The Demo Day of the 2nd edition of the ILAN University Innovation Awards took place on the Pilar campus, a closing event in which four finalist innovation projects with social impact were presented to a jury made up of leading figures in the innovation ecosystem.
The meeting brought together students, graduates, teachers and university authorities, in a space designed to give visibility to initiatives that seek to provide innovative solutions to specific social problems.
The jury was composed of Mariela Icicson, general coordinator of ILAN Argentina and Uruguay; Daiana Daitch, head of the Incubator of the Universidad Austral; and Ana Galiano, Vice-Rector for University Relations Universidad Austral, who evaluated the projects based on their positive social impact, their degree of innovation, their technical and economic viability, and their sustainability over time.
In this edition, the recognized projects were:
1st place – MeatPro
Federica Fargio, Martina Janer and Ornella Nalli, from the Faculty of Business Sciences of Rosario
The project proposes to develop and commercialize a natural bioprotective culture, based on lactic acid bacteria, that reduces or eliminates enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) in beef. The initiative aims to improve food safety and support meatpacking plants in complying with national and international health standards, without altering the product or the production process.
2nd place – Uniko
Lola Rosas, Celine de Keravenant, Valentina Lihuén Rojas and Catalina Verschoor, from the Faculty of Communication – Design career.
UNIKO is an innovative educational model that introduces Worldbuilding, developed by Alex McDowell, as a central methodology to revitalize the school experience, promoting creative thinking, collaborative building, and meaningful learning.
3rd place – Mindy
Ezequiel Piseri and Kiara Manacasa, from the Data Science program, Faculty of Engineering.
Mindy is an educational application based on micro-readings, cognitive exercises and responsible gamification, aimed at strengthening comprehension, attention and progressive learning in an accessible and motivating way.
4th place – A-Tutor
Ignacio Méndez, from the Faculty of Engineering.
A-Tutor aims to support study through artificial intelligence, acting as a virtual tutor that helps to understand content and resolve doubts, adapting to the educational level and subjects of each student.
The ILAN University Innovation Awards, promoted by the ILAN Foundation, seek to identify, recognize, and support innovative university projects with social impact, strengthening the link between universities, innovation, and entrepreneurship. In line with its mission, ILAN promotes exchange between Latin America and Israel, understanding innovation as a driver of social transformation and improved quality of life.
Demo Day once again established itself as a space for visibility, learning, and recognition, where young talents were able to present the results of months of work, creativity, and commitment, putting their knowledge at the service of social transformation.
