Catalonia-based companies Qilimanjaro Quantum Tech and AEInnova – Alternative Energy Innovations have been recognized with the Innovation Radar Prize 2024 for their disruptive innovations in the fields of NextGen technologies and sustainability, respectively. This ceremony, held within the framework of the Web Summit in Lisbon, highlights European talent in advanced technologies with potential for growth and social impact. AEInnova and Qilimanjaro not only lead in innovation within their areas but, with the support of Industrial Doctorates with the Autonomous University of Barcelona and other institutions, contribute to technological evolution through applied research.
Innovation at the service of sustainability and quantum computing
Qilimanjaro Quantum Tech is one of the pioneering companies in the development of quantum technology in Europe. With extensive experience in applied research projects, Qilimanjaro is working to lead the construction of the first commercial quantum computer, with the aim of democratizing access to quantum computing. Marta Pascual Estarellas , CEO of the company, recently explained Qilimanjaro's work in the creation of algorithms and quantum hardware, using an analog computing model that differs from current quantum solutions, to facilitate access to quantum technology to industries and research centers. The company has developed up to 9 Industrial Doctorate projects with collaborations with the University of Barcelona (UB), the Polytechnic University of Catalonia (UPC), the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB), the Barcelona Supercomputing Center (BSC) and the Institute of High Energy Physics (IFAE). With its financial growth and notable achievements such as the 2024 4YFN Award, Qilimanjaro has established itself as a key company in quantum computing.
For its part, AEInnova has been awarded in the Sustainability Tech category for its solutions in autonomous IoT sensors that use waste heat to generate energy, a technology that reduces the environmental impact in industries with high energy demand. AEInnova, which also has two Industrial Doctorate projects with the UAB, is developing a secure IoT platform and a heat recovery system with thermoelectric cells, with the aim of improving energy efficiency and reducing costs in industrial sectors.
A Future of Collaborative Research and Innovation
Created by the European Commission in 2015, the Innovation Radar Prize highlights European innovators with high market potential. This prize, co-organised with Dealflow.eu, seeks projects funded by European programmes such as Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe , promoting their transition from the laboratory to the market. This year, the prize celebrated its 10th anniversary, highlighting those start-ups and innovators that show great potential to become leaders in their respective sectors. The winners of this edition, in addition to the recognitions, have obtained tickets to the EU-Startups Summit in Malta 2025, a crucial event for networking and boosting the European deep tech sector.
The recognition of Qilimanjaro and AEInnova at the Innovation Radar Prizes underlines the capacity of Catalan innovation to address global challenges. With the support of Industrial Doctorate programs, these companies manage to connect academic research with market needs, promoting solutions that mark the way towards a more sustainable and technologically advanced future. These initiatives strengthen collaboration between the public sector, academia and companies, a key element for the development of a research ecosystem with real impact on society.
