BNEW 2025 Honors the Most Innovative Projects in the New Economy

• The Mayor of Barcelona, Jaume Collboni; the Minister of Equality and Feminism of the Government of Catalonia, Eva Menor; the Government Delegate in Catalonia, Carlos Prieto; and the General Director of CZFB, Blanca Sorigué, presided over the event last night.

• Arboleda Intelligence (Aviation), Secrets Vault (Digital Industry), AiMA beyond Ai (Health), Soluciones de Movilidad Especiales – SOLMES (Mobility), Methanol Reformer (Sustainability), and ReflectEasy (Talent) were the startups awarded the BNEW 2025 Best Startup Awards.

Barcelona, October 2, 2025 – The sixth edition of the Barcelona New Economy Week (BNEW), organized by the Consorci de la Zona Franca de Barcelona (CZFB), held the BNEW 2025 Startup Awards ceremony yesterday at the DFactory Barcelona auditorium. These awards recognized the top emerging companies in each of the event’s verticals: Aviation, Digital Industry, Health, Mobility, Sustainability, and Talent.

The Mayor of Barcelona, Jaume Collboni; the Minister of Equality and Feminism of the Government of Catalonia, Eva Menor; the Government Delegate in Catalonia, Carlos Prieto; and the Director General of the CZFB, Blanca Sorigué, presided over the event last night.

This event served to recognize the best startups in each of the verticals featured at BNEW 2025. A total of 120 emerging companies submitted their applications to compete for these awards through the BNEW Startup Innovation Hub, a unique meeting point for sharing the latest technological advances in the new economy and connecting companies with potential partners and investors. From these 120 startups, the jury selected 30 finalists, evaluating aspects such as the impact of their innovations on the industry, the capabilities of their management teams, and the high-value technological solutions that provide sustainable competitive advantages. The jury also considered their potential for sustainable growth, their ability to influence the economy and society, and their innovative component.

During her speech, Blanca Sorigué, General Director of CZFB, highlighted that “this year we received 120 applications of very high quality, both in terms of business approach and the profile of the founding teams. It is a real pleasure to see how every year we receive more applications that reflect the momentum of this new economy, which BNEW showcases annually through this event that has become a must-attend for all professionals who want to connect new worlds, drive new ideas, and ultimately, transform society”.

The Mayor of Barcelona, Jaume Collboni, wanted to emphasize “the leadership of Pere Navarro at the helm of the Consorci de la Zona Franca de Barcelona, which is clearly reflected in the expansion of DFactory Barcelona, enabling the emergence of this great District 4.0 in Barcelona, thanks to the companies and entrepreneurs who have joined us and chosen to establish themselves in the city”.

For her part, the Minister of Equality and Feminism of the Government of Catalonia, Eva Menor, stressed that “BNEW is much more than just an event. It’s about creating spaces for cooperation, which become meeting points for people, talent, public and private organizations, all with a shared goal: to bring together their talent, knowledge, and efforts for the collective good”.

Finally, the Government Delegate in Catalonia, Carlos Prieto, referring to the changes and challenges society faces globally, stated that “we must learn from the mistakes of the past in order to move forward with hope. Hope is the conviction of the brave, and all of today’s award winners embody these words: hope, conviction, and courage”.

BNEW 2025 Best Startup Awards

Among the 120 national and international startups participating in this edition, six emerging companies were recognized—one for each of BNEW 2025’s vertical sectors. The winners were:

-Best Aviation Startup: Arboleda Intelligence A pioneering European defense startup developing stealth drones with VTOL (vertical take-off and landing) capabilities, ideal for operations in conflict zones and hard-to-reach areas. Their modular approach and Industry 5.0 manufacturing standards enable rapid and scalable deployments. These systems support critical missions such as surveillance, infrastructure protection, and hybrid warfare response. Arboleda Intelligence supports EU sovereignty, NATO system interoperability, and strategic autonomy goals in defense and security. CEO Jonatan Domenech accepted the award.

-Best Digital Industry Startup: Secrets Vault Offers a revolutionary solution to protect identities and sensitive information from current and future threats. Their patented technology generates post-quantum cryptographic keys from personal images, eliminating passwords and external hardware. The platform enables secure data storage, sharing, and authentication with maximum privacy and regulatory compliance. Ideal for regulated sectors like banking, insurance, and digital defense, it enhances customer trust and loyalty. CEO Gerard Cervelló received the award.

-Best Health Startup: AiMA beyond Ai Created an empathetic virtual companion to improve individuals’ well-being and autonomy. Through natural conversation and constant presence, AiMA combats unwanted loneliness and offers intelligent companionship when no humans are nearby. Its technology enables emotionally meaningful interaction, accessible 24/7. AiMA complements human caregivers with continuous digital empathy. CEO Alex Izquierdo accepted the recognition.

-Best Mobility Startup: Soluciones de Movilidad Especiales – SOLMES Develops inclusive and accessible technological solutions for sustainable mobility. Their solution, Park4Dis—developed with support from Fundación ONCE and ACCIO and awarded by the UN—facilitates access to over 62,000 reserved parking spaces for people with reduced mobility in 600 European cities. The platform provides verified, updated information, surpassing limitations of other apps. It promotes intermodality and autonomy for users with mobility challenges. CEO Carlo Castellano received the award.

-Best Sustainability Startup: Methanol Reformer Designs and markets advanced systems for generating hydrogen and electricity through methanol reforming. Their mobile and stationary solutions provide clean energy in areas without conventional power grids. Known for high efficiency, low emissions, and 24/7 operation, they offer a sustainable and scalable alternative with low operating costs and minimal maintenance. CEO Javier Torres accepted the award.

-Best Talent Startup: ReflectEasy Offers an HR Tech SaaS solution that helps teams resolve conflicts, reduce stress, and improve mental well-being in minutes—preventing issues from escalating. Through a private, structured guide, employees can pause, reflect, and act clearly. It functions as an emotional copilot, requiring no prior training and ensuring anonymity. It detects tensions before they become conflicts or absences. HR receives early signals and actionable data that impact productivity and talent retention. CEO Vanesa Bravo accepted the distinction.