The Israel Innovation Network (ILAN)is a nonprofit foundation that promotes innovation to improve people's quality of life.
This organization operates in eight countries: Mexico, Israel, the United States, Guatemala, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Argentina, and Uruguay
On this occasion, ILAN, in partnership with the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship(CIE) at Universidad ORT Uruguay, organized a university competition.
The goal was to recognize and promote innovative projects with a positive social impact that can improve people's lives.
The proposals were submitted by university students.
Who evaluated the contest entries?
For the ILAN Awards for University Innovation, the projects were reviewed and evaluated by an ad hoc committee that considered criteria such as technical feasibility, viability, and economic sustainability.
The committee was composed of:
- Álvaro Brunini, MBA: President of the National Agency for Research and Innovation (ANII)
- Ruperto Long, Engineer: President of ILAN Uruguay.
- Eduardo Mangarelli, Ph.D.: Dean of the ORT School of Engineering.
- Adriana Camisar, M.A.: Executive Director of ILAN.
- Enrique Topolansky, MBA: Director of ORT's CIE.
This committee was responsible for awarding the prize for the most innovative ideas.
During the event, the jury recognizedthree outstanding projects.
The winning teams will have the opportunity to send one of their members to Israel to gain firsthand insightinto thecountry’s innovation and entrepreneurship sector.
Award-winning projects
During the event, three of the eight projects submitted were awarded prizes.
After deliberating, the committee selected the winning teams, and one member from each team will travel to Israel for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
“The winners will have the opportunity to travel to Israel and discover theworld’s most advanced innovation ecosystem,”said Adriana Camisar, M.A.
The awards were presented by three members of the jury.
- First prize: Adriana Camisar, M.Sc., and Ruperto Long, Eng., presented the first prize to Phyco Tech.
- Second prize: Álvaro Brunini, MBA, took the floor and presented the award to the CleanWall project.
- Third prize: Engineer Eduardo Mangarelli presented the third prize to the Clavala project.
What do the recognized initiatives do?
The three ideas presented were recognized for their social impact, as they aim to benefit society.
PhycoTech
PhycoTechis a startup that aims to engineer a microalga to produce recombinant proteins for the cosmetics industry.
This development aims to reduce the environmental impact of traditional protein production by creating more sustainable alternatives with significant potential for application in the cosmetics industry.
The company aims to establish itself as a leader in Latin America in the sustainable production of recombinant proteins, bringing innovation and technological self-sufficiency to the region’s biotechnology ecosystem.
PhycoTech was developed by three students and a graduate of Universidad ORT Uruguay:
- Fiorella Toniotti: a biotechnology engineering student.
- Facundo Rocha, Engineer: graduate in Biotechnology Engineering.
- Marcia Martínez: a biotechnology engineering student.
- Matilde Klett: a biotechnology engineering student.
CleanWall
CleanWallis a biotechnology startup that effectively combats mold growth on the walls of homes.
It offers a cost-effective and long-lasting solution that remains effective for 10 to 15 years.
The project aims to improve the quality of the air people breathe by focusing on eliminating microorganisms from indoor surfaces.
To achieve this, it has developed a nanotechnology-based paint additive that prevents moisture and mold growth.
In this way, CleanWall helps create healthier and more sustainable environments.
CleanWall was developed by two students from Universidad ORT Uruguay:
- Rodrigo Filippini: a biotechnology engineering student.
- Mariano Díaz: a biotechnology engineering student.
Clavala
Clavala is a mobile app that connects soccer players with recruiters.
The platform allows soccer players to share matches and highlights, increasing their visibility and showcasing their skills to the professional scouting community.
Clavala's goal is to revolutionize the way athletes connect with sports professionals, creating new opportunities for development and growth.
Clavala was developed by three graduates of Universidad ORT Uruguay:
- Martina Praderio, B.S.in Systems Engineering.
- Martina Rago, B.S. in Systems Engineering.
- Agustina Martínez, B.S. in Systems Engineering.
Launch of the ILAN Awards for University Innovation
During the ILAN Awards for University Innovation, Ruperto Long and Adriana Camisar took the floor.
In turn, Eduardo Hipogrosso, Vice Rector for Institutional Management and Development at Universidad ORT Uruguay, addressed the audience.
On that occasion,he highlighted this opportunity and congratulated all the participants in the contest.
Mr. Long, representing ILAN, expressed his gratitude for the support provided by Universidad ORT Uruguay.
He also emphasized the importance of innovation as a driver of progress and stated:
“We all need to innovate; that’s the way forward in the 21st century.”
Meanwhile, Ms. Camisar hosted the event and highlighted the significance of this competition.
The other proposals that were submitted
In addition to the three winning projects, several participants had the opportunity to present their ideas and startups, bringing attention to innovative proposals with great potential.
Secura Platform
This business proposal aims to transform the approach to cybersecurity by putting people at the center.
Its main goal is to prevent cyberattacks and make cybersecurity more accessible to everyone.
Build
Edifica is an online store designed to help small and medium-sized businesses go digital without needing their own website or specialized technical staff.
Its goal is to lower the barriers to entry into the digital world for businesses that, for various reasons, have not yet been able to access it.
BidHoliday
Focusing on Uruguay's tourism sector, BidHoliday is an accommodation booking platform that operates through auctions.
The project allows both property owners and tenants to access better prices and deals in the tourism market.
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DermaVix
DermaVix is a project focused on the cosmetics industry that aims to have a positive impact on teenagers who suffer from acne.
It offers a product specially formulated to fight acne and promote healthy skin.
In addition, more than 75% of its ingredients are of natural origin, including grape pomace.
ReFit
ReFit is a platform that turns physical effort into tangible rewards.
It motivates people to achieve their physical activity goals by offering them the chance to redeem their achievements for tangible rewards.
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