Submit your application by September 30!
On July 23, registration opens for the 20th edition of the 2026 UPV IDEAS Awards, the competition through which the Polytechnic University of Valencia recognizes and supports the most innovative and viable startups and companies launched through its entrepreneurship area IDEAS UPV.
With a total budget of €30,000 in prizes, this call for proposals aims to highlight the entrepreneurial talent within the UPV community and support the growth of the projects with the greatest impact.
Award Categories
Nominations may be submitted in any of the following categories:
- “LEAN” Awards: for companies incorporated on or after January 1, 2022.
- “AVANZA” Awards: for companies established on or before December 31, 2021.
- “SPIN OFF UPV” Award: for companies founded by UPV staff based on UPV university research.
- “WOMAN ENTREPRENEUR” Award: for companies founded or co-founded by UPV women with a stake in the company’s equity of 50% or more, and/or in which leadership is held by a UPV woman who is a partner in the company.
In total, up to 7 awards with individual prizes ranging from €3,000 and €6,000.
Who can participate?
All of the following are eligible: companies affiliated with IDEAS UPV that are engaged in economic activity and have at least one UPV member (student, graduate, or faculty/staff member) on their founding team.
Deadlines and Submission of Applications
The registration period is Open through September 30, 2026.
The application and required documentation must be submitted through the UPV’s electronic registry or the Common Electronic Registry of the State Administration.
Documentation
The required documentation for each category is listed in the rules of the call for applications.
All the information, forms, and templates are available at the “Call for Proposals” section from the IDEAS UPV website.
🚀 If you have a project with UPV DNA, we look forward to seeing you at the 2026 IDEAS UPV Awards!