15 social enterprises will participate in Momentum Project Spain 2015

The fifth edition of the Momentum Project in Spain is now underway, with five more participants than in previous years. In addition to the usual 10 selected enterprises, the Momentum Project will also include the five winners of the 7th BBVA Integra Awards, a competition targeting innovative initiatives that promote inclusive employment for disabled people in Spain. Through this partnership, BBVA is giving the Integra Award winners a chance to participate in a programme that helps social enterprises to grow and increase their impact.

The distribution of this year’s Momentum Project enterprises by social impact is as follows: inclusive employment (47%), dependency assistance (20%), educational development (7%), environmental improvement (7%), access to housing (7%), fair trade (7%), and social and occupational inclusion (6%).
Twenty percent of the enterprises work in the energy and environmental sectors; healthcare and entertainment each account for 13% of the initiatives; and education, communication, commerce, the hospitality sector, manufacturing and construction account for 7% each.

The geographical distribution of the initiatives is as follows: four are from Catalonia, another four are from Madrid, three are from Castile-Leon, two are from the Basque Country, one is from Andalusia, and one is from Castile-La Mancha.

The 15 enterprises participating in the Momentum Project – an initiative launched by BBVA and ESADE in collaboration with PwC – will receive training, strategic guidance and access to financing, enabling them to improve their projects, increase their impact, and develop sustainable business models. The participation of the Integra Award winners will be an added benefit for those enterprises, guaranteeing their continuity and expansion beyond the levels enabled by occasional aid.

The enterprises selected for this year’s Momentum Project are as follows:

• Aptent Soluciones (Madrid): This company facilitates access to culture for people with auditory and visual impairments by using new technologies to eliminate communication barriers.

• Bajo el Agua Factory (Bilbao): This company carries out undersea technology projects. They have researched new techniques for beverage production in their underwater cellar and designed an artificial reef that regenerates marine life in the surrounding area.

• Cognitiva (Madrid): This company uses non-pharmaceutical therapies to provide healthcare for people with cognitive impairment, memory problems and dementia.

• Ecodome (Madrid): Using soil as its main construction material, this company specialises in sustainable, environmentally friendly architecture.

• Thinkids (Madrid): This company promotes entrepreneurship in society, especially among young people, by developing new learning methodologies and psychopedagogical techniques.

• Sorbcontrol (Barcelona): This company develops equipment to minimise the impact of hydrocarbon spills and chemical products.

• Shallom Taller (Lleida): This company works for the social and occupational integration of people with intellectual disabilities or mental illnesses by providing jobs in the production of wooden boxes.

• L’estoc (Barcelona): This company designs, produces and sells furniture made from various recycled materials and unused furniture.

• Directo Telmark (Seville): This telemarketing company employs people at risk of social exclusion.

• Irisbond (San Sebastián): This company has developed a computerised system that tracks eye movement with absolute precision.

The following Integra Award winners will also be participating:

• Aspanias (Burgos): With a track record of more than 30 years, this company specialises in the management of active policies targeting people with disabilities.

• COCEMFE (Toledo): The services offered by this company include providing training and disability-related advice for companies in order to encourage the hiring of disabled people.

• ILUNION Reciclalia (León): This waste treatment plant specialised in processing electrical and electronic devices is a part of the ONCE Foundation’s ILUNION group.

• Fundació Privada Onada (Tarragona): This company manages occupational centres, special employment centres, educational activities and inclusive employment initiatives.

• Fundación Personas (Grupo Lince) (Valladolid): This organisation was created by six associations for the professional management of their services, which include services for people with intellectual disabilities and their families.