The University, award for best academic practice in Knowledge Transfer among Spanish universities

The University of Navarra has been awarded for the best academic practice in Knowledge Transfer among Spanish universities. The "Universidades Excelentes" awards of El Mundo have recognized the work of the University of Navarra in the implementation of unique university-business contracts, the generation of patents, the creation of technology-based companies and spin offs, the collaboration with projects of other institutions, etc. In the same call, the initiative #Yoteayudoconlasele by Amaya Vizmanos Larráyoz, a bilingual double degree student of ADE and Law, was the winner in the category of Excellent Students. 

The newspaper El Mundo has announced the edition of the "Universidades Excelentes" awards, on the occasion of the III Foro Universitario-Universidad Empresa. The aim is to recognize the best academic practices that have been developed during 2019 and 2020 in the following categories: Research, Teaching Innovation, Internationalization, Knowledge Transfer, Employability and Excellent Students. A total of 98 nominations have been submitted.

Creation of technology-based companies

The professionals of the Valorization and Transfer area of the Research Management Service and Innovation Factory - Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center - of the University of Navarra support the research carried out by the University and the Clinic, in addition to advising on industrial property -legal aspects-, contracts, regulatory issues, strategy, finance and business, which allows the transfer to be carried out in an optimal way, achieving the creation of new companies and strategic collaborations with the business network.

In 2014, the University of Navarra and Clave Mayor promoted a venture capital fund of 8.5 million euros, registered with the National Securities Market Commission a year later. In five years, the fund has invested in 12 start-ups to which the University has transferred and contributed knowledge to 11 of them, such as Nexkin Medical, Nucaps Nanotechnology, Polimerbio, Predictheon, Twin and Chic, MainRail and Genbioma. Currently, through the project incubator, Innovation Factory is promoting 4 other start-ups, based on the development of the University's R&D activity. During 2020, the University, the Clinic and the different Centers signed collaborative projects with the business fabric and other institutions worth 34.5 million euros. At the University and the Clinic, these activities are managed by the Research Management Service, with experience in establishing licensing agreements to companies that continue with the development of technologies. The University of Navarra and its centers have a portfolio of more than 100 patents, software registrations and industrial secrets to meet the needs of companies.

A project to help high school students in the middle of a pandemic

The project #yoteayudoconlasele driven by Amaya Vizmanos, a student of ADE and Law at the University of Navarra, was born with the vocation to help and support students in the 2nd year of Bachillerato who, at the time when the state of alarm is decreed and the confinement begins, in March 2020, were preparing to finish their Baccalaureate and face their selectivity exams, at the end of the course 2019-20. The project began with an instagram account and ended with the development of a web platform articulated mainly in two axes: academic support (online classes, forum for resolving doubts, note banks...); and emotional support(guidance service, online library, talks with psychologists). 

The initiative brought together more than 700 university volunteers to serve a community of 30,000 high school students from all over the country. 

In a matter of days, the Instagram account tallied more than 21,000 followers.

More than 1,000 files of notes were created and uploaded for 20 subjects, and 50 classes per week of all subjects and 30 sessions of university experiences were given.