance of informed audiences for a modern media landscape. Moll remarked that more than five million investors and three million companies operate across Spain, making ongoing financial literacy essential. He framed Activos as a modern, ambitious, multiplatform initiative designed to educate and disseminate insights about a transforming economy.
He pointed out that informed citizens need constant visibility into economic developments. Activos represents a comprehensive effort to deliver timely information about markets, companies, and economic policy. The goal, Moll explained, is to support a well-informed public and a robust business environment.
Margaritis Schinas, Vice-President of the European Commission and responsible for promoting the European lifestyle, highlighted the importance of economic information in today’s high-inflation era and rising living costs. Economic and financial information matters to investors, society, and citizens alike. He also addressed the online disinformation challenge, noting that a recent European Commission survey found that one in four Spaniards struggles to distinguish truth from falsehood. In response, the Commission has strengthened its Code of Good Practice against disinformation to adapt to the evolving journalistic landscape. Clear, qualified reporting can help the public information field stay transparent and trustworthy.
Schinas affirmed that greater transparency must accompany freedom of expression. While Spain may face fewer exposures than some other regions, alarming events are observed across the European Union. To ensure journalism’s proper functioning, Brussels proposed a European Media Freedom Act to shield media from political interference and control and to safeguard the independence of reporting.
Job creation and simplifying bureaucracy
Martí Saballs, director of Economic Information at Prensa Ibérica, explained that Activos aims to support fair taxation, a labor policy that fosters job creation, and the debureaucratization of the system. He expressed pride in the companies that choose Spain and help build a worldwide Spanish brand. Governments that back business growth and support digital and green transformation are worthy of praise. Saballs also called for closer cooperation between the public and private sectors, conducted with transparency and without uncertainty.
The overarching objective, he said, is to reach a better society—more educated, healthier, and wealthier in meaningful ways. He reminded listeners that the EU represents only a portion of the world’s population and, despite its strengths, must confront global challenges, including conflict. Competing successfully will require effort and strategic collaboration, he noted.