Mutua Madrileña, Tecnalia and Santander CRUE CEPYME win the Cinco Días Awards for Business Innovation 2012

Mutua Madrileña, Tecnalia and SANTANDER CRUE (Conference of Rectors of Spanish Universities) CEPYME are the winners of the Cinco Días Awards for Business Innovation 2012, which honor the most innovative initiatives in the business world in three categories. The fifth annual edition of the prizes, awarded by Spain’s veteran business and finance newspaper - owned by PRISA - selected the winners from among a hundred projects.

Most Innovative Business Initiative in the field of Corporate Social Responsibility: Mutua Madrileña, for the "Young Professionals" program, an initiative aimed at school dropout prevention.

The jury hailed  the quality of the project, which is aimed at promoting the employment prospects of young people from disadvantaged backgrounds, and above all, fostering personal commitment and effort as key to progress and personal developmenñt in difficult situations.

Most Innovative Business Initiative in the field of New Technologies: Tecnalia, for the project "Oceantec", a floating offshore converter for harnessing wave energy.

The jury paid tribute to the unprecedented innovation involved in this project for the intensive harnessing of wave energy, which combines the benefits of renewable energy with cutting-edge technology.

Most Innovative Business Initiative in association with a University: SANTANDER CRUE (Conference of Rectors of Spanish Universities) CEPYME, and its close collaboration with the "Internship Program for University Students in SMEs".

The jury praised the firm commitment to a program that combines the efforts of the University and the Business sectors to facilitate young people's entry into the professional world, thereby increasing the employment prospects of graduates.

The awards jury, chaired by Emilio Ontiveros, founder and president of Analistas Financieros Internacionales (AFI), included Joaquín Estefanía, Director of the  UAM / El País School of Journalism; Javier Robles, President of Danone, Manuel Mora, Managing Director of Ecopapel , Carlos Moro, President of Grupo Matarromera and Jorge Rivera, Editor-in-chief of Cinco Dias.

The award, established five years ago to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the newspaper, is sponsored by La Caixa and Repsol.

The winners will receive a commemorative sculpture by Cristina Iglesias, and the awards ceremony will be held on November 28 at CaixaForum Madrid.