Mobile World Capital Barcelona (MWCapital), in partnership with B Lab Spain and GSMA Foundry, has unveiled 17 cutting-edge projects selected as finalists for the first edition of the MWCapital Awards: Technologies for a Sustainable Future.
The awards recognise global innovations that harness technology to foster a more inclusive, equitable, and environmentally responsible future, in alignment with the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The winners will be revealed on June 12, 2025, at a ceremony hosted at Torre Glòries in Barcelona.
The inaugural call attracted 157 entries from 34 countries, showcasing a broad international appetite for tech-driven solutions to global challenges.
Finalists span 11 countries and include a diverse mix of startups, corporations, NGOs, academic institutions, and public agencies.
From AI tools for sustainable fishing to blockchain solutions fighting malnutrition, the projects cover a spectrum of technological innovations across critical areas such as healthcare, biodiversity, urban sustainability, misinformation, and circular economy.
Notable finalist initiatives include:
- AI for Selective Fishing (Spain) – Satlink’s device helps distinguish tuna species under Fish Aggregating Devices, promoting sustainable fishing (SDG 14).
- Julieta (Colombia) – A portable, AI-powered device from Salva Health enables early disease detection in underserved areas, without radiation or specialist intervention (SDG 3).
- Nut4Health (Mauritania) – A blockchain-backed platform that combats child malnutrition, developed by SIC4Change (SDG 3).
- SIMPaCT (Australia) – Western Sydney University’s IoT-driven irrigation system enhances urban cooling and water efficiency (SDG 13).
- Xworks AI (UK) – An AI system that converts waste into valuable secondary raw materials, promoting a circular economy (SDG 12).
- Victoria (Mexico) – A nanotechnology-based implant from Universidad Panamericana that treats lymphoedema in breast cancer survivors (SDG 3).
Other shortlisted projects tackle issues such as smart urban planning, digital public services, brain monitoring for stroke care, and AI tools combating disinformation.
A multidisciplinary panel of experts in sustainability, innovation, and digital technology will now evaluate the 17 finalists. Jurors include:
- John Hoffman, CEO of GSMA Ltd.
- Irene Kaggwa, Director General of Uganda Communications Commission and GIGA representative
- Antonio Torralba, Professor at MIT
- Xavier Sala i Martin, Economist and Professor at Columbia University
Also on the panel are industry and academic leaders from Spain, including B Lab Spain, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, and AMETIC. Their criteria will assess innovation, scalability, and real-world impact.
Six projects will be crowned winners, with one receiving up to €50,000 to pilot its solution in Barcelona as part of the Barcelona Horizon Award. All winners will also present their projects at MWC26 Barcelona, one of the world’s most prominent mobile and tech showcases, gaining vital exposure to investors, collaborators, and global media.
MWCapital aims to position Barcelona as a hub for purpose-driven innovation and foster an international movement around responsible digital transformation. For more information, visit mobileworldcapital.com.
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