Esade spearheads discussions about AI and sustainability at 4YFN 2025
For the ninth year running, Esade is the official academic partner of 4 Years From Now (4YFN), the world’s benchmark conference for enterprise and innovation, within the framework of the Mobile World Congress. With the slogan “Redefining what’s possible. GreenTech starts here”, Esade once again spearheads the 4YFN GreenTech vertical, an event that will gather together entrepreneurs, start-ups and executives involved in this ecosystem on March 3-6 in Barcelona. Esade’s participation underlines its commitment to urgently address social and environmental challenges, and also the need to foster responsible business practices in order to build a more sustainable future.
AI and emerging technologies are completely overhauling how we work, learn and interact with the world around us. Against this backdrop, addressing ethical, social and environmental challenges is not only necessary but urgent. As academic partners of 4YFN, Esade reaffirms its commitment to talent, technology and entrepreneurship: three major driving forces of development and social transformation. “We want to redefine the future by linking up education, real impact and responsible leadership in order to build fairer societies,” explained Daniel Traça, Esade director general.
AI, sustainability and the future of employment
Within the framework of 4YFN, Esade will organize several sessions led by its academic experts who, together with key figures in the worlds of business and enterprise, will address the opportunities and threats of the sustainability of artificial intelligence (AI). One discussion will examine how the new generation of intelligent agents is revolutionizing sectors such as retail, customer service and logistics, with the participation of Esteve Almirall, professor at Esade; Rosa Martínez, director of Artificial Intelligence at CaixaBank Tech, and Xavier Amatriain, product vice president at Google, amongst others. Another session, led by the professor and director of Esade's Bachelor in AI for Business, Irene Unceta, will take a closer look at the hidden cost of AI, with emphasis on how tech developments can aggravate social and economic inequalities. The future of talent in an AI-dominated environment will be another core topic. Marc Cortés, director of the Executive Master in Digital Business at Esade Executive Education; Javier Fernández, global employer branding lead at Danone, and Hans van de Broek, people director at Ultralytics, will analyze how universities and professionals must adapt to an employment landscape in which machines will play a key role.
In addition, Esade experts will delve into emerging tech trends and the role of start-ups as drivers of innovation, discussing disruptive applications designed to transform key sectors, strategies to raise finance and the main concerns facing investors who back high-impact start-up projects. Finally, Esade will begin conversations about innovative technologies and strategies for designing urban settings able to adapt to climate challenges, improve community well-being and foster sustainable growth.
Commitment to inspiring future leaders
Esade’s participation in the 4YFN GreenTech vertical highlights its commitment to training leaders able to use AI and tech developments to make a positive impact on society and business. This aim is reflected in programs such as the Bachelor in Artificial Intelligence for Business, the Master of Science in Sustainability, the Programa de Gestión Sostenible y Agenda 2030 (Sustainable Management and Agenda 2030 Program) and the Esade Executive Education Open Program on Artificial Intelligence and Business with a view to training executives equally able to create new companies and overhaul existing ones, thereby contributing to the sustainable development of the planet.
Esade is also tailoring its range of programs to incorporate sustainability transversally and gradually increase the subjects that focus on different aspects of this area. This approach will be bolstered by the new Esade campus in Madrid, designed to be a space for innovation and excellence that will strengthen Esade’s connections to business leaders and organizations committed to sustainable change.
