The Association of Young Entrepreneurs of Catalonia (AIJEC) celebrates its 40th anniversary this year as a leading entity in promoting the entrepreneurial spirit among young Catalans. Founded in the mid-1980s, AIJEC has established itself as a pioneering association and essential driving force for the development and consolidation of young business talent in Catalonia.
With four decades of history, AIJEC has been a key platform for providing support, visibility and a voice to the young business community in Catalonia. One of the entity’s most emblematic initiatives is the Young Entrepreneur Award, an award created to recognize the talent, effort and resilience of the country’s new generations of entrepreneurs. This year, the Young Entrepreneur Award reaches its 32nd edition, reaffirming itself as one of the most prestigious awards in the Catalan business scene. “Celebrating 40 years encourages us to renew our commitment to innovative, responsible entrepreneurship with a positive impact. We will remain faithful to the founding values that have guided us from day one and that strengthen the Catalan business future,” says Ruben Sans, president of AIJEC.
On the occasion of this anniversary, AIJEC has planned several commemorative activities throughout 2025 with which it wants to highlight the organization’s history and continue to inspire future business leaders.
The start of the events celebrating the 40th anniversary of AIJEC coincides with the start of the Young Entrepreneur Award campaign. The organization is looking for the young entrepreneur who best represents the new visions and values of the business world “faithful to the spirit that AIJEC has promoted for 40 years and that we continue to consolidate to strengthen ties, promote young entrepreneurship and open up new opportunities”, claims Sans.
The period to participate in the Young Entrepreneur Award will extend until June 27 and the jury will take into account aspects such as the consolidation of the initial idea in the form of a business, economic viability, entrepreneurial spirit, personal history, innovation, international vision and future challenges.