Santander X Global Challenge | Cyberprotect the Future
The Oxentia Foundation and Banco Santander are looking for projects which will help development the digital economy. Santander X Global Challenge | Transforming the Digital Economy is a challenge for startups and scaleups with innovative solutions that help transform the economy through IoT and SMART technologies
This global challenge is aimed at startups and scaleups that will help transform the economy through new technologies. Solutions must be focused around one of the following two categories, ‘Digital Industry’ – promoting, through IoT, the efficiency and productivity of industrial processes – or ‘Digital Society’ – with SMART technologies that improve the daily lives of users without neglecting sustainability.
Startup and scaleups businesses are invited to apply from 11 countries – Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Germany, Mexico, Portugal, Poland, Spain, United Kingdom, United States. Registrations will close on 12 December 2023.
A jury of experts will select six winners, who will receive €120,000 euros in prizes: €30,000 for the three winning startups (€10,000 each) and €90,000 for the three best scaleups (€30,000 each). In addition, challenge winners will become members of the Santander X 100 global entrepreneurship community, joining the most outstanding Santander X projects; they will also be able to connect with Fintech Station, Banco Santander’s Open Innovation area.
All details of the challenge, including the application portal can be found here.
Diego Calascibetta, Global Head of Entrepreneurship and Fintech Station at Santander Universities, said: “At the bank, we believe that accelerating the transition to smarter cities, industry and commerce will drive industrial growth and productivity, improve social welfare and benefit consumers. Our goal is to identify the companies in the sector that are developing the most innovative solutions, and provide them with the resources, connections and visibility they need to grow.”
Projects will undergo an evaluation process before a final competitive phase involving 10 startups and 10 scaleups. These 20 companies will present their initiatives before an international jury, with selected winners receiving their prizes at an awards ceremony during 4YFN in Barcelona, an international reference entrepreneurial event in the field of technology and innovation.
Steve Cleverley, CEO of Oxentia Foundation, observed, “Oxentia Foundation’s mission is to level the global playing field for entrepreneurs across the globe. Helping entrepreneurs address global challenges, provide innovative solutions, and promote adoption of new and disruptive technologies is at the heart of our work. With the expansion of digital services across the entire economy, it is important that we support and promote those startups and scaleups that are working towards a more innovative, efficient and sustainable society. Oxentia Foundation is therefore delighted to be working in partnership with Santander X to launch the new Global Challenge | Transforming the Digital Economy.
As an Oxfordshire based organisation, we are privileged to share our home with several highly successful companies working in the digital economy space. We look forward to hearing from the vey best cutting-edge technology that this industry is renowned for and wish all the entrepreneurs the very best of luck.”
About Banco Santander and its support for higher education
Banco Santander is firmly committed to progress and inclusive sustainable growth. It boasts a long-standing and groundbreaking 26-year commitment to education, employability, and entrepreneurship, which sets it apart from the world’s other financial institutions. The bank has allocated over 2.2 billion euros and has supported more than one million students, professionals and entrepreneurial projects through agreements with more than 1,300 universities
(www.santander.com/universities).
About the Oxentia Foundation
Oxentia Foundation was created to support Oxentia’s goal of tackling global inequalities through innovation and entrepreneurial activities. Oxentia has organised international entrepreneurial innovation competitions and awards, and has also provided advice to entrepreneurs in order help bring science and technology projects which contribute to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, to market. Oxentia grew out of Oxford University’s technology transfer company, Oxford University Innovation, and aims to provide specialised innovation management services to public and private sector customers throughout the world. Its approach is based on the company’s solid legacy, built on over 30 years of experience supporting academic innovation and entrepreneurial spirit in more than 70 countries. (www.oxentiafoundation.org)
