The ENAIRE Foundation announces the Aeronautical Research, Innovation and Journalism Awards, worth 50,000 euros

The ENAIRE Foundation, a cultural entity linked to ENAIRE, is announcing the 30th edition of its aeronautical awards to honour the work and talent of those people who devote themselves to research, innovation and communications in air and space transport.

In keeping with its institutional objectives of promoting scientific research, technological innovation, and the dissemination of topics related to air navigation and contemporary art, every year the ENAIRE Foundation announces its traditional Aeronautical Awards, the only awards in Spain dedicated to this speciality.

The ENAIRE Foundation Aeronautical Awards are considered the most prestigious prizes dedicated to this speciality presented in Spain. 

The jury will be made up of prestigious professionals from various fields, including ENAIRE and Aena, the Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility, the Ministry of Science, Innovation, and Universities, as well as from Spanish universities and the Air and Space Force. 

Five award categories

Manuel Abejón Acámez Space Award.

The ENAIRE Foundation awards this prize in recognition of innovative work in the application of space technology for air and space mobility. Through this prize, the Foundation demonstrates its clear commitment to the development of research and innovation initiatives involving technology applied to aerial and space mobility and transport, both for commercial and non-commercial aviation, including the promotion of space applications to improve the management of air traffic.

Any work, study or project conducted or published in 2023 or 2024 that provides a unique and practical contribution that can be applied to aerial mobility and to air and space transport is eligible. This prize is worth 10,000 euros.

Luis Azcárraga Innovation in Aviation Award.

The ENAIRE Foundation presents this award to works, studies or projects published in 2024 in official Spanish languages or in English and that make a unique and practical contribution to air transport in terms of planning and organisation, economic and administrative management, environmental impact and protection, as well as to technological research and innovation. This prize is worth 10,000 euros.

José Ramón López Villares Award for Undergraduate's and Master's theses.

The ENAIRE Foundation presents this award to Undergraduate and Master's theses in Aeronautical and Aerospace Engineering, as well as in Civil Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Telecommunications Engineering and Architecture at any Spanish university that involves air navigation or airports. The projects, written in an official language of Spain, or in English, must have been submitted and approved in 2024. Two prizes are presented, worth 5,000 euros each: one to a project on air navigation, and another on airports.

I+Dron Award.

The ENAIRE Foundation presents this award to those works, studies, projects, articles, technical publications, etc., that make a unique contribution to innovation in the drone sector, in the fields of aircraft design and aircraft system technologies (including propulsion, communications, control, etc.), drone production, operation and traffic management, as well as the development of new applications.

Airbus Spain collaborates in this award by allowing the winner to present their project to technical managers at Airbus Spain. If they are interested in the project, they will explore the possibility of creating a prototype. This award is worth 10,000 euros.

Aviation Journalism Award.

The ENAIRE Foundation presents this award to works of journalism that are related to air transport and navigation, airport facilities, and airport services in general. The works, written in the official languages of Spain, or in English, must have been published or issued sometime in 2024 in Spanish press, radio, television, digital media or online publications.  Up to three articles may be presented per candidate. This prize is worth 10,000 euros.

Projects wishing to be considered for any of the five categories of the Aeronautical Awards have to be presented digitally before 30 June 2025 using the platform provided by the ENAIRE Foundation on its website, which contains all the information and the rules for the Prizes. Direct link.

About ENAIRE Foundation

Is a cultural institution of the Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility that, in addition to managing, preserving and exhibiting the ENAIRE Collection of Contemporary Art, engages in a comprehensive annual programme of activities that focus on aeronautical art and culture. Notably, it is one of the institutions that currently provides the most support to photography through its annual prizes - which have become a benchmark for professional photographers - and by hosting exhibits.

It is the only foundation in Spain that combines the two seemingly disparate themes of art and aeronautical culture, bringing them together by undertaking a programme of activities that promote the study, research, knowledge and dissemination of aeronautical culture, integrating history and modernity to raise awareness of the world of aviation in our country.

The Naves de Gamazo are the first permanent home of the ENAIRE Collection of Contemporary Art, an example of collaboration between government agencies that was made possible thanks to the partnership and joint efforts of the Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility, the Government of Cantabria, through the Office for Culture, Tourism and Sport, and the Port Authority of Santander, which share the operating expenses of the centre in order to ensure the present and future viability of this cultural project.

ENAIRE Foundation is implementing digital museum resources to boost the democratisation of art and make it accessible from anywhere in the world. These new museum resources are now available on the Foundation's website.

About ENAIRE

ENAIRE is the air navigation service provider in Spain.

As a company of the Ministry of Sustainable Transport and Mobility, it provides air traffic control services during the en route and approach phases of all flights to and from Spain and overflights. In addition, it manages communications, navigation and surveillance services from ENAIRE in the airspace and the entire AENA airport network in Spain and provides aerodrome air traffic control services in 21 airports, including the busiest.

ENAIRE is the fourth largest European air navigation service provider, and it is a member of international partnerships A6 Alliance, SESAR (Single European Sky ATM Research) Joint Undertaking, SESAR Deployment Manager, iTEC, CANSO (Civil Air Navigation Services Organisation) and collaborates closely with ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization).

ENAIRE has received the highest score in Europe on the aviation safety key performance indicator for four years in a row. It has also been awarded the EFQM 600 Seal for its safe, efficient, innovative and sustainable management of air navigation services.