- This social entrepreneurship initiative, which was launched together with the FDI Foundation and Volies in 2021, welcomed innovative projects presented by people with disabilities or non-profit social entities that facilitate their integration into the labour market.
- The winners in this third edition were Fundación CEE PRODIS and Fundación PIOS Project in the ‘Entities’ category, and Jesús Arroyo Hernández in the ‘Entrepreneurs’ category for his development of the ‘Leg Go’ project.
Indra, one of the leading global defence, aerospace and advanced digital technology companies, has continued its commitment to promoting access to the world of work for people with disabilities in the third edition of its social entrepreneurship launchpad, Ventures4Inclusion.
This initiative, which the company launched together with the Foundation for the Promotion of Development and Integration (FDI) and Volies in 2021, and which aimed to support business ideas based on technology that facilitate access to employment for people with disabilities, continues to be a great success.
Winners
This third edition of Ventures4Inclusion has had three winners in the two categories.
- In the ‘Entities‘ category, Fundación CEE PRODIS was recognised for ‘Green Impact. Measuring Footprints, Changing Lives’. This project consists of the development of a mobile application or web app which, by carrying out short surveys at the client’s premises or at the place where they are attending a conference, event or fair, allows data to be collected with which to measure the carbon footprint generated by the company’s employees.
- The PIOS Project Foundation also received an award on Saturday 16 March for its project ‘Piando costuras con ilusión’, which aims to teach and train in the sewing trade in order to promote the creation of garments (starting with T-shirts), with the logo of the client (large companies, initially), so that they can distribute them among their employees. This will make it possible to train people with disabilities in this trade and enable them to enter the labour market later on. In addition, they would make use of technology thanks to embroidery software and specialised pattern-making and design programmes.
- Two representatives of the winning projects of the 2023 edition were present. Margarita Sánchez Ruiz, general director of AMIMET, and Montserrat Reyes, founder and CEO of MonSegur, shared their experience and achievements after participating in the launch programme with those responsible for the projects selected in 2024.
- Finally, in the ‘Entrepreneurs’ category, Jesús Arroyo Hernández won with his project ‘Leg Go’, a bionic exoskeleton designed to provide support to people who have experienced a pelvitomy and the loss of a femur due to bone cancer. It is an advanced medical device that focuses on improving the quality of life and mobility of patients. This exoskeleton would be designed to be highly adaptable and customisable, taking into account the specific needs of each user.
A jury of experts chose the winning proposals by category, which received a financial prize of 5,000 euros in the case of individuals and 8,000 euros in the case of social entities, to develop their projects.
The projects presented were supported by Indra volunteers, who spent three weeks working side by side in the design of the business plan, marketing and viability and culminated their collaboration withan entrepreneurship marathon, where they shared a day of volunteering and presented the work carried out.
Two representatives of the winning projects of the 2023 edition also took part in the closing meeting between volunteers and winners. Margarita Sánchez Ruiz, general director of AMIMET, and Montserrat Reyes, founder and CEO of MonSegur, shared their experience and achievements after participating in the launch programme with the heads of the projects selected in 2024.
"Our work is based on three fundamental premises: the power of technology to improve people's lives, the involvement of people with disabilities in our projects to access a world with fewer barriers and the strength of volunteers who, in calls such as Ventures4Inclusion, show how far we are capable of going with innovation, talent and good intentions".
Ventures4Inclusion
Ventures4Inclusion is an initiative promoted by Indra’s Social Action and its implementation is part of the company’s commitment to diversity and the social and labour inclusion of people with disabilities. It also aspires to continue to be a benchmark in innovation that promotes their entrepreneurial spirit and encourages them to develop projects that favour their insertion into the world of work, providing them with accompaniment and financial support.
Volies
Volies is a social enterprise with impact, certified as a B Corp, whose objective is social transformation through the main driving force of companies, organisations and society: people. Its main line of action is corporate volunteering together with other areas such as diversity management, communication with social impact, citizen participation and other forms of social activation. Last year alone, Volies coordinated 1,500 actions for 50 companies in collaboration with 400 social organisations in more than 25 countries, mobilising almost 45,000 volunteers and benefiting 375,000 people.
FDI Foundation
Fundación para el Fomento del Desarrollo y la Integración (Fundación FDI) is an NGO that works for the social and labour integration of people with disabilities and/or at risk of exclusion through education and sport. To this end, its social action includes sports schools for young people with disabilities, integration schools for refugees and immigrants, training programmes for young people at risk of exclusion, as well as a reforestation project to offset CO2 emissions. It is also a member of the Spanish Network of the Global Compact and is accredited as a development cooperation entity (NGDO).
Indra
Indra is one of the leading global defence, aerospace and technology companies, as well as a leader in digital transformation and information technologies in Spain and Latin America through its subsidiary Minsait. Its business model is based on a comprehensive offering of high-value proprietary products with a high innovation component, making it the technological partner for the digitisation and key operations of its customers around the world. Sustainability is part of its strategy and culture, in order to respond to present and future social and environmental challenges. At year-end 2023, Indra had revenues of 4,343 million euros, more than 57,000 employees, local presence in 46 countries and commercial operations in more than 140 countries.
