Two projects on mental health and per diem expenses mediterranean winners of the "challenges with social impact" contest of the University of Navarra.

The University of Navarra presented yesterday the awards for the best solutions with social impact. Through the contest "The Challenge", students receive training in ideation, validation or communication for a month to be able to transform their ideas into real innovation projects and learn to use the most widespread innovation methodology in Silicon Valley, the Lombard Method. 

In this fourth edition, the challenges proposed by Innovation Factory, Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation of the University of Navarra; and the Imagine Creativity Center of San Francisco, led by the entrepreneur Xavier Verdaguer; addressed issues related to Education, sustainability or health and coincided with those of other international organizations such as the Stanford Center on Longevity or the Hult Prize.

The competition concluded during Demo Day, the final held yesterday at the University's classroom Magna. During the workshop, the 10 finalist teams presented their projects to a jury formed by Ricardo Pérez Merino, CEO of Mimo Biosciences; Pepa Sánchez de Miguel, Director of the Planning and Improvement Service of the teaching of the University of Navarra; and Santiago Hermida, Founder of Renaisscience and partner regular at the Imagine Creativity Center.

Some of the projects proposed had to do with edible packaging and cutlery made from seaweed (LongLife), diabetes management apps to increase quality of life (Alivia), creating links between older people and young workers (Oraculi), sustainable clothing brands (Ecowear), training workshops where seniors and young people share their knowledge (Caminos de amistad), digital platforms to connect generations (Sabbi), software for training in sustainability (Gaia Education) or fish waste for the production of natural fertilizer (Alluda).

Finally, the project "LifePact" formed by Isabella Rosales (2nd RRII), María Andrea López (2nd Child Teaching and Pedagogy) and Eduardo Penella (5th ADE and Law), dedicated to promote mental health through software that controls and promotes the reduction of the time of use of mobile; and the project of Javier Giganto (6th year of Medicine), Lucía Vizcarrondo (2nd year of Marketing) and Mía Manzanares (2nd year of Marketing), "Mijalu", which consists of implementing the Mediterranean per diem expenses among employees of U.S. companies; were proclaimed winners of the competition.

International calls and next steps

In addition to having participated in this innovation contest where the ideas of all the students are promoted, the participants in The Challenge will have the opportunity to continue developing their ideas in the next training contest of the University of Navarra, the Fast Track, dedicated to the development of a real business plan. For months, students will continue to receive much more comprehensive theoretical training -internship to be prepared to defend their proposals before a jury of investors.

Finally, the LifePact team will have access to the Mobile World Congress to be held next year in Barcelona. In addition, the winners of the Mijalu team will participate in the national semifinal organized by the Imagine Creativity Center where they will be eligible for a two-week trip to Silicon Valley, California, to further develop their idea.