FUNDACIÓN MAPFRE HONOURS THREE GLOBAL SOCIAL INNOVATION PROJECTS WITH €40,000 AWARDS

Madrid, 12 May 2025 – Fundación MAPFRE has announced the winners of the 8th edition of its Social Innovation Awards, recognising three outstanding international projects that leverage technology to address pressing social challenges. Each winner will receive €40,000 in funding, along with strategic consulting and mentoring provided by IE University to help scale their initiatives.

This year’s winners are:

  • PEGASI SAIL (Chile): A digital solution using artificial intelligence to improve early cancer detection and enhance coordination among patients, hospitals, and healthcare professionals.
  • Helpful Village (USA): A community-based platform designed to support ageing-in-place, offering services such as 24/7 help requests, video calls, interactive maps, and volunteer geo-tracking.
  • Cocoon (Sweden): An innovative airbag system for children’s bicycle seats that inflates in just 20 milliseconds upon detecting a potential collision, using on-board AI.

The awards ceremony, held at Madrid’s Museo Reina Sofía, brought together innovators, academics, and policymakers. The event was attended by notable figures including Juan Cruz Cigudosa (Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Universities), Antonio Huertas (President of Fundación MAPFRE), Diego del Alcázar Benjumea (CEO of IE University), and Andrés Allamand (Ibero-American Secretary General).

Fundación MAPFRE received over 350 entries from entrepreneurs, scientists, researchers, and students across the globe. A panel of experts selected 12 finalists, judging entries on social impact, technical and financial feasibility, and team capability.

Antonio Huertas praised the creativity and commitment of all participants, stating: “Technology and innovation must serve a humanistic purpose and help reduce inequality. These projects exemplify that vision.”