The Navarran projects Optaion and Archiva have won the Iníciate 2026 awards, organized by CEIN and the Department of Universities, Innovation, and Digital Transformation

The human resources management platform Optaion and the document intelligence platform for SMEs Archiva were the two winning projects of the Iníciate 2026 Awards. This morning, Juan Luis García, the Regional Minister for Universities, Innovation, and Digital Transformation, presented the awards to these two scientific-technological business ideas as part of an awards program promoted by his department through the public entity European Business and Innovation Center of Navarra (CEIN). Uxue Itoiz, managing director of CEIN, accompanied the minister at the awards ceremony, which aims to promote and recognize new scientific and/or technological business projects with a high impact in our region.

García emphasized that Navarre “needs to continue fostering environments that enable talent and knowledge to be transformed into projects capable of generating value and opportunities.” In this regard, he reaffirmed the Government of Navarre’s commitment to innovative entrepreneurship and to strengthening the region’s R&D&I ecosystem.

“Many of the initiatives we see here today stem from young talent—from people who refuse to settle for the status quo and who want to transform their surroundings. That ability to propose new solutions is one of our greatest assets as a society,” he said

For his part, Itoiz highlighted “the value of awards that seek to foster an entrepreneurial spirit through the creation of new ideas.” “Over the course of its 12-year history, more than 500 ideas have been submitted, many of which have led to startups that have become part of our CEIN ecosystem,” he concluded.

Two categories

"Best University Science and Technology Business Idea" and "Best Science and Technology Business Idea" are the two categories featured in this twelfth edition of the competition, each carrying a prize of 6,000 euros to be used for purposes related to the development and launch of the idea. 

The award in the category of "Best University Science and Technology Business Idea" went to the Optaion project, which proposes a platform for workforce sizing, planning, and management. Marta Cildox and Fermin Mallor are part of the project's founding team. 

In the "Best Scientific and Technological Business Idea" category, the award went to the Archiva project. The idea involves a document intelligence platform for small and medium-sized businesses in the legal and technical sectors, which transforms their archives into a knowledge base that can be searched using natural language. It is led by Miguel Lucas.

In addition to the cash prizes, the winning projects will be guaranteed a spot in one of CEIN’s acceleration programs, as well as a free six-month residency at its Innovation Incubator.

The winning projects were selected from among 14 finalists, who presented their proposals to the jury throughout the morning. The jury was composed of representatives from the Department of Universities, Innovation, and Digital Transformation of the Government of Navarra, the Public University of Navarra, the University of Navarra, Sodena, and CEIN.

A total of 59 entries were submitted for this twelfth edition of the Iníciate Awards, involving 95 individuals (68 men and 27 women). Seventy-one percent of the individuals involved in the projects hold a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree, and 37% are employed.
 

The finalist projects

The initiatives that have been selected as finalists for the 2026 edition of the Iníciate Awards are as follows. 

• Archiva. A document intelligence platform for Spanish SMEs in the legal and technical sectors that transforms their archives into a living knowledge base that can be searched using natural language. 
• Biotech Solutions. Custom bioinformatics services for laboratories and individuals (drugs, simulations). 
• CadCert. A digital solution for coordinating and monitoring the operational and document management of companies where regulatory compliance is critical and mandatory for performing work, and where documents must be renewed every 1, 2, or 5 years. 
• Didymus. A cybersecurity device based on deception technologies that detects and analyzes threats by diverting attacks to simulated environments without compromising real systems, thereby generating critical intelligence. 
• Eatelabs. Development of equipment for the rapid prototyping of photonic and electronic devices, facilitating proof-of-concept testing without the need for costly and time-consuming manufacturing processes.
• Elaia. An AI-powered SaaS study platform that automatically transforms any PDF (civil service exam syllabi, college notes, certification manuals) into personalized study materials. 
• Garua. A chocolate brand from Navarre that combines the vision of a cutting-edge chef and a chocolate sommelier to create unique chocolate bars. It has also developed its own methodology for sensory analysis and creation. 
• KitchOS. Management software for kitchens specializing in takeout. Manage orders by shift, production stations, costs, and staff. 
• Ku’uk – Plant-Based Bioprocessed Foods. Development of a new generation of products made from nuts processed through natural germination and fermentation processes. 
• NexIA Trials. An artificial intelligence platform that optimizes hospital operations and the selection of sites for clinical trials. 
• Neocat: A smart land management platform based on Geographic Information Systems (GIS) that aims to modernize public administration through process automation, geospatial integration, and the use of open-source and sustainable technologies. 
• Optaion. A platform for workforce sizing, planning, and management. It is primarily designed for human resources professionals, executives, and operational managers in the healthcare and social care sectors. 
• Popcorn Therapeutics. A state-of-the-art oncolytic virus with a clinical track record for the treatment of pediatric brain tumors. 
• Vektor Global App. A functional fitness SaaS platform for gyms, local governments, and businesses that combines facility management, athlete tracking, and competitions—validated using proprietary AI video analysis—into a single app, all within a global network of facilities.