Month: November 2025

The 2025 Rei Jaume I Prizes call for investment in science and research

Posted on by Laura

They are using a ‘retro’ games machine as a symbol of the need to step up R&D&I, although it is emphasised that the number of researchers has increased eightfold over four decades

This year’s Rei Jaume I Prizes Awards Ceremony will take place at midday on 25 November. To explain the various events taking place alongside the main awards ceremony, the Foundation has organised a press conference at which the organisation’s chairmen, Vicente Boluda and Javier Quesada, presented the three-day programme and unveiled the campaign that always accompanies these events.

The event will therefore begin on Monday 24th with a meeting between the award winners and the media, a brief visit to the Príncipe Felipe Museum in the Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias, and a discussion amongst the winners, which will take place on the same day, Monday 24th, at the BioHub in the Port at 5.00 pm. Following this informal discussion with the award winners, during which they will present their work and explain why they received their awards, they will proceed to the Palau de la Generalitat, where the President of the Generalitat will carry out the traditional presentation of insignia, and the day will conclude with an official dinner hosted at the Palau de la Generalitat.

The following day, 25 November, the awards ceremony will take place at the Lonja de Valencia, broadcast live by À Punt at midday, and will conclude with visits by the seven award winners to various institutions in the Comunitat Valenciana. Thus,

The remaining six prize-winners will give their lectures on Wednesday 26th at research centres and universities across the Comunitat Valenciana:

  • Basic Research (José Luis Mascareñas) > ICMOL, headed by our 2003 award winner, Eugenio Coronado
  • Economics (Jean Eeckhout) > UJI, Castellón
  • Biomedical Research (Núria López-Bigas) will visit INCLIVA
  • Environmental Protection (Victoria Reyes) > University of Alicante (Vice-Chancellor’s Office)
  • New Technologies (Mª Jesús Vicent) > IDM (Institute of Molecular Recognition and Technological Development, a joint centre between the UPV and the UV, led by Ramón Martínez Mañez – who also won the New Technologies Prize in 2018 – at the ETSII)
  • Entrepreneurial Revelation (Damià Tormo) > EDEM
  • Clinical Research, (Silvia de Sanjosé) > Miguel Hernández University of Alicante

And, on another note, the communications and marketing campaign to be rolled out this year was unveiled. The centrepiece of the advertising and media campaign launched by the Rei Jaume I Prizes Foundation for this year’s Awards Ceremony – the 37th edition – will be an ‘arcade’ machine, like those used to play Pac-Man in the 1980s, but where the ones jumping, walking and running are the winning researchers, who will receive their own miniature machines.

“We have used a machine from the past – from 40 years ago – as a symbol, because we are 40 years behind the European Union average in terms of the percentage of GDP invested in research, development and innovation,” explained the Foundation’s executive president, Javier Quesada.

A 1 per cent increase in investment as a proportion of GDP

However, Javier Quesada has denied that the message conveyed by this resurgence of the arcade industry is a pessimistic one. “It is a realistic message, because our R&D&I levels are comparable to the European Union average in 1985,” he explained. That said, the percentage of Gross Domestic Product that Spain invests in this area has increased. In 1985, that figure stood at 0.5 per cent of GDP. Now, the figure is 1.5 per cent.

Quesada also emphasised that Spain “has seen a significant increase in the number of researchers”. Forty years ago, there were 21,400 research professionals working in Spain, whilst the figure for 2025 stands at 175,000. “We are not suggesting that no progress is being made here – far from it,” he said, particularly given that this figure has increased eightfold over the past few decades. Added to this is the work carried out by “world-leading research centres, something that was unthinkable 40 years ago”.

The figures have also improved at regional level. In the Comunitat Valenciana, there are currently 15,500 researchers, a figure four or five times higher than four decades ago.

An ‘arcade’ game

As part of the campaign, these machines will be set up on university campuses on weekdays so that students can play. The game features the seven award-winning researchers from this year’s edition, highlighting all stages of research: from Basic Research to the creation of businesses and jobs (Entrepreneurial Revelation).

“By playing the machine, you can see the achievements of the award winners using the technology of the time,” explained Quesada. At weekends, the machine will be on display at the Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias.

To play, go to: https://www.cazacoins.es/

The Rei Jaume I Prizes have launched a retro video game to highlight the lack of funding for science and entrepreneurship

Posted on by Laura

It forms part of its ‘Spain Insert Coin’ campaign, which announces the awards ceremony to be held on 25 November

To mark the 2025 Rei Jaume I Prize Awards Ceremony, the Foundation wishes to highlight the lack of investment in science and entrepreneurship through a campaign entitled ‘Spain, Insert Coin’:

  • Spain currently spends 1.49 per cent of its GDP on R&D&I, which amounts to 22,379 million euros (INE, 2023). 
  • The European Union average is significantly higher, at around 2.2 per cent of GDP. 
  • In the 1980s and 1990s, the EU-15 countries already had figures of between 1.5 per cent and 1.8 per cent, which are similar to those in Spain today. 
  • In the field of entrepreneurship, the difference in venture capital investment is also striking: Spain invests 0.12 per cent of its GDP, whilst the European average stands at 0.5 per cent (SpainCap and Invest Europe).

