In the current situation defined by a global market, it is clear that the sector needs the interaction of all participants to achieve a better technological progress.

The competitiveness of the sector of natural stone needs a better use of limited natural resources using the best technology available, considering the environmental conditions and making the best use of the product, which will benefit everyone.

The main objective for the entire industry is to respond to the industry need for a forum of discussion and dissemination of technological and scientific advances in the field of natural stone industry. The Global Stone Congress 2010 wants to deal with the whole cycle of production and use of natural stone.

Unlike other congresses, this tries to integrate the different areas of knowledge involved in the production and use of natural stone. This may involve the existence of communication problems between the experts, who have very different backgrounds and use different languages, but it also involves the great advantage of finding the necessary synergies that are otherwise very difficult. This is certainly an ambitious challenge which can contribute to a technology renewal of the natural stone industry. In any case, it is the duty of the institutions involved in research, technology and management to collaborate on improving the industry, as well as the business, human and natural resources that make it up.

Exploration, exploitation, processing and treatment, strategies for sale, use, placement and maintenance, these subjects include areas such as engineering, science, environment, security, law or economics, but they all form an entity due to the specific characteristics of natural stone.

We can summarize the objective of the Global Stone Congress 2010 as an international multi-sectoral forum for discussion, communication and dissemination of knowledge on the subject of natural stone.

Therefore cooperation between different institutions and experts is essential to give the event the most successful orientation for achieving the targets set, clarifying confusing issues and making more attractive and necessary offers for the sector. 

Ramón Congost

President of the Organizing Committee