Eco-Digithon Spain concludes its second edition with a day strongly focused on innovation and sustainability
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Eco-Digithon Spain concludes its second edition with a day strongly focused on innovation and sustainability

On 17 and 18 March, the second edition of Eco-Digithon Spain took place, organised by FPEmpresa and Innogestiona Ambiental as part of the European project ENNE+ (Erasmus+). The event brought together VET students and educational centres in Madrid to share innovative proposals related to sustainability, digitalisation, and entrepreneurship.

The in-person session was held on 17 March at San Blas Digital – School of Digital Skills, following an initial phase carried out within the participating centres, where teams collaboratively prepared the materials and presentations for their projects.

During today’s session, 18 March, and after the jury’s deliberation, the winning projects of the second edition of Eco-Digithon were announced in a brief online session. The first prize was awarded to IES Francisco de Quevedo for its project PlastiScore Verified – Intelligent Plastic Packaging Counting Index, which received €1,000 in equipment for the centre, a €250 gift card for the coordinating teachers, and the opportunity to participate in the 9th edition of the Social Hackathon Umbria. The initiative focuses on the development of a scanning application capable of identifying and counting plastic packaging through an intelligent tracking index. The proposal aims to facilitate monitoring and measurement of this type of waste, providing a useful tool to improve its management and move towards more sustainable and responsible models in plastic use.

The remaining awards were as follows:

  • Second prize went to Salesianos Atocha for Arganzuela Conectada, which received €750 in equipment for the centre. This project aims to improve life in the neighbourhood through real data collected using technology. It stems from listening to local residents and identifying specific issues such as the loss of green spaces, construction noise, traffic pollution, and overtourism. To address these challenges, it proposes a network of IoT sensors to measure these conditions, anticipate problems, and support better decision-making by both citizens and institutions.
  • Third prize was awarded to IES San Blas for the project BeiOtA de San Blas, a smart garden powered by solar energy. The initiative seeks to apply real renewable technology and bring science and sustainability closer to primary school students through a STEM-based model. It received €500 in equipment for the centre.
  • Fourth prize went to Instituto Nebrija de FP for its project Green Campus, which received €300 in equipment for the centre. This initiative focuses on bringing together students from different training programmes to solve a real challenge: transforming a traditional educational centre into a Smart Campus.

The evaluation committee was composed of Patricia Mora (Director of Innogestiona Ambiental), Elena Argudo (Director of the Association of VET Centres FPEmpresa), Carlos de Olagüe (Madrid Regional Coordinator at FPEmpresa and Vice President of EfVET), Nuria Villareal (Head of Entrepreneurship at the Directorate-General for VET Centres and Special Regime of the Community of Madrid), Carmen Valdés-Hevia (Manager of Education and Knowledge at Fundación Repsol), and Gloria Iglesias (Manager of Education and Knowledge at Fundación Repsol).

Selecting the winning projects was not an easy task for the jury, as all proposals stood out for their innovation, quality, and strong conceptual development. The high level of the projects made the deliberation particularly complex, given the well-developed ideas and the relevance of their approaches.

Note: To consult the rest of the projects, please click here.

A space to learn, collaborate, and connect ideas

The in-person event on 17 March began with an institutional welcome and a presentation of the ENNE+ project, followed by two keynote sessions focused on entrepreneurship and sustainability in Vocational Education and Training. Specifically, Mónica Castilla Baylos, Head of Entrepreneurs and SMEs at the Directorate-General for Entrepreneurship – Madrid Emprende (Madrid City Council), delivered the talk How to Start a Business in Madrid? Meanwhile, Carmen Valdés-Hevia Temprano, Education Manager at Fundación Repsol, presented Learning to Decide, Learning to Transform: Sustainability in VET.

After a coffee break, the spotlight shifted to the participating teams, who presented their projects in a session that lasted throughout the morning. The event then continued with a dedicated space to identify synergies between proposals, where teams were able to explore each initiative in more depth, gather feedback from other participants, and open new opportunities for collaboration between centres and innovative ideas.

The session concluded with an evaluation moment, a “call for synergies” between projects, and the institutional closing of the event, accompanied by acknowledgements and a final group photo.

FPEmpresa takes part in the ENNEPlus project meeting in Guimarães
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FPEmpresa takes part in the ENNEPlus project meeting in Guimarães

The Association of Vocational Training Centres, FPEmpresa has attended the Transnational Partner Meeting (TPM) of the European project ENNEPlus, held on 14 and 15 January in Guimarães (Portugal). This international event brought together the consortium’s partner organisations to advance the development of the project’s different lines of work.

The meeting took place at the Eurostars Santa Luzia Hotel and enabled a joint review of the progress achieved, as well as coordination of upcoming actions related to social incubation, VET staff mobility, the organisation of Eco-Digithons and the definition of long-term action plans.