This news story has served as the starting point for the theme of this year’s Rei Jaume I Prize campaign, and the conclusion has been reached that Spain is still stuck in the 1980s, as our budgets for science and entrepreneurship are the same as those in the EU 40 years ago. 

That is why we wanted to capture that distinctive 1980s aesthetic of arcade machines to send a clear and direct message: “Spain, Insert Coin”, because only with funding will we be able to reach European standards. 

And so as not to limit ourselves to just a message, we have decided to create a complete experience through a video game – inspired by Pac-Man – called CazaCoins, which allows players to discover what the adventure of seeking funding is like and through which we will also introduce the real stars of this event: our award winners. 

  • This campaign, based on official data, aims to highlight a long-standing lag in investment in science and entrepreneurship, and to encourage reflection on this reality and call for a stronger commitment to science and entrepreneurship, which are the true drivers of progress, innovation and competitiveness.

To play, go to: https://www.cazacoins.es/

Rei Jaume I Prizes Foundation and collaborating entities linked to the Business Revelation Prize, visit Damià Tormo winner of  Rei Jaume I Prize 2025

Posted on by Paz

Damià Tormo, CEO of Columbus Venture Partners and winner of the Rei Jaume I Prize for Entrepreneurial Revelation 2025, received a visit from Javier Quesada, executive president of the Rei Jaume I Prizes Foundation in Valencia, and representatives of the award’s collaborating entities: Marta Coscollar, Director of Business Relations and Entrepreneurship at EDEM Business School, and Diego Lorente, Secretary General and Director of the Valencian Business Association (AVE).

During the visit, Damià highlighted that we are currently experiencing a period of significant change in the fields of health and biotechnology, many of them are being driven by artificial intelligence. According to the winner, ‘In five years, we will witness a transformation of humanity, and therefore, of our social paradigm. Significant advances in medicine, biology and engineering will undoubtedly bring about momentous changes for human beings. For example, people will live much longer thanks to the early diagnosis of diseases and anti-ageing therapies.”

Damià made these statements during a visit by the collaborators of the Entrepreneurial Revelation Prize, where this year’s winner explained his work and his transition from biology to business.

According to Damiá, “developing the most common skin cancer therapy was one of our first scientific and bioindustrial successes, but it has not been the only one. We have created a dozen companies dedicated to combating different diseases, some of which are ultra-rare. The Columbus Venture Partners foundation has done what is truly important in the latter: providing access to treatment for those who cannot afford it.”

He also spoke about two major projects: the largest biotechnology center being built in San Sebastián and the creation of the future Institute of Longevity in the Valencian Community.

The jury valued his role as an entrepreneur who serves as a catalyst for many other projects, promoting quality jobs, attracting foreign investment, and positioning Spain as an international benchmark. “His business work is characterized by a focus on improving people’s health and quality of life. In addition, Damià Tormo demonstrates a social commitment that he develops through his philanthropic work, helping, among other things, in the treatment of children with rare diseases,” said the jury.

Last June at their traditional Jury Meeting, the jurors of the 37th edition of the Rei Jaume I Prizes announced the seven winners in the different categories: Basic Research, Economics, Biomedical Research, Environmental Protection, New Technologies, Entrepreneurial Revelation, and Clinical Research and Public Health.

This year, the jury for the prizes was made up of nearly a hundred people, 20 of whom are Nobel laureates in different disciplines. In addition, as every year, the jury included the country’s leading businessmen and women, as every year in the Entrepreneur jury.

The Entrepreneurial Revelation Prize is supported by Mercadona, EDEM Business School, and AVE. In this edition, the jury for this category recognized Damià Tormo with this prize from among more than 50 nominees for his clearly entrepreneurial profile, as he began his first business venture at a very young age. His experience has enabled him to create Columbus Venture Partners, an entity that builds bridges between scientific research and the real arrival of solutions to society, especially to patients suffering from serious illnesses. This has led him to found a dozen companies based on research projects that have made it possible to introduce these scientific innovations to the market and enable people to benefit from them. In total, this has led to the creation of more than 1,000 jobs, attracted 400€ million in investment, and generated more than 5.000€ million in returns.

34% of the Spanish population has some kind of mental health problem, with anxiety, depression and stress being the most common.

Posted on by Paz

“The fight against stigma isn’t won through street demonstrations; it’s won through humanization. There should be absolute normalization,” claims Bartolomé Pérez.

Four out of ten adolescents report having a mental health problem.

The Rei Jaume I Prizes Valencian Foundation held a mental health conference at the Provincial Mental Health Hospital in Bétera, attended by over a hundred people just a few days before Mental Health Day in Spain.

