After months of learning, collaboration and experimentation, the Strategic Leadership for Green Business (SLGB) project reached an important milestone on Thursday, 22 October, at the Valencia Digital Summit (VDS).
The event brought together six student teams from universities in Argentina, Colombia and Ecuador, giving them the opportunity to present their green business projects to an international audience of entrepreneurs, investors and innovation professionals.
From Learning to Real-World Solutions
The journey began long before the teams took the stage in Valencia. Through the SLGB programme, students explored green entrepreneurship, worked on real-world challenges and developed ideas into concrete business proposals.
The six finalist teams represented the outcomes of this process, showcasing solutions shaped by research, collaboration and the exchange of knowledge between universities and businesses.
Their presentations marked the culmination of a journey that connected education with practical innovation, demonstrating how new perspectives and interdisciplinary collaboration can help address environmental and business challenges.
Bringing Green Innovation to the VDS Stage
Presenting at VDS offered the teams a platform to share their ideas beyond the academic environment and connect with the wider innovation ecosystem.
The event featured project pitches, reflections from students on their experience throughout the programme, and an awards ceremony recognising the finalists. It also created opportunities for networking and new connections between participants and the professionals attending the summit.
For the teams, it was a chance to make their work visible, receive feedback and explore how their ideas could continue to develop beyond the hackathon.
Celebrating the Journey Behind the Awards
At CANUSSA LAB, we supported the project by designing and producing the awards presented to the finalists.
Created using algae-based 3D printing filament and recycled wood with laser-engraved lettering, the awards reflect our interest in exploring alternative materials and digital manufacturing techniques. They also connect the recognition of the teams' achievements with the innovation at the heart of the project.
More than marking the end of the hackathon, the awards celebrate the work, creativity and collaboration that brought each team to this stage.
Continuing the SLGB Journey
The closing event at VDS marked the end of an important chapter for SLGB, but the ideas and connections developed throughout the programme can continue to grow.
Co-funded by the European Union's Erasmus+ Programme, Strategic Leadership for Green Business brings together universities, businesses and civil society organisations across Europe and Latin America to strengthen green entrepreneurship, leadership and innovation.
At CANUSSA LAB, we believe collaboration between education, business and material innovation can open up new possibilities for the future. Supporting initiatives like SLGB allows us to contribute to that exchange and explore how innovation can move from learning into practice.
