Valery Naranjo, IT Pioneer

Valery Naranjo, professor and researcher at the Universitat Politècnica de València, has been awarded the Pioneras_IT 2024 Prize by the Official College of Telecommunications Engineers (COIT).

This recognition makes her the ambassador of the COIT's mission to promote female vocations in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), especially in telecommunications.

She was chosen by a jury made up of leading figures from the technological field, with the participation of the public via social networks.

Researcher, lecturer and businesswoman

Valery Naranjo is a professor in the Communications Department of the UPV, with a long career in research in artificial intelligence, image analysis and computer vision and an outstanding commitment to teaching and promoting technological careers among women.

She is the director of the CVBLAB research group, linked to the Human-Centered Technology Institute (HUMAN-tech), which focuses on the application of computer vision to biomedical engineering and biomedicine.

Valery Naranjo has received numerous awards. She recently won third prize in Endesa's +50 Emprende awards for the company she heads, Artikode Intelligence, a spin-off from the Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV), which focuses on the analysis of histological images for diagnostic purposes.

A benchmark for young women

For the UPV professor, 'receiving the Pioneers IT 2024 award is an honour. This recognition not only validates the years of effort, dedication and passion I have invested in the field of technology but also reminds me of the responsibility I have to continue to inspire and support new generations.

‘Throughout my career, I have experienced the challenges of making my way in a dynamic and constantly evolving industry. This award allows me to look back and appreciate every obstacle overcome, every project completed and, above all, every opportunity I have had to learn and grow’.

'But the most important thing about this recognition is not only that it values my career, but also that it rewards what my work has meant to my students in their future and professional life'.

The award ceremony took place in the Spanish Senate on 21 October.