On the occasion of the 20th anniversary of its creation as a company, Navantia, part of the Sepi Group, held this Thursday the first edition of the Navantia Awards, aimed at recognising talent, innovation, sustainability and diversity in the naval field and in green energies, as well as the promotion of maritime culture.
The award ceremony took place at the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía (Madrid), with the participation of the president of the State Society of Industrial Participations, Belén Gualda, who closed the event, and the president of Navantia, Ricardo Domínguez.
"We have all the elements to be leaders in Europe, with long-term strategic plans, where technological development and innovation are our forte, reaping the fruit of investment and scaling up what has already been invested," said Belén Gualda.
"Navantia is technological leadership and the ability to adapt to challenges. The world of 2025 is not the one we foresaw 20 years ago, but together we have built a Navantia that is prepared for the future. From a technological, industrial and human point of view, we are prepared to respond to the needs of the country," said Ricardo Domínguez.
The six winners of the Navantia Awards are a clear example of leading organizations and leaders in different fields and have demonstrated an exceptional commitment to innovation, sustainability and diversity, standing out in their respective areas of expertise.
From artificial intelligence and Multiverse Computing model compression to WISTA Spain's promotion of a more inclusive maritime sector, each of the awardees has brought significant value to the development and advancement of the naval sector. The award for the dissemination of maritime culture went to Ángel León, the 'Chef of the Sea'.
Forética's dedication to sustainability and beUnicoos' effort to foster STEM skills at an early age have also been recognized as examples of leadership towards a safer and more sustainable future.
Finally, a special prize was awarded to a Navantia team, which went to monodon, the company's radical innovation cell.
Winners of the Navantia Awards
Navantia Award for the Dissemination of the Culture of the Sea:
Awarded to Ángel León, the "Chef of the Sea", for his gastronomic innovation using new marine ingredients that reduce fishing pressure and promote the sustainability of the oceans. The award was presented by the Secretary of State for Industry, Rebeca Torró Soler. "Without a doubt," said the chef of the Aponiente restaurant, "this award is very exciting for me. It is an honour that such an innovative and important company for the economy of Cádiz notices our work. As I always say, I'm just a learner and we still have a lot to learn from the sea."
Navantia Award for the Promotion of Innovative Talent:
Awarded to Multiverse Computing, for its intense work in the digital transformation of the naval sector through quantum computing and cybersecurity. The award was presented by the Secretary of State and Director of the National Intelligence Centre (CNI), Esperanza Casteleiro Llamazares. Enrique Lizaso, Chief Executive Officer of the company, collected the award: "This award recognizes our innovation in artificial intelligence and, in particular, in model compression, a technology that reduces computational costs, strengthens security and facilitates deployment in environments with limited resources. We are proud to collaborate with Navantia and bring tangible value to the naval and defence sector," said Lizaso.
Navantia Diversity Award:
Awarded to WISTA Spain, the Spanish delegation of the Women's International Shipping & Trading Association, for its dedication to promoting equity in the maritime and port sector. The award was presented by the Secretary of State for Defence, Amparo Valcarce García and was collected by Mercedes Duch, founding member and member of the board of directors of WISTA Spain: "This award reflects the shared commitment by Navantia and Wista Spain to build a more diverse, inclusive maritime sector full of opportunities for all. Let's continue to move forward together towards a more equitable future," said Duch.
Navantia Sustainability Award:
Awarded to the non-profit organization Forética for leading and promoting initiatives that promote public-private collaboration, building alliances that allow a sustainable development model to be achieved. The award was presented by the Director General of Strategy and Innovation of the Defence Industry, Lieutenant General Miguel Ivorra. The person in charge of collecting it has been Germán Granda, general director of Forética. "We have been working for more than 25 years to drive sustainable business transformation. At a key moment to promote a fair and ambitious transition, receiving this recognition from Navantia, one of our particularly active partners committed to sustainability, is an honour and a motivation to continue moving forward stronger on this common path", said Granda.
Navantia Award for the Promotion of STEM Skills at an Early Age:
Awarded to the educational platform beUnicoos for its social impact and its work in altruistic scientific dissemination, which democratizes STEM education with an innovative approach. The award was presented by the Secretary General for Innovation, Teresa Riesgo Alcaide, and it was collected by the co-founders of beUnicoos, David Calle and Francisco Alcaraz. "I am especially excited to receive this award, because I firmly believe that the talent of the future is cultivated from a very young age. Thank you for trusting in our project and for making visible the importance of STEM education," said David Calle.
Navantia Special Award:
Awarded to the Deep Tech monodon by Navantia cell for its commitment to disruptive innovation in fields such as quantum photonics and bio-inspired robotics with dual applications. The award was presented by the president of SEPI Belén Gualda and collected by Patricia Sierra, Head of monodon. "We are very grateful to receive this award, although we would like to share it with the entire Navantia workforce. If there is one thing that is clear to us, it is that moving forward and reaching milestones that make Navantia a competitive company on an international scale is achieved thanks to teamwork. It is a privilege to belong to a company with so much talent, commitment and enthusiasm," explained Sierra.