The awards ceremony for the “María Cano Innovative Creative Challenges” contest was held in its second edition, led by the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Unit and the Faculty of Engineering, within the framework of the Institutional Innovation and Entrepreneurship Policy. This initiative reaffirms the institution’s commitment to training professionals capable of transforming their environment through creative ideas, relevant solutions, and collaborative processes aimed at social impact.

The contest “María Cano Innovative Creative Challenges V2” aimed to strengthen innovation, creativity, entrepreneurship, and organizational culture within the academic community through the CRIN methodology. This approach fosters the development of leadership, teamwork, decision-making, and creative problem-solving skills; promotes an entrepreneurial culture; incorporates collaborative methodologies to address real-world challenges; and reinforces the relationship between academia, industry, and government, significantly contributing to productivity improvement and the institution’s strategic vision.

In this edition of the contest, 84 students registered, of whom 29 actively participated, representing various campuses and programs. A total of 18 teams were formed, supported by 6 faculty mentors, 2 external judges, and 2 contest coordinators, consolidating an institutional initiative marked by strong participation, academic commitment, and educational impact.

The student proposals addressed six strategic challenges designed to promote critical thinking and applied innovation:

1. Responsible Use of Resources: initiatives to reduce waste and promote sustainable habits.

2. Health and Productivity in the Digital Era: alternatives to mitigate the effects of sedentary lifestyles and academic/work stress.

3. Urban Agriculture and Sustainable Food: environmentally friendly local production models.

4. Gender Equity in the Workplace: actions to reduce wage and leadership gaps.

5. Remote Work and Cybersecurity: strategies to strengthen data protection in remote environments.

6. Safety and Inclusion in Villa Nueva (Comuna 10 – Medellín): solutions to improve coexistence, safety, and public-space engagement.

🏆 Results and Awards

After evaluating the proposals based on criteria such as originality, innovation and creativity, feasibility, social impact, scalability, and value proposition, the top four positions were recognized:

• 1st place: $140,000

• 2nd place: $120,000

• 3rd place: $100,000

• 4th place: $20,000

All participants received a certificate of participation as recognition of their effort, dedication, and contribution to the creation of innovative solutions with social purpose.

From the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Coordination Office, we highlight the talent, creativity, and commitment demonstrated by the students and faculty involved. This second edition reaffirms the importance of creating spaces that promote innovation, strengthen analytical skills, and enhance applied creativity, thus contributing to institutional development and a positive impact on the community.

María Cano will continue promoting initiatives that bring academia closer to the real challenges of the territory, fostering an innovation culture that inspires transformation and development.

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