The philosophy of "making a better world" has been the driving force for many students from the Valencian Community who have seen their teamwork recognized in the 7th edition of Up! Steam. This competition, involving primary, secondary, baccalaureate, and vocational training centers from Alicante, Valencia, and Castellón, is organized annually by the UPV Social Council in collaboration with FECYT and the City Council of Valencia. Its main objective is to awaken early technological vocations in young students and reduce the gender gap in STEAM careers.
The UPV Pavilion was filled to host the protagonists of this event, which gathered 1,000 people, more than half of them finalist students. A festive atmosphere marked the day, where the young participants emotionally received their awards.
The Up! Steam 7 gala marked the first official event for the new president of the UPV Social Council, David Salvo. In his welcome address, he emphasized that the participants "are the confirmation that the future of our community and our country is in good hands" and highlighted effort, camaraderie, creativity, and talent as fundamental pillars. Salvo encouraged students to return to the institution to continue developing their skills, viewing the day as a source of inspiration.
“"Teamwork is the key to success. There is no important project of any product or service, of any kind, that is individual. A company or any organization is a chain with many links, and you have to learn to be part of it."
The path to the final began last October for the 62 finalist teams. In this edition, 243 educational centers registered, a 25% increase from the previous year, with 502 teams and the participation of 4,519 students. 36 teams shared the awards (1st, 2nd, and 3rd) across four categories (dreamers, makers, coders, and gamers) and three levels: juniors (5th and 6th grade of Primary), cadets (1st to 4th grade of ESO), and seniors (1st and 2nd year of baccalaureate).
Following the evaluation phase, a total of 35 municipalities from 17 different regions were represented. By province, Valencia received 20 awards, Castellón 9, and Alicante 6. The regions with the most accolades were Valencia (9), La Plana Baixa (4), L’Horta Sud (3), La Ribera Alta (3), L’Alcalatén (2), L’Horta Nord (2), and La Plana Alta (2).
Among the notable cases, the CEIP Federico García Lorca in Valencia won three awards, the CEIP Francisco Grangel Mascarós in L’Alcora (Castellón) won two, and the IES de Almenara (Castellón) also secured two awards.
The first prizes went to teams from the municipalities of Valencia (3), Castelló de La Plana (2), Altea, Alzira, Burjassot, L’Alcora, Ontinyent, Orihuela, and Sueca.
