DeepBridge

A proposal involving sensors and algorithms to optimise the flow of energy in electric vehicle charging cables, to mitigate the loss of power and flow rate experienced at certain temperatures, has earned Murguntu – the team comprising Mario Murgui Sanjuán, Agustín Muñoz Santucho and Daniel Beltrá Navarro – the title of winner of the DeepBridge – UPV TechTransfer Challenge.

Following their victory in the hackathon organised by the IDEAS UPV Entrepreneurship Unit in collaboration with Latam Connect, the three fourth-year students on the Bachelor's Degree in Industrial Electronics and Automation, taught at the School of Aerospace Engineering and Industrial Design at the Universitat Politècnica de València (ETSID-UPV), will attend the Web Summit in Lisbon from 9 to 12 November, one of the world's most important international conferences in the fields of technology, innovation, artificial intelligence, start-ups and digital business.

Connecting UPV talent with real-world challenges

Held on 28 and 29 October, DeepBridge – UPV TechTransfer Challenge brought together students, researchers and companies with a common goal: to find innovative solutions to real-world challenges faced by the business community, drawing on technologies and research developed at the university.

In this way, the initiative aims to bridge the gap between knowledge generated in university laboratories and market needs, whilst fostering entrepreneurship, creativity and collaboration between the academic world and the private sector.

Four companies, seven teams and a common goal

In this edition, four organisations outlined the challenges faced by the participants: Power Electronics, the FACSA-FOVASA Chair in Water, Waste and the Circular Economy, Valyra Aerospace and COVAP. Their participation has enabled students to connect with the specific needs of different productive sectors.

Unlike other entrepreneurship competitions, DeepBridge proposes starting with real-world business problems and exploring how scientific and technological advances developed at the UPV can help to solve them. In this way, companies gain new perspectives on how to tackle their challenges. At the same time, researchers can identify potential applications for their developments.

The hackathon also highlights the value of multidisciplinary teams, bringing together diverse academic profiles that contribute complementary knowledge and approaches to solving complex problems.

From research to business solutions

On the first day, participants were introduced to the challenges outlined by the companies. They began to explore the research and technologies at the UPV related to each challenge. Building on this work, the teams developed their proposals, analysed their technical feasibility and assessed their potential to generate value in the business sector.

The programme combined collaborative working sessions with specialised workshops on design thinking, value propositions, innovation and project communication. The students also received guidance from researchers, PhD students and professionals specialising in entrepreneurship and technology transfer.

The second day culminated in the presentation of the solutions to a jury comprising professionals, business representatives and innovation specialists. Each team was given five minutes to present their proposal and a further seven minutes to answer the jury's questions.

Alcoians, Best Technical Development Award, and HackDeep, Best Business Vision

In addition to the main prize, the jury awarded two supplementary prizes to highlight different aspects of the proposals submitted.

Alcoians, the team comprising Guillem Vallés Mascarós, Álex Monllor Jerez and Iván Celda Soler – all second-year students on the UPV’s Bachelor’s Degree in Industrial Computing and Robotics – has received the award for Best Technical Development, in recognition of the quality and robustness of their solution.

Meanwhile, HackDeep, comprising Percy Alexander Sora Villanueva (EDEM School of Entrepreneurs), Manuel Ferrández-Villena Nohales, a first-year student on the UPV’s Bachelor’s Degree in Industrial Electronics and Automation, and Juan Diego Benites Florian, a fourth-year student on the UPV’s Bachelor’s Degree in Industrial Organisation Engineering, has been awarded the prize for Best Business Vision, which highlights the potential for their proposal to be applied in the market.

The initiative is funded by the Valencian Regional Government, through the Regional Ministry of Innovation, Industry, Trade and Tourism, as part of the EMENTI programme, which provides grants to boost, foster and promote the culture and entrepreneurial ecosystem in the Valencian Community.