AMPO, ZUNIBAL and BAYER, for their promotion of VIRALGEN, among the winners at Basque Business Night, which recognises Javier Ormazabal as Best Entrepreneur 2024
The “Business Innovation” award goes jointly to Danobatgroup SC and Zunibal SL; the “Made in Euskadi” award goes to Ampo SC; and the “Euskal Makila” award goes to Bayer AG for its commitment to the Basque economy through its promotion of Viralgen SL
Javier Ormazabal Echevarria, President and CEO of Velatia, Best Basque Entrepreneur 2024
The 34th edition of Basque Business Night has recognised the business career of Javier Ormazabal Echevarria, President and CEO of Velatia, as “Best Basque Entrepreneur 2024”. The awards jury also highlighted the work of Ampo with the “Made in Euskadi” award, for promoting the Basque industrial seal in international markets by exporting 95% of its production; and Danobatgroup SC and Zunibal SL with the joint “Business Innovation” award, in recognition of two business models that, in a complementary manner, embody innovation as a strategic pillar. The “Euskal Makila” was awarded to Bayer AG, which has driven the rapid growth and international expansion of Viralgen since its integration into the German multinational.
Best Basque Entrepreneur: Javier Ormazabal Echevarria, President and CEO of Velatia
Based at the Zamudio/Derio Campus of the Basque Technology Park, Velatia is now a family-owned industrial and technology group comprising Ormazabal, Ikusi, Supsonik, Idistek, Smarmec, Stratenergy, Trebide, Wec, Zeata and Gosa, companies that offer advanced technological solutions, mainly focused on the decarbonisation of the planet, digitalisation, connectivity and communications security, with a firm technological vocation that has underpinned its growth for almost six decades.
The group has 22 strategically distributed manufacturing centres and a Research and Technology Centre (CIT), considered one of the most advanced in the world in its field. The group is now an international benchmark in electrical distribution networks, a key sector in the energy transition. Its solutions contribute to modernising electrical infrastructures, reducing maintenance costs and moving towards a safer, more efficient and environmentally friendly energy model.
Javier Ormazabal’s career at Velatia has been marked mainly by the following three factors: a desire to excel, growth and internationalisation. One of the most notable features of Javier Ormazabal’s leadership is his responsible vision of the company, focused on sustainability, innovation and good corporate governance. Velatia has been a pioneer in integrating ESG (environmental, social and governance) criteria into its business strategy.
Made in the Basque Country: Ampo
Ampo began as a small foundry in 1964, but soon began to grow thanks to the quality of its stainless steel and alloy parts.
Throughout its history, Ampo has been chosen time and again to participate in the world’s most demanding industrial projects, where technology makes all the difference. In the field of energy transition, the cornerstone of its future diversification strategy, Ampo leads the development of solutions for hydrogen, carbon capture and biofuels.
Business Innovation: Zunibal
Established in Derio in 1995, Zunibal has positioned itself as a leading company in the field of innovation and the development of technological solutions dedicated to sustainable fishing and marine monitoring. Specialising in the design and industrialisation of products and services based on its own research, it excels in the manufacture of satellite buoys for fishing fleets that contribute to the conservation of marine resources.
R&D&I has been one of the main drivers behind the company’s growth strategy. In the field of innovation, the Biscayan company has developed Fish Concentration Devices (FCDs) using compostable and biodegradable materials, a solution that reduces waste in the sea without compromising operational efficiency, in collaboration with the Azti Marine and Food Research Centre.
Euskal Makila: Bayer AG for promoting Viralgen as a world leader in gene therapies
Bayer’s support has been a decisive factor in the growth and international expansion of Viralgen, a biotechnology company based in Guipúzcoa that specialises in the production of adeno-associated viral vectors (AAV), a key component in gene therapy development strategies.
It has been five years since Viralgen joined the Bayer ecosystem, enough time to confirm the importance of the operation for the future of the company based at the Donostia Campus of the Euskadi Technology Park. The acquisition has enabled Bayer to significantly expand its innovation base in cell and gene therapy and, at the same time, to boost the development of Viralgen, which has benefited from this symbiotic relationship to consolidate its position as an international leader in gene therapies for treating various rare, ultra-rare and more common diseases thanks to its experience and the industrial and technological investments made by its owner in recent years.
Viralgen offers comprehensive AVV vector manufacturing services from the Basque Country for pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, ranging from preclinical, clinical and commercial production to process development under the Pro10™ platform, industrial scaling and validation, release and quality control in accordance with EMA (European Medicines Agency) and FDA (US Food and Drug Administration) regulations, and MSAT support for process transfer and optimisation.
In addition to combining technological excellence and industrial capacity, Viralgen also addresses the transformation of science into medicine through collaboration with biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies, academic institutions and foundations that develop gene therapies for both rare diseases and more common conditions, such as Parkinson’s disease, congestive heart failure and multiple system atrophy.
