AITEX closed the call for participation for the fifth edition of the Business Awards, and the event surpassed its own registration record from the previous four editions.
A total of 122 companies from across the national region submitted applications in different categories: 50 in entrepreneurship, 40 in textiles, and 35 in cosmetics. Given these figures, the numbers look solid. Attendance rose by 60 percent compared to the 2022 edition, which saw 76 participants.
Significant participation in the entrepreneurship track stands out. With start-ups being rewarded for a second consecutive year, registrations rose from 35 in 2022 to 50 in 2023.
Among the registered companies, 47 hail from the Valencian Community and 75 from other Autonomous Communities, representing 61 percent of the total. Alicante province leads with 30 entries, followed by Barcelona with 28 and Madrid with 17.
Finalists are selected by an expert jury, composed of high-level representatives from the textile, cosmetics, academic, corporate, and business sectors. The jury will evaluate the proposals in each modality, and the winners will be announced at the awards ceremony on November 23.
The scoring criteria will consider the value proposition, innovation or environmental impact of each proposal, achieved results, socioeconomic footprint, and the overall quality of the submission.
award ceremony
The 2023 AITEX Business Awards ceremony will take place on Thursday, November 23, at 18.00, in the meeting room of the new AITEX headquarters.
Finalists for each entry type will be announced, and the top two positions in each category will be revealed at a later date. The winner in each category will receive a financial prize of €20,000, while the second place will receive €10,000. In total, prizes amount to €90,000 once again.
Professional seminar focused on companies
The AITEX 2023 Business Awards ceremony will also feature a high-level professional seminar. Pedro Videla will discuss global macroeconomy, emerging economies, and international markets.
Pedro Videla is a professor in the IESE Economics department with a PhD in Economics from the University of Chicago. His areas of expertise include macroeconomics, international economics, and emerging economies.
He has served as a consultant to international organizations such as the European Commission, the World Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank, the United States Agency for International Development, and the International Monetary Fund. He has also taught at universities around the world, including Reykjavik University, Nile University, Lagos Business School, CEIBS, Universidad de los Andes, and Wharton School.
Consolidated awards
With the closing of the fifth edition of the AITEX Business Awards, participation has expanded across the national region, drawing entries from cities such as Madrid, Barcelona, Tarragona, Seville, Toledo, A Coruña, Malaga, among others.
The Business Awards program, launched in 2018, aims to revitalise business activity by linking textiles and other sectors and by helping companies grow through innovative solutions, sustainability, and research. The awards reward work that contributes to development and expansion in these areas.
About AITEX
AITEX stands as a reference center at the forefront of innovation, research, and technological development in Spain, and is among the top five in Europe. With more than 35 years of experience, it continually invests in infrastructure, delivering solutions to companies and creating opportunities for multiple productive sectors today and in the future.
Its activities span applied research, technological innovation, advanced laboratory services, certifications, and technical training for companies.