Two teams from our branch in Quito took part in the 2025 Hult Prize National Final, an international competition known as the “Nobel Prize of University Entrepreneurship”. The final took place at Universidad de Especialidades Espíritu Santo (UEES) in Guayaquil, and brought together 25 teams from more than 125 applications from 15 universities in the country.

Hult Prize is promoted by the Hult Foundation in partnership with the United Nations. It annually calls on university students from around the world to create ventures aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This competition has had more than one million young people in over 100 countries and has established itself as a leading platform for promoting social innovation projects in academia. 

The projects presented by our students were:

- RepelTech: A biotechnology solution based on a long-lasting insect repellent, designed to improve the quality of life in vulnerable communities exposed to vector-borne diseases.

- EducaTrueque: A knowledge-sharing platform for students, promoting collaborative learning and reducing financial barriers to accessing academic support.
 

The two teams represent the university’s institutional commitment to developing innovative students capable of proposing sustainable solutions with a high social impact. The projects were created by students majoring in Biotechnology, Electronics and Automation, and Communication.

Participation was possible thanks to the methodological, technical, and logistical support provided by the Entrepreneurship and Innovation department in our branch campus in Quito. During the finals, students presented their projects in English before a specialized jury.

 
Cristian Ron, director of the Entrepreneurship and Innovation department in our branch campus in Quito, spoke about the importance of building strategic connections from the university, which will open up real opportunities for our university community to connect with companies, organizations, and experts in the innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem.

One of the teams, EducaTrueque, was ranked among the eight best projects in the competition, standing out for its comprehensive proposal and transformative social approach. Ailyn Díaz, a team member, stated that: “Being part of a multidisciplinary team at the Hult Prize allowed me to understand the power of communication to connect ideas with purpose. It was a challenging but enriching experience that broadened my professional perspective. Representing UPS on an international stage made me proud and it showed the value of having entrepreneurial opportunities that drive us to be agents of change.”
 

Cristian Ibarra, from the RepelTech team, stressed the value of science applied to social development: “Participating in the Hult Prize was a unique opportunity. From a biotechnology perspective, we provided technical solutions to real social problems, demonstrating that science and entrepreneurship can work together.”

Finally, Dany Torres, Campus Director of the Hult Prize – UPS Quito, explained the collaborative work that made this achievement possible: “Being part of the Hult Prize with two teams representing UPS in the final is an achievement that reflects the collaborative work between programs, innovation spaces, and student commitment to social change. This global competition not only promotes sustainable solutions but also positions the University as an active player in educating entrepreneurs with an international vision.”