This year’s edition, held at the Advanced Clinical Simulation Centre of Loyola University, saw participating teams develop autonomous chairs designed to facilitate the mobility of people with reduced mobility in hospital environments. [NI 

The University of Deusto team was recognised by the jury for a proposal that stood out for its high technical level, functionality and performance during dynamic tests carried out on a circuit simulating typical healthcare scenarios. Judges particularly valued the team’s ability to transform a conventional wheelchair into an advanced technological solution adaptable to the real needs of hospitals and healthcare centres.

The SocialTech Challenge is a competition that combines a passion for engineering and technology with a strong social commitment. Each year, students from the Schools of Engineering at Loyola, Deusto, Comillas and IQS universities work for months on the design, construction and validation of prototypes capable of addressing real societal challenges, demonstrating how technological innovation can be placed at the service of people. 

“At Iberdrola Foundation, we understand that progress is only true progress when it expands opportunities and helps build a fairer society. This is the distinctive value of the SocialTech Challenge: it connects technical excellence with social awareness. It encourages young engineers to look at reality from a different perspective, to listen to real needs and to turn knowledge into useful solutions,” said Teresa Rodríguez de Tembleque, Head of Training at Iberdrola Spain Foundation.

Hospital setting

The third edition of the competition focused on the hospital environment. Participating teams were required to design solutions capable of facilitating the transfer of people with reduced mobility within healthcare facilities, incorporating criteria such as safety, autonomy, ergonomics, intelligent navigation and adaptation to a particularly sensitive environment. 

The prototypes were tested on a specially designed circuit at the Advanced Clinical Simulation Centre of Loyola University, which recreates different spaces and everyday situations found in hospitals and healthcare centres. The aim was to assess the ability of the solutions developed to respond to the real needs of patients and healthcare professionals. 

Beyond the technical complexity, the challenge enabled students to engage with specific social issues and understand how engineering can become a tool to improve people’s quality of life. In Loyola University’s case, participants worked alongside healthcare professionals to gain first-hand insight into existing needs in patient transfer processes and adapt their solutions accordingly. 

The initiative is supported by Iberdrola Spain Foundation, Fundación Sener, UNIJES, Caja de Ingenieros, the Provincial Council of Seville, Abero Medic, City Sightseeing Seville and IBM – organisations committed to fostering young talent, innovation and the application of technology to build a more inclusive and accessible society.

The SocialTech Challenge is thus consolidating its role as a meeting point between academia, business and society, where future engineers have the opportunity to apply their knowledge to real-world problems, develop both technical and human skills, and demonstrate that technological innovation can be a powerful driver of social transformation.