More than 5.000 students from universities and educational centers throughout Spain have already participated in one of the editions of the National Packaging and Packaging Design and Sustainability Awards, whose XIV edition is in full development. This has been announced in the online event organized by the Cluster of Innovation in Container and Packaging, in which representatives of companies, students, and training centers have participated and which has put on the table the possibilities of connecting and discovering young talent' that these awards offer to all its members.
These awards celebrate their 14th edition this year and their main objective is to promote and consolidate the design and sustainability of containers and packaging as levers for innovation. In the words of Ignacio Fernández Delgado, head of communication for the Cluster, “this initiative is the best tool to link the educational and business worlds”.
Specifically, in this contest the companies present a real case linked to a specific need related to the design of the packaging or packaging of products that they sell or could put on the market. The participating students, with the guidance of their teachers, present a final project that responds to these needs.
A window to young talent
This conference included presentations by the managers of the companies Logifruit, Natra, Grupo Hinojosa and Heineken. All the speakers have agreed that this event is an opportunity to establish synergies between the different companies, as well as to strengthen educational and business relationships.
"These initiatives offer us a window to meet the youngest talent," he says. Ana Vidal, head of planning at Logifruit. Vidal has also influenced the great participation of the students and the quality of all the projects presented. “We need new approaches because we are looking for new ways to solve design challenges,” he adds. Liseth Monticone, Head of Innovation Culture at Grupo Hinojosa.
On the other hand, the companies themselves have recognized the difficulty of the challenges posed and how the students have been able to address them by presenting unique and innovative proposals. "We wanted to give one of our packaging an update and we did not hesitate to bet on young talent for it through the National Packaging Awards," he explains. Juan Troncoso, Heineken packaging technology and quality coordinator.
Meanwhile, Daniel Olmo, R&D Packaging Manager of Natra, He has also recounted his experience in the contest: "Going through the awards was not only a pleasant experience, but we also ended up hiring one of the winners."
Projects with real results
The teachers who have participated in this online meeting belong to the Jaume I University of Castellón, the ESD Madrid, the University of Zaragoza and the Polytechnic University of Madrid. And all of them have agreed on the benefits of participating in the Container Awards, which, in addition to motivating the student, "contribute to academic improvement by promoting real projects," he says. Jaume Gual, professor at Jaume I University.
Beyond the project, teachers have also asked their students to submit other optional items. "The fact that it is a competition forces them to be especially detailed in the design and memory because it is important to clearly communicate the projects to the clients," he explained. Iñaki Gil, professor at the University of Zaragoza.
pilar acon, ESD teacher Madrid, He has also stressed "the closeness of the Cluster when it comes to managing the contest". What Rosa Ocaña, professor at the Polytechnic University of Madrid He added that "the Cluster and the companies help students first-hand to carry out a real container and packaging project".
Finally, the alumni winners of some editions of the Container Awards have intervened, Carlos Valero, Raquel Muñoz, Mario Marco and Ana Tudó. As they have explained, this contest helped them to make themselves known in the labor and professional world.
To end the day, Ángel Garrigós, director of admissions and marketing at ESIC, explained that “thanks to the Cantera Cluster Plan, students agree to study the Master in Management at ESIC. A training that prepares marketing professionals for their future”.
