The Eibar City Council and BIC Gipuzkoa have launched the 36th edition of the Toribio Echevarria Awards, with the goal of boosting innovative entrepreneurship in Euskadi. Applications will be accepted until October 7th. This call seeks to identify, support, and promote startups and business projects developing innovative solutions based on science and technology, with a particular focus on deeptech projects.
With the aim of driving economic transformation and high impact, the awards will focus on strategic sectors such as quantum technologies, artificial intelligence, biotechnology, new materials, and clean energies.
The awards will be presented across three categories: 'Startups and Business Projects', 'Innovative Companies', and 'Eibar Company – Made in Eibar'. Winners of the first two categories will receive an economic prize of 12,000 euros, along with access to support programs and resources. The specific third category, aimed at initiatives based in Eibar or committed to establishing a presence there within a year, will offer 12,000 euros and a technology bonus of 10,000 euros, prioritizing sectors like advanced industry, sportech, and ecological transition.
Jon Iraola, Mayor of Eibar; Laura Espin, Projects Director at BIC Gipuzkoa; and Vanesa Hortas, Councillor for Economic Development, Employment, and Innovation, were present at the event. They highlighted the awards' significance in detecting talent and strengthening Euskadi's innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem.
Jon Iraola emphasized that "the Toribio Echevarria Awards are already a fundamental part of Eibar's identity and our commitment to entrepreneurship and innovation." The mayor encouraged entrepreneurs and companies to submit their applications to showcase the talent and high-potential initiatives present in Euskadi.
Laura Espin added that the awards "reinforce our strategic commitment to advanced entrepreneurship, particularly for projects and companies based on deeptech technologies." Meanwhile, Vanesa Hortas highlighted the awards' evolution and their ability to identify new projects, focusing on areas poised to play a significant role in the future transformation of industry.
Interested parties can consult the full terms and conditions and participation requirements on the awards' website. The organizers are the Eibar City Council and BIC Gipuzkoa, with the participation of the Entrepreneurship and Internationalization Directorate of the Basque Government and the Department of Economic Promotion and Strategic Projects of the Provincial Council of Gipuzkoa.
