The acting Minister of Industry, Competitiveness, and Business Development of the Government of Aragon, Arturo Aliaga, had the honor of presenting one of the awards and provided an analysis of the journey of the companies and projects that were finalists and distinguished with these prestigious awards. He emphasized that "important names emerge from the Aragonese industrial fabric."
Aliaga also highlighted that more than 70% of the companies that participated in these awards "are still operating, which demonstrates the rigor of the jury." Furthermore, he underscored the significance of the IDEA Contest as it "awakens business vocations and is a nationally recognized award."
These awards are designed to acknowledge entrepreneurial initiatives and innovative projects in Aragon and have a long history in the country. The IDEA Empresa Award is directed at young companies aged between one and a half to five years, which excel in technological innovation, growth potential, business cooperation, internationalization, and social commitment.
In contrast, the IDEA Project Award is intended for entrepreneurs or companies with a maximum of one and a half years of existence, focusing on the development of an innovative product or service with potential for technical or economic exploitation.
Apart from the winners, Nyxell and The Mindkind were also finalists in the IDEA Empresa category, while Frutanesa and Media for Value were finalists in the IDEA Project category. Notably, Maximiliana was a finalist in the previous edition, presenting a smartphone designed for the elderly or individuals with technological difficulties, which operates entirely on its own.
This edition marks the 29th anniversary of the IDEA Competition, which has received 1,336 applications since its inception in 1993. It has recognized 52 young companies, with an impressive 70% of them still active today. Additionally, these projects have played a role in establishing 844 companies, generating over 4,900 direct jobs.
The event also featured a speech by María Fernández Guajardo, the Aragonese and Senior Product Director at Gmail (Google), who is recognized as a prominent executive in Silicon Valley, having worked for companies such as Meta and Google.
