During the past few days we have been fortunate to host the "Edifica" Fair in Pamplona, organized by the Passivhaus Consortium in Baluarte. It has been an opportunity to bring together most of the actors involved in the sector of Building in our beloved region. We rarely have the opportunity to be together and, perhaps for that reason, we are often unaware of our reality and our potential.

In Navarra we have a good issue of construction companies and promoters of recognized prestige. We have companies specialized in the field of construction that are at the forefront of innovation and drive (VN-Viguetas Navarras, NSM, Madergia, Cetya, Liebherr and many others). We have numerous companies specialized in services related to Building (Saltoki, Aldakin, Telman, Humiclima, Aislatec and a long etcetera). Also with engineering companies of first national level and a large staff of architects recognized inside and outside our borders (serve as sample the recent award received by the signature of architects Tabuenca and Leache to carry out the integral rehabilitation of the Library Services National of Madrid in plenary session of the Executive Council Paseo de la Castellana). goal Many of these companies have come together over the last year to form iCONS (Clúster de la Industrialización de la Construcción de Navarra), with the aim of promoting the sector, modernizing it and making a "new construction" a reality for the 21st century. We have two universities: one stands out for its teachings in the field of engineering and its research institutes (Smart Cities, Artificial Intelligence and others) and the other has one of the oldest Schools of Architecture in the country that I have the honor of directing, with an important international projection, where the Degree in Architecture, a novel and recognized Degree in design and a good issue of masters are taught. Soon, we will inaugurate in Navarra a new National Center for Industrialization and Robotics applied to construction, called BAI (Building & Architecture Institute), which will reinforce the work already developed by another national center such as CENER, this one in the field of renewables. In addition, in Navarra we have public companies of the highest prestige and projection such as Nasuvinsa and Tracasa, whose work in promoting the modernization of the sector is recognized by many inside and outside Navarra. And also research centers such as NAITEC, a leader in mechatronics and technological services. We also have in Navarra some multinational companies working in the sector such as Rockwool, Schneider Electric, Guardian Glass, or Cementos Portland and numerous independent professionals that give life to a spectacular business and industrial network.

Furthermore, in the field of training, Navarra has one of the best systems of professional training in Europe. Specifically, there is the Fundación Laboral de la Construcción, which has been training professionals in the sector for more than 25 years, the high school Salesianos de Pamplona, and a magnificent public offer of professional training , through various training cycles, focused on innovation and entrepreneurship with a close relationship with companies thanks to the possibilities offered by the FP Dual.

And, finally, we also have an impressive network of civil servants who, from the different Departments (Education, housing, environment, territory, Príncipe de Viana, etc.) promote and manage the day-to-day running of our community and our cities.

What do we lack, then, to make Navarre a beacon in southern Europe, a point of reference letter national and international, a place where professionals from all over the world come to train and work, committed to building a better world? I think that only three things are necessary: to believe in it, to work together and to dream.

Believe it. Ourselves and our politicians. We must be aware that we have been leaders in the past by having some of the most important construction companies in the country, the best universities, etc. in Navarra. We must grasp the size and importance of the sector (only the companies associated with iCONS have a turnover of 1,402 million euros in Navarre and 1,453 million in the rest of Spain). And we must be convinced, therefore, that the Building sector is core topic for the present and future of our community and that betting on it is a great option.

Working together. It is a difficult task since the day to day is very demanding for companies and professionals. I think that occasions such as the "Edifica" Fair or the creation of iCONS are the right way to promote meeting and increase team awareness. It is a matter, at final, of working together: educators, entrepreneurs, politicians, civil servants and, of course, users, who must be at the center of our concerns to bring this sector and its activities to the level of excellence it deserves and demands.

And dreaming. Perhaps the most important thing. In the environment of the European New Bauhaus initiative, we should launch ourselves with determination to profoundly transform our society and our ways of life that will lead us to the construction of a friendlier and more livable world. Such a world will be more creative, inclusive and environmentally friendly. For this, we must be receptive, ready to assume radical changes in our living conditions. We will have to rethink in depth the relationship between the old, what we have and what we can reinvent by infusing it with technology, and the new that we will build together. Dream at final of a better place, built or rebuilt in the 21st century, which we will leave to those who come after us and for which, we hope, they will always be grateful to us.