Santander X Global Challenge | Cyberprotect the Future, for start-ups and scale-ups from 11 countries.

The six winning projects will receive 120,000 euros in prizes, access to the Santander X 100 global community and the opportunity to submit their projects to Forgepoint Capital and the bank's cybersecurity team.

The deadline for applications to the Santander X Global Challenge is 28 September.

Madrid, 13 June 2023.
Banco Santander and the Oxentia Foundation are launching Santander X Global Challenge | Cyberprotect the Future¸ a global challenge for start-ups and scale-ups from 11 countries (Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Germany, Mexico, Poland, Portugal, Spain, United Kingdom, the United States and Uruguay) that provide innovative solutions to the cybersecurity challenges faced by all of us as a society.

The deadline for applications is 28 September, and the six winning projects will receive 120,000 euros in prizes: 30,000 euros for the top three start-ups (10,000 euros each) and 90,000 euros for the top three scale-ups (30,000 euros each). Winners will also be given access to Santander X 100, the global entrepreneurial community, where the top Santander X projects are connected with the resources that they need to grow. In addition, they will also be given the opportunity to present their project to Forgepoint Capital and the cybersecurity and Fintech Station teams at Banco Santander, competing for the opportunity to run a pilot test.

Diego Calascibetta, global head of Entrepreneurship and Fintech Station at Santander Universities, stated that “cybersecurity and the challenges that we are facing in the society are growing exponentially. As a result, the best talent is offering up all of their ideas to provide better online protection for society as a whole. With this initiative from Santander X, we want to help address these challenges by providing tools, resources and a visible platform for these ideas to thrive".

Hazel Diez Castaño, global chief information security officer (CISO) at Banco Santander explained that, "the aim is not just to identify these start-ups, but also to support them on this journey and to help them to achieve their desired impact. These companies may often take a more agile approach to implementing technologies and may be more willing to experiment with innovative ideas, which helps to create a more secure ecosystem".

Steve Cleverley, CEO of Oxentia Foundation, “at Oxentia, helping entrepreneurs address global challenges, provide innovative solutions, and promote adoption of new and disruptive technologies is at the heart of our work. In the midst of a significant leap forward in our technological capabilities, keeping the digital world safe, reliable, and resilient has never been more important. The Oxentia Foundation is therefore delighted to be working in partnership with Santander X to launch a new global challenge | Cyberprotect the Future. We are looking forward to hearing from entrepreneurs across the Santander footprint with the very best cutting-edge technology and transformational solutions and wish all applicants the very best of luck. 

Banco Santander undertakes a number of initiatives to help people to enhance their career prospects. Through Santander X, it offers specialised training to business start-ups and connects them with the resources that they need to grow, thrive and implement solutions to tackle the major challenges faced by all of us as a society.

Banco Santander and its support for education, employability, and entrepreneurship

Banco Santander is firmly committed to progress and inclusive sustainable growth. It boasts a long-standing and groundbreaking 26-year commitment to education, employability, and entrepreneurship, which sets it apart from the world's other financial institutions. The bank has allocated over 2.2 billion euros and has supported more than one million students, professionals and entrepreneurial projects through agreements with more than 1,300 universities (www.santander.com/universities).

The Oxentia Foundation and its commitment to innovation and global entrepreneurship

Oxentia Foundation was created to support Oxentia's goal of tackling global inequalities through innovation and entrepreneurial activities. Oxentia has organised international entrepreneurial innovation competitions and awards, and has also provided advice to entrepreneurs in order help bring science and technology projects which contribute to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, to market. Oxentia grew out of Oxford University's technology transfer company, Oxford University Innovation, and aims to provide specialised innovation management services to public and private sector customers throughout the world. Its approach is based on the company's solid legacy, built on over 30 years of experience supporting academic innovation and entrepreneurial spirit in more than 70 countries.