Unicaja and the Atlantic-Mediterranean Technological University (UTAMED) have signed a strategic sponsorship agreement under which the financial institution undertakes to support the development of the Ágora Project, an initiative aimed at fostering debate, innovation and the exchange of knowledge in key areas such as the economy, business and society.
The agreement was presented by Unicaja’s CEO, Isidro Rubiales, and the president of UTAMED, Paco Ávila, and aims to promote the exchange of ideas, foster critical thinking and generate economic and social value.
To this end, UTAMED will organise various activities at its headquarters on Calle Bolsa, in the heart of Málaga, which will be sponsored by Unicaja, such as forums, conferences, round-table discussions, meetings with entrepreneurs and young talent, business networking events, and the presentation of projects and strategic debates.
The Ágora Project, promoted by UTAMED, is designed as a meeting place to bring together national and international experts, businesspeople, entrepreneurs and institutional representatives in an annual programme of activities.
Since its launch, the project has featured the participation of leading figures such as the philosopher Fernando Savater, the psychologist Arun Mansukhani, the illustrator Pedrita Parker, the thinker and former Secretary of State José María Lassalle, and the journalist José Antonio Zarzalejos, whose contributions have helped to establish Ágora as a space for critical thinking and a diversity of perspectives.
The agreement with Unicaja will enable the programme to be expanded and strengthened, continuing to bring together influential voices and diverse figures. Thus, journalist Pedro Piqueras will be responsible for opening the first event sponsored by the financial institution, kicking off a programme that will also feature leading figures such as Toni Nadal, the former deputy mayor of Madrid Begoña Villacís, sports content creator Hugo Riera (Hache Sports), publicist Enrique Martínez Leyva, lawyer Paula Fraga, cardiologist Aurelio Rojas and journalist and Pulitzer Prize winner Mar Cabra.
A partnership to generate social and economic value
Unicaja’s backing for this initiative is part of its strategy to support the business ecosystem and the generation of knowledge, as well as its commitment to ESG (environmental, social and governance) criteria.
Under this agreement, Unicaja will have a prominent presence in the various activities of the Ágora Project, actively participating in events, forums for dialogue and institutional activities.
With this partnership, Unicaja and UTAMED are reinforcing their commitment to revitalising the economic and social fabric, focusing on creating spaces for reflection and collaboration that contribute to sustainable development and the promotion of talent.
In this regard, Unicaja’s CEO noted that this agreement with UTAMED represents “a strategic commitment to knowledge generation, talent development and the strengthening of the business ecosystem”.
“Through our sponsorship of the Ágora Project, an ideal initiative for sharing ideas and building the future, we aim to help create meeting spaces that foster ideas, generate opportunities and promote economic and social development,” stated Rubiales, adding that “this agreement reinforces our commitment to sustainability and innovation and enables us to strengthen our position as an organisation committed to society”.
For its part, UTAMED reinforces with this collaboration its vocation as an open university, connected to reality and committed to creating spaces where education, business and society converge.
In the words of its president, Paco Ávila, “this project represents a new way of understanding the university: not only as a place of learning, but as a catalyst for meaningful conversations that help interpret the present and build the future”.
About Unicaja
Unicaja is one of the leading banks in the Spanish financial system and a listed company on the IBEX 35. It is a leading institution in six autonomous communities—its regions of origin (Andalusia, Asturias, Cantabria, Castile-La Mancha, Castile and León, and Extremadura)—and has a significant presence throughout the country.
It is characterised by its universal banking model and sustainable business approach, underpinned by prudent management of its commercial strategy and risk profile, and a socially responsible ethos that prioritises quality, innovation and digital transformation, whilst incorporating technology to enhance customer service and the bank’s efficiency.
About UTAMED
The Atlantic-Mediterranean Technological University is Andalusia’s first digitally native higher education institution. Following its establishment in 2023, it began operations in 2025, with the aim of offering innovative, flexible education connected to the real challenges of society and the professional world. Its educational model integrates technology, academic excellence and a clear international focus, placing the student at the centre of the learning process and committing to an open, accessible and future-oriented university.
It currently has two physical campuses in the city of Málaga, located in the Málaga TechPark complex and on Calle Bolsa, right in the heart of the city centre. Both centres embody a university model that combines the digital dimension with genuine integration into the urban, social and technological ecosystem, facilitating the connection between the university, innovation and society.
