On Thursday, 6 May, the 2021 edition of the Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) was held in Barcelona, a training programme for entrepreneurs funded by the US State Department. The e aim of the programme is to boost the development of entrepreneurial projects led by women.

Through the AWE programme, developed by the United States Consulate General in Barcelona together with Fomento del Trabajo Nacional (the Spanish National Worker’s Union) and the Government of Aragon, 30 female entrepreneurs and social innovators of any nationality resident in Spain have been awarded.

The call was open to present start-ups set up in the last 3 to 5 years or for advanced projects or ideas that are about to be launched. Among the nominations was the start-up called Pulmobiotics, which develops therapeutic applications for pulmonary affectations, the co-founder of which is Maria Lluch, a lecturer and researcher at UIC Barcelona.

The grant awarded to the lecturer from our Bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Science is an intensive online training course offered by the University of Arizona's Thunderbird Business School. A set of master classes at the headquarters of Fomento del Trabajo Nacional and inspiring sessions with people of recognised prestige from the innovative ecosystem in Barcelona.

In addition, all the entrepreneurs awarded a grant will have the opportunity to become part of the large global AWE network with connections around the world, a springboard for these innovative projects.