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Mobile World Capital Awards: Celebrating Innovation for a Sustainable Future

Mobile World Capital Barcelona (MWCapital), in partnership with B Lab Spain and GSMA Foundry, has revealed the 17 finalist projects for its inaugural MWCapital Awards. These awards aim to honor technological initiatives that contribute to a sustainable future. The event is set for June 12, 2025, at the iconic Torre Glòries in Barcelona, where the winners will be announced.

A Global Call for Change

The call for submissions concluded in March, attracting an impressive 157 applications from 34 countries. This signifies a growing global interest in technological solutions with social and environmental benefits. The finalists represent eleven nations and encompass a diverse range of contributors, including startups, corporations, public institutions, NGOs, and research organizations.

The finalists' projects span various sectors, from energy sustainability and biodiversity conservation to early disease detection and the fight against misinformation. Each initiative embodies a commitment to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), illustrating how technology can drive meaningful change. These projects utilize advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain, big data, nanotechnology, and the Internet of Things (IoT) to create impactful solutions.

The Innovative Finalists

Among the 17 finalists are compelling projects:

• - AI for Selective Fishing (Spain): Satlink utilizes AI to facilitate sustainable tuna fishing by distinguishing between fish species in aggregation devices (SDG 14 - Life Below Water).
• - BraiN20® (Spain): A real-time brain monitoring device by Time is Brain S.L. enhances stroke response through continuous functional data (SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-Being).
• - Data-Driven City for Citizens (Finland): The Tampere smart city initiative employs AI and digital twins to promote urban sustainability and citizen engagement (SDG 11 - Sustainable Cities and Communities).
• - Embrace the Forest (Brazil): Pantera is a wildfire management software that employs AI for prevention, detection, and impact analysis, aiming to reduce CO2 emissions (SDG 13 - Climate Action).
• - Gov.pt - Portuguese Digital Wallet (Portugal): A national app that digitizes official documents, streamlining public service access (SDG 16 - Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions).
• - H2SAREA (Spain): Nortegas's project integrates green hydrogen into natural gas networks, supporting decarbonization efforts (SDG 9 - Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure).
• - Julieta (Colombia): Developed by Salva Health S.A.S., this AI-driven portable device enables early disease detection without the need for radiation (SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-Being).
• - Kyiv Digital (Ukraine): A smart city initiative improving urban services and enhancing citizen security (SDG 11 - Sustainable Cities and Communities).

An Expert Evaluation Process

A jury of national and international experts in sustainability, technology, and social innovation will evaluate the shortlisted projects to determine the winners by category, along with the prestigious Barcelona Horizon Award. Esteemed judges include industry leaders such as John Hoffman, CEO of GSMA Ltd., and Irene Kaggwa, Director General of Uganda's Communications Commission.

This diverse panel will ensure a robust evaluation process that considers each project's innovation, scalability, and potential real-world impact regarding the UN’s SDGs.

The Ceremony and International Visibility

The MWCapital Awards ceremony will not only recognize innovation but also offer winners an opportunity to showcase their solutions at MWC26 in Barcelona. This exposure will lead to international visibility, strategic partnerships, funding, and collaboration opportunities. One special prize, the “Barcelona Horizon Award,” highlights tangible impacts with the awarded project implementing a pilot in Barcelona, underlining MWCapital's commitment to inspire global movement towards responsible innovation.

About Mobile World Capital Barcelona

Established as a public-private foundation, MWCapital promotes digital development across society to build a more inclusive, equitable, and sustainable future through the humane use of technology. The foundation aims to position Barcelona as a global digital hub, continuing the legacy of the Mobile World Congress (MWC) through year-round initiatives that focus on technological innovation with social impact.

For more details, follow the journey of the MWCapital Awards and the incredible finalists shaping a sustainable future.