Ibercaja awards over 5,000 euros in prizes from its Chair of Sustainable Finance
The Chair of Sustainable Finance at Ibercaja, developed in collaboration with the University of Zaragoza, has distributed over 5,000 euros in prizes to students participating in the programs for the 2024-2025 academic year. The awards ceremony took place on October 21, 2025, at an event held at the Xplora Space at the bank’s headquarters in Zaragoza.
Key figures at the award ceremony
About fifty university students attended the event, which combined the awards presentation with a practical workshop on job interview techniques. The training was led by Marian Miravé, head of Selection in the Human Resources Area of Ibercaja.
The direction of the event was led by Miriam Fernández, head of Thematic Investment at Ibercaja Gestión and a member of the Chair of Sustainable Finance. Fernández emphasized the need to integrate sustainability into finance as «a beacon that guides the identification of winning trends for the future.»
Awards presented for the 2024-2025 academic year
The banking institution distributed 1,500 euros among the winners of three main categories:
Best Undergraduate Thesis Award: Elisa Bretón received 500 euros for her thesis «Models with and without loan in free markets» from econophysics.
Best Master’s Thesis Award: Julen Galarza obtained 500 euros for his work «The impact of corporate social performance on tail risks and upside potential in the stock market.»
Competition Learn to Manage a Fund of Investment with ESG Criteria: The team ALPHA DADE PARTNERS, composed of Nicolás Palacio, Pedro Pascual, and Pablo Solans, was awarded 500 euros.
These awards are in addition to those given to the winning teams of the Ideathon on Green Hydrogen and the Forum on Economy, Society, and Defense, completing a total exceeding 5,000 euros.
Activities and investments during the academic year
Throughout the academic year, the Chair invested nearly 15,000 euros in organizing more than 20 events, lectures, courses, and workshops. These activities brought together over 500 students. Notable events included the Ideathon on Green Hydrogen and the sessions on Economy, Society, and Defense.
Aims and projection of the Chair of Sustainable Finance
The Chair of Sustainable Finance at Ibercaja aims to promote knowledge and implementation of sustainable finance through three pillars: training, research, and public-private collaboration.
As Fernández explained, the Chair «promotes the adoption and permeability of these types of finance, whether through research, outreach, training, or public-private collaboration.» She also noted that «through research and deepening into topics related to sustainability, the students of this Chair are directly involved in the management of investment funds.»
The head of Thematic Investment also highlighted that «these types of collaborations between University and Business are absolutely essential and necessary to align the talent supply with the real needs of the business.»
Fernández concluded by emphasizing «the importance of incorporating sustainability into all areas of our lives, including education and finance,» asserting that «thinking and acting in finance and sustainability is increasingly indispensable for all of us to contribute to a better society and world.»
