Innovators Under 35 Awards: young people transforming Latin America

In October 2024, MIT Technology Review in Spanish and the consulting firm Opinno presented the 35 winners of the tenth edition of the Innovators Under 35 LATAM awards.

This prestigious award recognizes the potential of young Latin Americans who are revolutionizing diverse areas through innovative projects that improve the quality of life and contribute to social and environmental well-being.

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What are the Innovators Under 35 Awards?

The Innovators Under 35 Awards recognize young people from different countries who are implementing creative and high-impact solutions in areas such as health, education, sustainability and technology.

This distinction, promoted by MIT Technology Review and Opinno, speaks to Latin America’s commitment to innovation and technological development and highlights regional talent to address global and local problems.

The sectors of the winning projects

The projects of the Innovators Under 35 winners cover a wide range of sectors, from health and sustainability to education and finance.

Among the breakthroughs highlighted in this edition were solutions to improve agriculture, technologies for education and developments that help reduce environmental impact.

Inventors: the young people in this category stand out for their contributions in sustainability and medical technology. Among them are:

• Enrique González from Mexico, who develops products based on agave residues for medical treatments, and.
• Isabel Pulido of Colombia, who works in sustainable refrigeration.

Entrepreneurs: here are the following innovators:

• Gabriel Granjeiro from Brazil, who democratizes education through accessible platforms, and
• Franco Zurita from Peru, who supports the management of online payments for companies.

These projects not only have a positive impact on society, but also create viable and sustainable businesses.

Visionaries: this group includes those who anticipate and solve future problems.

• Daniel Garza of Mexico, for example, uses microalgae for sustainable agriculture, and Juan Echeverry of Colombia, who uses microalgae for sustainable agriculture.
• Juan Echeverry of Colombia, who internationalizes smallholder production.

Innovators Under 35 and commitment to the common good.

The Innovators Under 35 projects also address social and environmental issues from a humanitarian and pioneering perspective.

Humanitarian: brings together proposals that, in addition to contributing to technological advancement, help solve specific problems in vulnerable communities. Among them are:

• Nora Torres from Mexico, who works on giving a second life to coffee waste.
• Juan Pablo Ospina from Colombia, who promotes education through the recycling of organic waste, exemplify the positive impact of technology applied to community needs.
• Karim Rifai Burneo of Peru, who developed a digital library accessible without wifi for rural areas.
• Antonio Larios of Mexico, whose platform provides real-time data to improve avocado production in agricultural areas.

For a complete list of the Innovators Under 35 winners, go directly to MIT Technology Review.

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Commitment to the future: the importance of Innovators Under 35

This recognition is a platform that promotes young people who have managed to transform their ideas into practical solutions for the region’s challenges. The director of Innovators Under 35 LATAM, Pedro Mateos, spoke of how these projects demonstrate how science and technology are essential to improve the quality of life of vulnerable populations.

Innovation, according to Mateos, not only contributes to technological progress, but also connects deeply with the realities and problems of each Latin American country.

In addition, this year’s edition has the support of large companies and organizations committed to innovation, such as Repsol, Grupo UNACEM, PwC Peru and Fundación Romero, which recognize the key role of these young people in the sustainable development of the region.

The awards ceremony of the tenth edition will be broadcast from Peru, in a special event that will be shared on the IU35LATAM YouTube channel, and will also allow interested parties to follow closely the recognition of these inspiring projects.

A glimpse into the future with Innovators Under 35

Latin America’s Innovators Under 35 are making a significant difference in areas essential to the region’s sustainable development.

Their innovations reflect the ability of young people to tackle complex problems with effective and sustainable solutions. Through their work, these innovators demonstrate that technology, properly applied, can change the world and improve the lives of thousands of people.

The tenth edition of the Innovators Under 35 Awards in Latin America showcases the talent and ingenuity of young people in the region who, beyond their individual achievements, are examples of the transformative potential of innovation when it is geared toward the common good.

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