The ideas promoted by the university community have been finalists in the third edition of UJI Emprèn OnSocial

The third edition of UJI Empren OnSocial, the social entrepreneurship program of the Jaume I University of Castelló, has come to an end with the presentation of the finalist projects. Seven candidate initiatives to become social impact companies that are led and promoted by the university community of Castellón: students, teaching and research staff, administration and services staff and former students AlumniSAUJI.

The event was chaired by the organizing entities of the program, the INCREA Chair of Innovation, Creativity and Learning and General Foundation of the Jaume I University, managing entity of podcast. It has also had SECOT Castellón, an association in charge of offering mentoring to projects throughout the program.

Everyone has highlighted the quality of the finalist projects in the third edition, the increase in entrepreneurial initiatives generated edition after edition, the effort made by the organization of the program to adapt it to the online format in record time, and the commitment of participating students and teachers. to move forward despite the state of health alert.

7 candidate ideas to become social impact companies

The seven finalist projects combine social commitment, innovation and technology to offer solutions applied to all types of needs: from initiatives that help companies in the plastics sector to demonstrate and improve the biodegradability of their products to create a more sustainable world, to applications to reduce social isolation in adults with a mental illness, through personalized myopia control kits to reduce this disease among the younger population.

All finalist projects will be eligible for two grants of 10.000 euros from Banco Santander, through Santander Universities, the bases of which will be published at the beginning of the next academic year, to continue developing their business project within Espaitec, with the support of SECOT Castellón.

Registration for the fourth edition opens in September 2020

During the event it was confirmed that the Universitat Jaume I, through the vice-chancellors for Research and Transfer and for Students and Social Commitment and thanks to the support of the Department of Innovation, Universities, Science and Digital Society, is already working on the fourth edition of the program for the 2020-2021 academic year. The registration opening period will take place next September. All those members of the university community interested in participating will soon be able to consult the rules and pre-register through  http://ujiempren-onsocial.uji.es.

Detail about the seven finalist projects of the third edition

1. CEBIMAT (Center for Biodegradability Studies of MATerials): accredited laboratory dedicated to carrying out physical-chemical tests and technical advice to help companies demonstrate and improve the biodegradability of their products. Its mission is to promote the development of new sustainable materials that contribute to mitigating the secondary effects of waste management. Project promoted by Patricia Feijoo Dominguez, doctoral student and PDI of the PIMA group of the Higher School of Technology and Experimental Sciences (ESTCE), Luis Cabedo Mas, PDI of the PIMA group and José Gámez Pérez, PDI of the PIMA group.

2. Compark: shared garage platform, in which drivers looking for parking can do so in spaces that are temporarily empty. Project promoted by Carles Aragón Sebastiá, graduated in Computer Engineering from the Universitat Jaume I, and Boris Escandell Lagardera, master in English Language for International Trade (ELIT) from the Universitat Jaume I.

3. Connect-T: mobile application aimed at reducing social isolation in adults with mental illness. Exclusive social tool for people with a mental illness that promotes social interaction, provides leisure alternatives and proposes daily challenges to work on in various areas. Initiative developed by Carla Juan Alfaro, student of the Psychology Degree at the Universitat Jaume I of Castelló.

4. EOVA (Center specialized in myopia control): Personalized myopia control kit to monitor and reduce the increase in myopia in children and adolescents, a population where myopia does not stop growing due to the increase in the use of electronic devices, helping young people reach adulthood with a graduation that is not risky. Promoted by Juan Camilo Cañas Garzón, Degree in Finance and Accounting from the Universitat Jaume I, and Estefany Cañas Garzón, optician-optometrist.

5. PsicoSp@ce: multidimensional space with digital tools to build personal and professional development through personalized assistance: Coaching & Therapy. Through an online platform, tools will be provided that enhance autonomy and personal or environmental control. Project led by Araceli Palma Gomez, PhD student in Psychology and member of the Laboratory of Psychology and Technology (Labpsitec) research group.

6. SocioLab: virtual data unification tool to facilitate the presentation of different actors to social calls. The promoters of the project are Keilly Yuliana Rodríguez Vaca y Gloria Esperanza Ospina Florez, both students of the Master's Degree in International Peace, Conflict and Development Studies.

7. Tailwind: innovative technological solution to bring self-consumption to regions with less sunny and windy climates such as Central Europe. It is promoted by Eloy Martín Gascón, mechanical engineer studying the Master in Industrial Engineering at the UJI.