Aurax Technology receives the Best Business Initiative Award for its digital accessibility technology
Jaume Alsina, founder of BonÀrea, receives the Business Career Recognition Award
L2S 1001, Arkeobots and FEEL-IT projects also recognised by AIJEC
Barcelona, 14 September 2026.- Adrià Argemí, co-founder and CEO of Pangea Propulsion, has received the XXXIII Young Entrepreneur Award, presented annually by AIJEC, the Associació de Joves Empresaris de Catalunya, in recognition of his entrepreneurial track record and the company’s ability to develop proprietary technology in a strategic sector such as the space industry.
The other two finalists were Beatriz Mesas, co-founder of Incapto Coffee, and Pablo Linz, founder and CEO of Immfly, who were also finalists in this year’s edition.
The awards ceremony was held at the Palau de la Música Catalana, bringing together business leaders, entrepreneurs and representatives from Catalonia’s economic and institutional spheres.
AIJEC has recognised the career of Adrià Argemí at the helm of Pangea Propulsion, a European company founded in Barcelona and specialised in the development of advanced space propulsion systems. The company designs and develops engines and propulsion systems for launchers, satellites and spacecraft, with the aim of making space missions more efficient, competitive and sustainable.
Under Argemí’s leadership, Pangea Propulsion has established itself as one of the Catalan companies with the greatest potential in Europe’s New Space sector, focusing on proprietary technology development and a more efficient and accessible space industry.
The jury particularly valued Argemí’s ability to build a high-value technology company from Catalonia, as well as his commitment to innovation and internationalisation in a sector with significant growth potential.
Aurax Technology, Best Business Initiative Award
The Best Business Initiative Award in this XXXIII edition went to Aurax Technology, a Barcelona-based deep-tech startup developing advanced assistive technology to increase people’s digital autonomy.
The company’s main development is MouthX, an intraoral device that enables users to control computers, smartphones and other digital devices without using their hands, through movements of the tongue, jaw and head.
Aurax’s solution combines engineering, software and technological innovation to develop accessibility tools that adapt technology to people’s needs. The company developed MouthX with the aim of offering a precise, discreet and customisable alternative for interacting with the digital environment.
Aurax Technology was selected over Mica Eco, a project that transforms domestic water consumption data into tools with social and environmental value through artificial intelligence, and FetaLife Technologies, a biomedical company developing a liquid fetal incubator designed to improve the survival and development of extremely premature babies.
AIJEC recognises the business career of Jaume Alsina
During the gala, AIJEC presented the Business Career Recognition Award to Jaume Alsina, honorary president and founder of BonÀrea, in recognition of his entrepreneurial career and his contribution to the development and consolidation of one of Catalonia’s leading business groups.
Through this recognition, AIJEC aims to highlight a career linked to the creation and consolidation of a long-standing business project, as well as the ability to build a business model with a strong territorial presence and a broad outlook.
The award recognises business leaders who, throughout their careers, have contributed to transforming their surroundings and have become role models for new generations of entrepreneurs and business leaders.
L2S 1001, Business Language Quality Recognition
The Business Language Quality Recognition was awarded to L2S 1001 – Les Mil i Una, a company that develops and markets solutions and products for urban spaces and which has stood out for its commitment to the use and promotion of Catalan in the business environment.
This recognition highlights companies that naturally incorporate Catalan into their communications and day-to-day activities and contribute to strengthening its presence in the economic and business environment.
Arkeobots, Social Entrepreneurship Recognition
The Social Entrepreneurship Recognition in this year’s edition went to Arkeobots, in recognition of its business project and its commitment to generating a positive impact through innovation and entrepreneurship.
Through this award, AIJEC aims to give visibility to projects that place social impact at the heart of their activities and demonstrate that generating economic value can go hand in hand with making a positive contribution to society.
FEEL-IT, Future Business Recognition
The Future Business Recognition was awarded to FEEL-IT, a project developed by students from Col·legi Jesús i Maria Sant Gervasi as part of the Junior Achievement programme.
The recognition aims to highlight the entrepreneurial talent of younger generations and showcase projects developed by secondary school students who are approaching the business world through the creation and management of their own initiatives.
AIJEC thus recognises young people’s ability to identify opportunities, develop ideas and turn them into projects with the potential to create value.
A gala celebrating Catalonia’s young business talent
The XXXIII Young Entrepreneur Award gala served to highlight the talent, innovative capacity and entrepreneurial spirit of Catalonia’s new generation of business leaders.
The awards, organised by AIJEC since 1993, aim to promote, motivate and give public visibility to the best business initiatives led by young entrepreneurs in Catalonia. The 2026 edition rules establish the Young Entrepreneur Award and the Best Business Initiative Award as the two main categories, alongside the various recognitions for business careers, language quality, future entrepreneurship and social entrepreneurship.
In this edition, the six finalists in the two main categories presented their projects to a jury made up of representatives from institutions, business organisations, universities and the media. The jury meeting was held on 16 July, when the finalists’ applications were presented first-hand.
With more than three decades of history, the Young Entrepreneur Award has established itself as one of Catalonia’s leading recognitions for entrepreneurship and business talent. Through these awards, AIJEC aims to honour entrepreneurs and business leaders who contribute to the country’s economic and social progress through innovative, sustainable projects capable of generating impact.
In this regard, its president, Vicenç del Mar, stated today: “This is not about taking anyone’s place. It is simply about starting to take our own.
And perhaps that is why the time has come to raise our hand.”
More about Young Entrepreneurs
The AIJEC, Associació de Joves Empresaris de Catalunya, brings together young business leaders and works to promote entrepreneurship, foster business connections and represent the interests of Catalonia’s new generation of entrepreneurs and business leaders.
Since 1993, AIJEC has organised the Young Entrepreneur Award with the aim of recognising the work, effort and perseverance of young Catalan entrepreneurs capable of creating jobs, developing business projects and contributing to the country’s economic and social development.
Through its activities, institutional representation initiatives and networking opportunities, the Association contributes to building an innovative, competitive business ecosystem committed to the future of Catalan society.
