Applications open until December 5

ANI is once again partnering with BPI through the Born from Knowledge (BfK) program for the 6th edition of the Empreendedor XXI Prizes. Applications are open until December 5 for technology-based companies and start-ups with less than three years of activity.

This initiative, promoted in Portugal by BPI and in Spain by CaixaBank through DayOne, aims to support the development of start-ups in Portugal and foster the growth of the entrepreneurial ecosystem by recognizing innovative projects across various sectors.

For the fifth consecutive year, ANI will present the BfK Awards to the best Portuguese company or start-up born from scientific and technological knowledge, recognizing outstanding contributions in Research & Development (R&D) with the “Tree of Knowledge” trophy.

The Empreendedor XXI Prizes are held simultaneously in Portugal and Spain for territorial categories (2 regions in Portugal and 17 in Spain) and jointly for sectoral categories (6 challenge awards across Iberia). In the previous edition, 763 Iberian start-ups applied, including 102 from Portugal.

This year’s six challenges are:

• Banca XXI: Digital and technological transformation of the financial sector—innovative solutions adding value to financial sector products and services (banking and insurance).
• Cidade XXI: Safer, more sustainable, and connected cities—solutions to improve urban living.
• Planeta XXI: Environmental sustainability for future generations—innovative proposals promoting a less resource-intensive lifestyle.
• Silver XXI: Active aging and healthy living through technology—targeting age tech, life sciences, digital health, reduced mobility, senior tourism, sports, and fitness.
• Semente XXI: Digital transformation and innovation in agri-food—technological solutions for efficient, sustainable, and healthy food production.
• Vive XXI: Digitization and new business models in hospitality, tourism, and leisure—solutions to revitalize the sector and introduce innovative business models.

In Portugal, two monetary prizes of €6,000 each will be awarded to companies with the greatest impact in their respective regions: one in the North and Center regions and another in Lisbon, South, and islands. Candidates will also compete for the Iberian “Challenge Prizes,” which award €20,000 to companies best prepared to address challenges in the financial sector and society.

In the last edition, N9ve, a start-up researching and developing technologies for removing, concentrating, and recovering rare earth elements (REE) from contaminated water using live macroalgae, won the BfK Awards.

Born from Knowledge is an ANI initiative designed to promote a culture of valuing scientific and technological knowledge in Portugal by recognizing and rewarding best practices and success stories.