In the context of the Festivity of Saint Thomas Aquinas, patron saint of universities, this morning UCAM held the solemn investiture of José Luis Bonet Ferrer, President of the Spanish Chamber of Commerce, as Doctor Honoris Causa. The colourful caps worn by the UCAM doctors adorned the beautiful church of the Monastery of Los Jerónimos, where Holy Mass was also celebrated, preceding the academic ceremony.  

María Dolores García, UCAM President, chaired the ceremony accompanied by Josefina García, Rector of the University, and Antonio Montoro, Honorary Rector of the institution. The ceremony was attended by civil, military, ecclesiastical and academic authorities, and was also notable for the attendance of prominent representatives from the economic and business world. Gonzalo Wandosell, Dean of the Faculty of Economics and Business, gave the Laudatio, based on the interview he himself did with Mr Bonet Ferrer 34 years ago, previously highlighting the figure of Bonet his son José Luis; Pedro Ferrer, Vice-President of Freixenet, and Javier Collado, General Director of the Fundación Instituto Cameral para la Creación y Desarrollo de la Empresa (Incyde). They all agreed in emphasising José Luis Bonet's vision of the future, ‘always thinking of the common good’ and his involvement with the company – highlighting his fundamental role in Freixenet – as well as his university teaching and his family.

María Dolores García, UCAM President, said that with this honour, UCAM recognises José Luis Bonet's long career, highlighting his leadership in the Spanish Chamber of Commerce, his role in the internationalisation of Freixenet and his defence of the business model based on family values, adding that ‘we are delighted because it is the common goal of the Chamber of Commerce and UCAM to facilitate entrepreneurship and support those who aspire to create companies’.     

María Dolores García: ‘We take great satisfaction in this, since it is the shared objective of the Chamber of Commerce and the UCAM to facilitate entrepreneurship and support those eager to create companies’

José Luis Bonet, a firm advocate of the family business model as a driving force for economic development, social cohesion and sustainability, has expressed his gratitude to UCAM for this distinction, recalling key figures in his personal and professional career, and emphasising the role that the university plays as a bridge between knowledge and society.

The family business: a driving force for economic growth, employment and social well-being

In his inaugural address to the Doctoral Faculty of the UCAM, as part of the programme Approaching the concept, potential and importance of the development of the family business:The Freixenet case, how the passing of the years and different social and economic contexts have shaped the concept of the family business, in which ‘the professionalisation of management and the implementation of modern governance practices are crucial to enable it to compete in larger and more complex markets without losing the family essence’.

Worldwide, as Bonet has indicated, family businesses are estimated to represent approximately 90% of the total business fabric, contributing between 70% and 90% to GDP. In Europe, they constitute the great majority of companies, from 61% in the Netherlands to more than 80% in Spain, Italy or France, ‘being, therefore, an important engine of economic growth, employment and social welfare in general’, he added, emphasising their contribution ‘to a more human capitalism, by demonstrating that it is possible to balance the search for profitability with ethical commitment and the improvement of living conditions in their environment’. 

Bonet: ‘The family business contributes to a more human capitalism, by demonstrating that it is possible to balance the search for profitability with ethical commitment and the improvement of living conditions in their environment’

In his speech, he emphasised the ability of family businesses to balance tradition and innovation, acting as engines of social transformation, ‘as key agents in the construction of a more cohesive and supportive society’, and he advocated for strengthening public-private collaboration and promoting policies that facilitate the internationalisation, digitalisation and sustainability of these companies.

Freixenet, a family business success story 

After analysing the evolution and future of family businesses, José Luis Bonet exemplified what he had said with the story of the Freixenet company, of which he is currently honorary president after a lifetime dedicated to its growth and internationalisation, always with innovation in mind. In conclusion, he listed the key factors in the success of Freixenet, ‘which would be applicable in any family business: family cohesion, quality, competitiveness, ambition, diversification, innovation, internationalisation, the brand; strength, determination and courage, and wisdom in governance’.    

Fundación Incyde, a key player in entrepreneurship at UCAM

Throughout its 27-year history, UCAM has always been very aware of the importance of collaboration between the university and the business world, and has demonstrated this both in the purely academic sphere and in terms of promoting entrepreneurship. UCAM began its collaboration with the Spanish Chamber of Commerce and Fundación Incyde nine years ago ‘with the aim of promoting entrepreneurship, sharing a common vision and purpose,’ said the President. She also recalled that it was two years ago that this union was consolidated with the inauguration of UCAM HiTech, which is part of the Fundación INCYDE Network of High Technology Incubators, with the objective , already more than fulfilled, of transferring knowledge to the productive sector. With an investment of 5.5 million euros, it was promoted and financed by UCAM, and co-financed by ERDF funds thanks to the collaboration of the Fundación Incyde of the Chambers of Commerce of Spain.

UCAM growth

Josefina García, UCAM President, highlighted the attributes that have earned the President of the Spanish Chamber of Commerce this distinction, as ‘for this institution, honesty, humility, integrity and science are the pillars of those people we distinguish as Doctor Honoris Causa, and José Luis Bonet is an example of all of this’. She also mentioned the new developments the Murcia-based institution is working on, such as the launch of the UCAM Campus in Madrid next academic year. She stated that ‘we are in the process of authorising the programmes, especially in terms of increasing places’, clarifying that the Bachelor's Degree in Medicine will not be included in this first phase. Similarly, the Rector of the Universidad Católica de Murcia recalled that universities are the main focus of research in any country and this work should be incentivised, with special importance given to the fact that administrations should facilitate public-private collaboration. ‘At UCAM we will always be committed to rigorous work in order to continue growing and caring for the legacy of José Luis Mendoza, our founder,’ she concluded.

Encounter with God

José Sánchez, Episcopal Vicar for the Pastoral Urban Zone of Murcia, presided over the Eucharist prior to the academic act, and in his homily he recalled how José Luis Mendoza, Founder of the UCAM, always made special mention in the acts of the vocational work of the institution's staff in facilitating students' encounter with God.