The conference began with welcomes from Bétera’s mayor, Elia Verdevío, and Inma González, the Provincial Council of Valencia’s deputy for Social Welfare.

Following the opening speeches, Bartolomé Pérez, the Director General of Mental Health and Addictions at the Regional Ministry of Health, presented the Valencian Community’s Mental Health and Addictions Plan 2024-2027. For Pérez, ‘This will be worthless unless it is properly implemented among all citizens of the Community, regardless of their background.’

According to the Generalitat representative, ‘Working on prevention must be a universal right. It must be fundamental to everything because we can lose certain content, but we cannot lose what is essential. We must use schools as a fundamental tool for prevention, or we might as well give up,” he stressed. ‘Primary detection in schools is important. The fight against stigma is not won through street demonstrations; it is won through humanization. There should be absolute normalization,” he emphasized.

Bartolomé Pérez expressed concern about the risk of trivializing mental health and recalled that you cannot work in healthcare without connecting with other areas, such as education. He said that this plan had been drafted with this in mind and is aimed at neglected groups, such as children and adolescents.

The Director General of the Regional Ministry of Health stated that 646 jobs had been created, equivalent to 74% of those created so far, and he mentioned some of the actions taken, such as psychological support in difficult situations, day hospitals and specific plans for specific pathologies. Finally, Bartolomé Pérez concluded by expressing his gratitude to all the healthcare professionals who worked during the DANA, and asked, ‘What would have happened with the DANA if we hadn’t had those mental health services at the time?’

After the break, occupational psychologist Pilar del Pueblo resumed the session by stating that ‘mental health at work has become the main health issue in Spain.’

She pointed out that 34% of the Spanish population has some kind of mental health problem, with anxiety, depression and stress being the most common. She also stated that mental health issues are a leading cause of sick leave and increased absenteeism.

According to the specialist, two out of five people over the age of 15 are at risk of poor mental health. Mental health problems among workers are becoming more prevalent than in the rest of society. For example, up to 60% of the Spanish population indicate that their work causes them stress. The perception of work as a source of stress is increasing among the Spanish population,” she said.

Another issue she addressed was ‘the difficulties these patients encounter in their companies when it comes to working, such as the fear of revealing the problem, its potential impact on their career, and concealing absences, because the stigma and fear of being labelled as weak is so prevalent among workers.’ Consequently, 90% of workers do not mention it at work. She made a special mention of ‘the self-employed, who almost never take sick leave and suffer in silence’, she concluded.

To conclude the day’s proceedings, Luis Rojo, a psychiatrist at La Fe Hospital in Valencia, was in attendance. He believes that “publishing photos of minors by their parents can lead to mental health disorders in the adolescent”.

The doctor recalled that four out of ten adolescents report having experienced mental health problems, and 65% acknowledge having received a diagnosis. While mental health is increasingly being discussed, this may influence young people to view mild emotional distress as pathological, he said.

He explained that there has been an increase in mental health disorders reported by family doctors in three areas: sexual health, addiction and suicidal behavior.

“In terms of sexual health,” he began, “one in three people do not enjoy their sexuality. Early access to pornographic content at the click of a button on a mobile phone given to children at their First Communion means that, when they are curious, children turn to their phones.” He also denounced the fact that one in four young people consume violent pornography and that sex education fuels violence. He added that platforms such as ‘OnlyFans‘ lead to changes in young people’s beliefs and create expectations that frustrate them.

With regard to addictions, Dr Rojo argued that alcohol ranks first as it is not perceived as a health risk. This is followed closely by tobacco and cannabis, which can lead to mental health issues. Other emerging addictions are vaping and energy drinks, which are rarely discussed but are becoming increasingly popular among young people, particularly men, due to their candy flavors and high caffeine content. This consumption is associated with many problems, such as inattention and obesity. On top of that, they are heavily marketed. Another emerging addiction is that to ‘loot boxes‘ or gambling, which are virtual boxes that appear when you are playing and encourage you to keep betting, with a similar philosophy to betting boxes,” said Rojo.

“Admission due to suicide attempts is becoming a reality with this type of behavior, and people are being admitted at an increasingly younger age,” he said. “There is no doubt that there is a real wave of self-harming cases.”

The psychiatrist also mentioned other risk factors, such as social changes in family structure, including an increase in divorces and an increase in the age at which people have their first child. When the relationship between parents fails, or when parents are very old, communication becomes difficult. Finally, Rojo warned that ‘the digital world has changed the rules of the game and is changing the way we relate to the world. The more social media is used, the more depression, anxiety and ultimately suicide there can be. And behind all this,’ he emphasized, is cyberbullying and insomnia.’

The conference concluded with closing remarks by the president of the Foundation Javier Quesada and farewells from Clara Adsuara, Councilor for Social Affairs at Castellón City Council.

You can watch the entire conference on our YouTube page.

https://youtu.be/2V9RdKyDV3U

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