The Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) is a one-stop shop for everything you need to know about entrepreneurship in a country. In Spain, policymakers leverage this benefit not only at the country level, but also through analysis on entrepreneurship in every Spanish region and even some sub-regions. GEM Spain serves an amazing case study of the impact that is possible in formulating a National Team in a country. There are an astonishing 19 different regional teams, more than 180 researchers from 30 universities and research centres and the support of almost 100 regional sponsors!
Ana Fernández Laviada, Professor of Economics and Business at the University of Cantabria and Director of the Cantabria Yunus Centre, is one of several individuals who have been instrumental in this growth story.
“I began with the GEM Spain family in 2008 when I became director of GEM Cantabria, one of 19 GEM Spain regional teams,” she said. “Since 2014, I am the President (former Executive Director) of the Observatorio del Emprendimiento de España (former RED GEM España Association),and the Director of GEM Spain National Team. Within the framework of the GEM global project, all 19 of our teams study the entrepreneurial dynamics through multiple variables and generate data published in annual reports at national and regional level. It is only possible thanks to the almost 100 regional sponsors that support our teams as well as our national sponsors: CISE, Santander Bank, Fundación Rafael del Pino and now ENISA.”
If you follow GEM Spain on Twitter, or LinkedIn you can see just how much activity is taking place on a daily basis. Last week, GEM Spain presented a report on the region of Castilla la Mancha. Just before then, GEM Spain released a report on Malaga, a sub-region of Andalucia which this year will present several local reports. There are numerous GEM related events taking place throughout the year in Spain and a plethora of media coverage as well, such as this recent article in La Vanguardia, Catalonia's leading newspaper.
Policymakers in Spain have leveraged the GEM data in a number of different ways, as noted on page 76 of the GEM Policy Briefs Report. Most notable is the passing of Law 14/2013 or Ley de Emprendedore to boost the country’s business activity and foster entrepreneurship.
“I am most proud of our growth,” Ana said. “We are a big family, always expanding. In 2000, Spain started with GEM. Little by little, we have been increasing the number of regional teams. The first three – Extremadura, Cataluña and Andalucia – joined in 2003. By 2017, we have been able to bring on all regions in Spain – we completed the map!”
In addition to this milestone, GEM Spain secured financial support from the National Government, thanks to ENISA (Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Tourism) and it is working to collaborate with the ONSTI (Ministry of Economic Affairs and Digital Transformation).
Ana’s research and personal interest is Social Entrepreneurship. She founded the Yunus Centre at the University of Cantabria, named after the renowned Bangladeshi social entrepreneur Muhammad Yunus.
“I had the great honour to be the ‘God mother’ of Muhammad Yunus at his ceremony as Doctor Honoris Causa here in Cantabria”, Ana said. “That is something I am very proud and happy to have been part of.”
On the personal side, Ana is a cat lover. She has a pet cat named Gilda at home and also takes care of a colony in her village. According to Ana, cats and entrepreneurs have much in common:
1. We are curious by nature – we are always looking for new adventures.
2. We are flexible – nothing is impossible by definition.
3. It doesn’t matter if we fail. We have the ability to stand up and try again and again.
GEM Spain has certainly put these and other entrepreneurial behaviours into practice over the past 20 years for the benefit of numerous stakeholders throughout the country.
Access additional information about GEM Spain and connect with Ana via email or also on LinkedIn, Facebook or Twitter.
Learn more on how to set up a GEM National Team in your country.