Cemex says nearly 1,500 applications were received for the ninth edition of its Cemex-Tec Award, doubling the number of applications from 2018 to 2019.
The Cemex-Tec Award was launched globally last year, and in addition to the Transforming Communities and Social Entrepreneurs categories, two new categories were launched this year: Community Entrepreneurship and Collaborative Action. The Social Entrepreneurs category achieved the highest number of applications with 757, followed by Transforming Communities with 335, Community Entrepreneurship with 291 and Collaborative Action with 110 projects.
This year, proposals were received from every state in Mexico, with a total of 672 projects from 87 universities. Furthermore, 101 universities from 67 countries registered for the award, with the highest number of applicants from Colombia and the Dominican Republic. There was also high participation from European countries such as Germany, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the Czech Republic.
According to Cemex, the environment was the most recurring theme among the proposals received this year, followed by economic development, education, and social development. All projects are linked to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, with a stronger focus on SDG 8 ‘Decent Work and Economic Growth,’ SDG 10 ‘Reduced Inequalities,’ SDG 11 ‘Sustainable Cities and Communities,’ SDG 3 ‘Good Health and Well-Being,’ and SDG 12 ‘Responsible Consumption and Production.’
This year’s winning projects will receive training and capital as well as take part in Cemex Tec Award Experience Week, from 23-27 September, in Monterrey, Mexico.
During Experience Week, these projects will take part in specialised training sessions, activities outside the classroom to learn more about the local ecosystem, a pitch night, master classes, and networking opportunities with partners, including Ashoka, MassChallenge, MakeSense, Unreasonable México, Impact HUB, and the Sirillo Institute.
Martha Herrera, corporate social responsibility director at Cemex, says: “It is great to see that our global project proposals give us the opportunity to empower and connect social innovation across more than 67 countries under the principle of shared value. For all of us, it is of vital importance that we contribute to tackling global challenges through a local approach, as all businesses need a prosperous environment in which to grow and develop.”
