Elbira Zipitria Chair: Gorka Espiau

Gorka Espiau will hold the Elbira Zipitria Chair 2026–2027 of Etxepare Basque Institute at McGill University in Montreal. The residency will focus on social innovation and will explore experiences, knowledge and potential avenues for collaboration between the Basque Country and Quebec.

Gorka Espiau and the Elbira Zipitria Chair

Gorka Espiau is Director of Agirre Lehendakaria Center for Social and Political Studies and works on projects related to social innovation, governance and systemic transformation. He has a long-standing relationship with McGill University’s CIRM/CRIEM, where he has previously been involved in teaching and research.

Focus of the residency

The residency aims to share the work developed by Agirre Lehendakaria Center and to explore new infrastructures and innovation models for addressing complex social challenges. Quebec is an international reference point in social innovation and innovation ecosystems, making the residency an opportunity to learn from advanced local experiences and identify potential areas for collaboration between the Basque Country and Quebec.

Programme

The programme will include a series of activities organised in collaboration with CRIEM–McGill University, including lectures and seminars.

One of the main activities will be the seminar “Politiques de science, de technologie et d’innovation : perspectives du Pays basque et du Québec”, to be held in Montreal on 27 October.

The following lectures are also planned:

From Industrial Heritage to Democratic Futures: Lessons from Bilbao and Montreal

Cities that Care: Building Compassionate, Democratic, and Innovative Communities from Bilbao to Montreal

Dates: 26 October – 8 November 2026
Venue: McGill University, Montreal
Chair: Elbira Zipitria Chair
Guest: Gorka Espiau Idoiaga
Topic: Social innovation

Elbira Zipitria Chair

The Faculty of Arts and the Faculty of Engineering at McGill University have been working with the Centre for Interdisciplinary Research on Montréal (CIRM) since 2022 to promote the Basque language in education and society, placing innovative cultural movements at the centre. The Elbira Zipitria Chair was created in 2022. In the Chair’s inaugural colloquium, Idoia Fernández, Miren Azkarate and Pablo Suberbiola spoke about Basque culture and cultural innovation.