The University of Jaén (UJA) has dominated the podium of the 'Student Pitch Competition' at Startup OLÉ Marbella 2026, achieving the top three prizes with the projects 'InnovaRA Kids', 'Olivar Nexo 4.0', and 'IRIS AI'.
The University of Jaén (UJA) has achieved an unprecedented milestone at Startup OLÉ Marbella 2026, the leading event for entrepreneurship and innovation in Spain. Its three projects presented in the 'Student Pitch Competition' have won first, second, and third prizes, a result that the Vice-Rectorate for Students and Employability has described as “unprecedented”.
The Winning Projects: Technology, Olive Groves, and Artificial Intelligence
The first prize went to ‘InnovaRA Kids’, a project arising from the UNIVERGEM programme. The second place was awarded to ‘Olivar Nexo 4.0’, developed under the INSIDE programme, while the third prize was claimed by ‘IRIS AI’, driven by the Santander X initiative.
In total, UJA presented 14 startups created by students and graduates from its employability and entrepreneurship programmes. The Jaén delegation competed against proposals from across Europe, demonstrating the strength of the business ideas generated in the university's classrooms.
“This achievement demonstrates the strength and viability of the business ideas developed in the classrooms of Jaén,” stated sources from the Vice-Rectorate for Students and Employability at UJA.
Institutional Presence and Networking
In addition to the competition, the University of Jaén had its own institutional stand in the exhibition area, where it showcased its initiatives in entrepreneurship to investors, corporations, and public entities. Participation in Startup OLÉ Marbella 2026, held on June 17 and 18 at the Marbella Congress and Exhibition Centre, gathered over a thousand international attendees.
The event, organised by the University of Salamanca in collaboration with the Marbella City Council and the Junta de Andalucía, has established itself as a leading European forum for the entrepreneurial ecosystem.
What It Means for the Andalusian Entrepreneurial Ecosystem
This triumph places UJA on the map of national and international entrepreneurship. For the participating students and graduates, it represents a unique opportunity to validate their projects in a real environment, with potential access to investors and corporations. The university thus reinforces its position as a breeding ground for innovative talent in Andalusia.
The entrepreneurship programmes at UJA —UNIVERGEM, INSIDE UJA, Explorer, and Santander X— are solidifying as catalysts for viable business ideas. The success at Startup OLÉ Marbella 2026 closes the academic year with a golden touch and projects the brand of the University of Jaén within the entrepreneurial ecosystem.
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