On 9 november, Christopher López Samaniego defended his Research Thesis entitled: "Factores determinantes del crecimiento empresarial. Análisis de las PYMES de la Zona 3 del Ecuador", in the Faculty of Law, Economy and Tourism, directed by Dra. Ximena Morales Urrutia ( tutor: Dr. Antoni Blanc Altemir) in the program of Doctorate in Law and Busines Administration.