Young talent and great ideas conquer the University's Innovation Day 2025

On the occasion of the International Day of Entrepreneurship, which is celebrated this April 16, the University of Navarra wanted to join this global quotation by highlighting the talent of young entrepreneurs who participated in the Innovation Day 2025, a vibrant workshop dedicated to innovation and entrepreneurship, which raised more than €4,000 for the victims of the hurricane DANA. The event, which took place on April 10 at the University of Navarra Museum, was organized by Innovation Factory, the University's Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship.

The solidarity workshop brought together more than 400 attendees in an inspiring environment, with three presentations that offered a real and close look at the world of entrepreneurship. Pablo Sánchez Bergasa, founder of Medical Open World and current Princess of Girona Socialaward , shared his experience leading a project that improves the lives of premature newborns through its incubators(In3ator). Luz López Bleda, better known as May Sharona and founder of Canallita, gave keys on how to create a brand with its own personality in the men's fashion sector, and Álvaro Pérez, creator of Harbest and Rumbo Education, showed how to combine technology and purpose to transform relevant sectors such as agriculture and Education.

One of the most special moments was the submission of the awards of the Fast Track Entrepreneurship program, where teams formed by students from different careers presented projects with high impact potential. The first award went to VACPATCH, an innovative patch to treat wounds in an effective, simple and economical way, inspired by traditional negative pressure therapy, but eliminating its complexity.

The winning team was formed by Jaime Horcada, Cristina Li, Itziar Baztán and Paula de Blas, all of them from the Master's Degree in Computational Methods in Science; and Amaia Gorriti and Cristina Aragoneses, both from the Master's Degree in Drug research, development and Innovation (MIDI).

The jury also recognized two other projects with a second award ex aequo. On the one hand, Aurix, a solution to prevent "cauliflower ear" in athletes through technology applied to ear protection. The team was formed by Josu Miranda, an alumnus from Biochemistry and Julia Ruiz, student of the Master's Degree in Galenic design and Drug Manufacturing. On the other hand, Gaia Education, an interactive Education internship platform to acquire certified skills in sustainability, developed by Hanna García and Agustín Pilco, both students of the Degree in Business Administration and Management, the latter also being a student of the diploma in data analysis, was awarded.

The event also included a participatory dynamic with the public, including a team competition with questions and answers on innovation, a flashmob organized by students and the submission of the awards for the "Investinn Hour" contest, which rewarded the most innovative ideas presented by the students themselves. 

The submission ceremony was led by María Fructos, a student of the first graduating class of the Global Program in Innovation and Entrepreneurship (GPIE), who graduated last March. In this first edition, there was a tie for first place between Tigge, a fashion brand that transforms garments into artistic, unique and sustainable designs, promoted by Noa Tiggemann Sanz, an ADE student with an accredited specialization in innovation and entrepreneurship; and Pribait, a cybersecurity software that protects the Username by blocking any risky activity, developed by Xabier Hernández Moreno, a student of the Degree in ADE. The special accredited specialization went to Zero Risk, a personalized training platform in Health & Safety Office, designed by José García-Balibrea Sánchez, student of the double Degree in ADE + Law.

Another highlight of the workshop was the premiere of "El Camarote de la Innovación", Innovation Factory's new video podcast, which will bring together leaders of the entrepreneurial ecosystem to share their stories, lessons learned and challenges, in a close and audiovisual format designed to inspire the entire university community.

In addition, the Innovation Day had the support of entities such as Campus Home, a leading business in student accommodation in Navarra; Arantza Hotela, Europe's Most Sustainable Hotel 2024; Berty's Burger, a premium hamburger chain recently arrived in Pamplona; Backen, a first class gluten-free confectionery; Canallita, men's clothing founded by May Sharona; Cucu Flash, which participated through its Volkswagen T1 Photocall, or the Pink Force Foundation, which had the opportunity to present its solidarity work through the accompaniment of children undergoing cancer treatments. Their intervention closed the event with a dose of tenderness, positive energy and the appearance of their robot R2-KT, reminding us that it is also possible to undertake with the heart and generate a transforming impact on the lives of the little ones.
 

Innovation Festival

The workshop began long before the gala. From early afternoon, the esplanade of the School of Communication was transformed into a real festival of solidarity innovation, a dynamic space where students from different Schools exhibited their ventures in stands open to the public. Among them were also present initiatives such as the aforementioned Pink Force Foundation, the gluten-free creative pastry business Backen, with solidarity proposals and activities to interact with attendees, Altafit, Vidaas or Polo IRIS. The experience was completed with a lively bingo for innovative students, live music with DJ, a photoshooting truck sponsored by Cucu Flash and a careful selection of food trucks offering hamburgers and ice cream. A relaxed, creative and festive atmosphere that served as the perfect prelude to the

At 18:00h, the focus shifted to the University of Navarra Museum, where the central gala of Innovation Day 2025 was held, a very special event that has once again demonstrated that the entrepreneurial spirit is more alive than ever at the University of Navarra. Talent, ideas with purpose and partnership came together in a workshop that leaves its mark and that, as many of the attendees said, "pushes you to want to do something that transforms your environment".