During the first day, a central part of the work focused on the Social Incubation Programme, including the presentation of the results achieved by the different project partners and the development of collaborative workshops aimed at identifying current and potential impacts of the social incubation process. In this context, FPEmpresa, together with Innogestiona Ambiental, presented the results obtained.

In addition, VET staff mobility for “job shadowing” placements in educational institutions and companies was addressed, analysing schedules, roles, responsibilities and potential risks, as well as the organisation of the process and support for candidates.

The day continued with the planning of the second round of Eco-Digithons at national and international level, during which the Association presented the organisation of its national edition, in coordination with the rest of the partners.

Mentoring and looking ahead

The second day of the meeting was devoted to aligning mentoring processes with the management and facilitation of the ENNEPlus project’s Community of Practice (CoP), as well as integrating dissemination and communication activities within this community. These sessions made it possible to coordinate timelines, support tools and the role of the different partners and European networks involved.

Another key area focused on the participatory design of long-term action plans, through working sessions in national groups followed by a joint discussion of strategies to engage local stakeholders, define target audiences and plan upcoming actions. In this context, FPEmpresa and Innogestiona Ambiental jointly presented their strategy and lines of action.

The meeting concluded with the finalisation of the project methodology and the planning of the associated dissemination activities, including graphic materials, digital content and communication actions through the website of the European ENNEPlus project.

FPEmpresa launches a free international course for participants of the 1st Eco-Digithon 2025
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FPEmpresa launches a free international course for participants of the 1st Eco-Digithon 2025

The Asociación de Centros de Formación Profesional FPEmpresa has announced a new call for the VET centers that took part in the first Eco-Digithon in Extremadura. Within the framework of the European project ENNE+, registration is now open for a free international course focused on designing Erasmus+ KA2 proposals (Green Cooperation Partnerships). This initiative offers selected centers both theoretical and practical training, where participants will work collaboratively on the development of Erasmus+ KA2 projects, with special emphasis on the environmental challenges addressed during Eco-Digithon 2025. The goal is to prepare green cooperation proposals in collaboration with European educational institutions.

The training will take place in three phases:

  • Preparatory phase in September 2025
  • Online course (45 hours) from October 20th to 31st, open to several members per center
  • On-site course in Italy, November 10–15, attended by one representative per center. This final phase includes 25 hours of intensive training, and all travel expenses are covered by ENNE+.

Schedule and job-shadowing activity

The course is aimed at teaching staff or international coordinators interested in leading Erasmus+ projects at their centers. Participation is limited to 5 places, and the selection process will take place in September. The course will conclude with a ready-to-submit proposal for the National Agency.

In addition, FPEmpresa has announced a second upcoming activity: job-shadowing mobilities in European centers and companies, scheduled between January and June 2026. This initiative will be open to more centers and will allow the use of own mobility funds. Participation in both activities represents a unique opportunity to boost internationalization and sustainability in Vocational Education and Training through European cooperation networks.

FPEmpresa meets with ENNE+ members in Italy for SHU 2025
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FPEmpresa meets with ENNE+ members in Italy for SHU 2025

On July 3rd and 4th, the Asociación de Centros de Formación Profesional FPEmpresa joined the partners of the European project ENNE+ in Spello, Italy, due to the Social Hackathon Umbria 2025 (SHU 2025) event. Throughout these two days, ENNE+ members from Austria, Portugal, Spain, and Italy discussed matters related to the upcoming Eco-Digithon, which will take place in 2026. The participants shared their respective countries’ participation results and addressed organizational issues concerning the project’s agenda for the coming year, establishing key factors to consider.

A significant portion of the discussions focused on enhancing the experience of participants in the competition and implementing new tools within the ENNE+ Community of Practice (CoP), an educational resource platform that already boasts over 1,300 active users. As a result, various action strategies were defined to strengthen the competition, communication, and follow-up for each project during the social incubation process. Feedback from members and users was essential in identifying relevant parameters to shape and reinforce the project’s development lines.

Social Hackathon Umbria 2025

The ENNE+ meeting took place as the town of Spello hosted SHU 2025, organized by EGInA. As part of this event, activities related to art, technology, sustainability, and innovation were held. The goal of these sessions was to promote young people’s digital skills and foster the co-creation of innovative digital solutions that can generate social impact and support the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda.

The winning teams from each Eco-Digithon had the opportunity to present their projects to an international audience. Representing Spain, the team from IES Sierra la Calera attended with their project MuéveteX, a proposal aimed at improving mobility and connectivity in rural areas through a collaborative transportation app, supported by the Santa Marta de los Barros City Council. Additionally, the program enabled them to develop an independent project with the help of students from around the world.