September 2025

You can now register for the Innovation Hackathon organized by the Talent Incubator as part of the Lactalis Puleva–UGR Chair of Intrapreneurship and Innovation.

This program, led by the Talent Incubator of the University of Granada, has become what is likely the largest innovation management hackathon in Spain—and one of the biggest in Europe at the university level—bringing together a wide range of university talent every year. The program is also a benchmark for successful collaboration between academia and industry, with direct involvement from over twenty professors at the University of Granada and nearly thirty executives and professionals from Lactalis Puleva, a leading multinational in the food sector.

The Hackathon consists of several phases, with one of the highlights taking place in the afternoon of October 30, 2025, at the Faculty of Economics and Business at the University of Granada. During this event, participating students will be integrated into work teams to develop a project that addresses a real challenge proposed by Lactalis Puleva. In 2024, more than two hundred people took part in the various teams, working intensively with the support and availability of company professionals and university professors specialized in strategy and innovation.

An Experience to Train Key Skills

The goal of the Hackathon is to provide participants with hands-on training, helping them develop highly valued professional skills in the labor market: innovation, creativity, teamwork, leadership, time management, communication, and the ability to solve problems under pressure.

Throughout the day at the Faculty, student teams must design and present proposals that combine change, effectiveness, efficiency, sustainability, profitability, and well-being. The opportunity to work directly with high-level professionals while developing their solutions provides a unique insight into the challenges and potential of managing innovation in a business context. All proposals are evaluated by a jury made up of executives and experts from Lactalis Puleva and faculty members from the University of Granada.

Recognition and Career Opportunities

The jury evaluates each of the submitted projects and selects five finalists, who will participate in a FINAL GALA on the afternoon of November 20 at the Lactalis Puleva headquarters. During the Gala, students present their project live to a panel of senior executives who ask practical questions regarding feasibility, requirements, and potential. At the end of the Gala, prizes are awarded to the teams with the best projects, according to the executives’ opinions.

The entire event serves as both a celebration and an opportunity for participants. In addition to the chance to win cash prizes, it offers an exceptional platform for students, professors, and company executives to connect—strengthening the network of talented individuals.

The Hackathon also opens the door to a special call for paid internships at Lactalis Puleva, making this program a direct gateway to the professional world and to one of the leading multinational companies in the global food industry.

All participants will receive an official certificate from the Talent Incubator, validating the competencies they developed throughout the program, along with a commemorative gift. Finalists will also receive special recognition and the corresponding cash prize.

Registration and Participation

Registration is completely free and open to students from any undergraduate or postgraduate program at the University of Granada. Your field of study doesn’t matter—what matters is your willingness to learn, work in a team, and have fun while facing a real innovation management challenge.

You may register as part of a team (usually made up of three people) or individually—in which case the organizers will assign you to a team.

Applications are open until October 22, 2025, via the Talent Incubator’s website. As spots are limited, early registration is recommended. The registration form will be published shortly.