Mexico inaugurated this years Innovators Under 35 awards season. The Latin American country hosted the Emtech conference this past May 29th and 30th (the most rigorous, top-quality, experienced and wide scoped meeting of emerging technologies by MIT Technology Review) where the ten award winners presented their project to an audience of more than 600 people, including leaders of the international technology community.
It's not the first time Mexico demonstrates their interest in innovation and technological entrepreneurship. In 2012 they held the first edition of the event being a pioneer in summoning this competition on the American continent. The aim of the awards is to identify best works of innovation and recognize the effort and dedication of young Mexicans, also promoting their professional career. In 2013, Mexico has broken the record of candidatures with more than 250 projects proposed, with biotechnology and information technology being areas with the highest representation (accounting for over a third of jobs).
Among the awarded, a special recognition was given to Daniel Gomez, awarded as Innovator of the Year for his project of technologies for the generation of decentralized power from non-food sources. Meanwhile, Andrés Monroy-Hernández was recognized as Solidary Innovator for his use of narcotuits and web technologies to solve problems such as education, health or safety.
The winners of Innovators Under 35 Mexico 2013 have been:
- Alejandro Maza. Collection and analysis of citizen proposals to address social problems.
- Ana Gabriela Gallardo. Universal technology for medication dosification
- Andrés Monroy-Hernández. Narcotuits and web technologies to empower the citizen.
- Daniel Gomez. Technologies for the generation of decentralized power from non-food sources.
- Enrique Lomnitz. System for rainwater collecting for low-income urban areas.
- Jorge Camil. Quality education assisted by information technology to close the digital divide
- Jose Rodriguez. Sustainable architecture and design in an pocket app
- Laura Peña. Nanofluids lubricants that increase wear resistance
- Melissa Rodriguez. Wireless water contaminants monitoring through a network of biosensors.
- Waldo Perez. Real time System for inspecting of welds on aluminum parts.
The ceremony was attended by various representatives from MIT and other leading institutions involved in technological entrepreneurship, such as the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) accurate reflection of Mexicos support for innovation.
Innovators Under 35 Mexico is the first of many regional editions to be held in 2013 in Latin America. Last year, Opinno, Spanish editor of MIT Technology Review, held ( successfully) the awards in Colombia, Spain, Mexico, Argentina and Uruguay. This year Peru, Chile, Brazil and Central America will join the regional editions of the awards. Pedro Moneo, Opinno founder and director of the Spanish edition of MIT Technology Review was present in the Mexican event and congratulated the winners, which "symbolize emerging technologies with the most potential, who are being emerging today and can have a positive impact on the daily lives of millions”.
