La Caixa and the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Tourism, through the National Innovation Society (ENISA), dependent on the General Directorate for SME Policy, have published the fifth edition of the Entrepreneur Award XXI with the aim of identify, recognize and reward innovative start-up companies with the greatest potential for growth in each autonomous community.

This competition was created as part of the “Emprendemos Juntos” initiative, promoted by the General Directorate for SME Policy, subordinate to the Ministry of Industry, Tourism and Trade, with the aim of establishing itself in each autonomous community together with the regional Organize administrations and local people a day all about entrepreneurship and innovation under the name “Entrepreneur’s Day”.

The award consists of two categories:

– EmprendesXXI, aimed at companies aged 0 to 2 years (established after January 1, 2009). This category has only one regional phase and rewards the 17 winners with a financial contribution of €5,000 and a bursary to attend the Ignite Fast Tracking Innovation course at the University of Cambridge.

– CrecesXXI, for companies established between 2 and 7 years (after January 1, 2004). The 17 winners of this category, recognized in their autonomous phase, will be awarded the Executive Growth Program, a training program designed ad hoc by ESADE and IESE for growing companies and a technological innovation bridge to Silicon Valley, where they will have the opportunity to learn You know the world’s largest innovation center first-hand.

And in both categories, the winners receive preferential access to financing from “la Caixa” for entrepreneurs.

In his In the state phase, all regional winners compete to win the first prize of €100,000; €40,000, the second; €20,000, the third; €10,000 for the fourth and €5,000 for the fifth.

More than 372 companies participated in the last edition of the awards, a sign of the growing acceptance it has among innovative companies and also the rise of entrepreneurship. By sector, Information Technology and Telecoms contributed the most applications, followed by Life Sciences, Environment and Industrials.

A good testament to the impact of the awards is undoubtedly the fact that many of last year’s winners have become great business references. The winner of the fourth edition was Ikerchem and among the winners were companies like Iactive, Frogtek either Bubok publishing house.

The deadline for participation depends on each municipality, Choose yours and sign up here or advice More information.

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