VI GLADYS AWARD UNDERWAY: CANDIDACIES CAN BE SUBMITTED UNTIL JUNE 1st
The PuntuEUS Foundation and the EHU Faculty of Informatics, with the support of the Gipuzkoa Provincial Council, have launched the latest edition of the Gladys Award. This award aims to recognize and reward young Basque women working in the digital environment, creating new role models for youth and highlighting female talent in the field of technology.
Named after the computer scientist Gladys del Estal (1956 – 1979), this award not only honors her memory but also shines a spotlight on women addressing the challenges of today’s digital society. Following previous winners such as Ane Iturzaeta, Olatz Perez de Viñaspre, Amaia Abanda, Lorea Argarate, and Usue Mori, this new call for applications seeks to continue nurturing a strong network of female technologists in the Basque Country.
Lorea Arakistain from PuntuEUS proudly announced the new edition: “We are very proud of the results. We are receiving more and more candidacies, and the impact is growing; beyond the contribution it makes to the winners, the positive social impact is essential to achieving our goals.”
The Gladys Award was established in 2021 to create new references in the Basque digital environment. Over its five-year history, interest has grown steadily, as evidenced by the year-on-year increase in the number of applications.
From the very beginning, the main goal of the award has been to encourage young women to pursue technological careers. In this regard, Olatz Arbelaitz, representative of the UPV/EHU Faculty of Informatics, emphasized the importance of diversity starting from education: “To face the technological challenges we will encounter in the near future, it is essential to have diverse teams. For that to be possible, it is vital that the students entering informatics and technology studies are diverse as well.”
Institutional Support and Structural Challenges
The initiative promoted by PuntuEUS and the EHU is primarily supported by the Gipuzkoa Provincial Council, alongside partners such as Emakunde, Danobatgroup, Euskaltel Foundation, EiTB, and the UPV/EHU Equality Directorate. All stakeholders involved in the presentation agreed on the diagnosis: promoting women’s presence is not just a matter of justice, but a prerequisite for the future.
From the Gipuzkoa Provincial Council’s Equality Body, Nerea Isasi recalled the award’s symbolic and practical value: “This initiative puts women’s innovation work at the forefront and helps build a new collective imagery, sparking new vocations among the younger generations.”
In the same vein, from a more systemic perspective, the Secretary General of Emakunde, Noemi Ostolaza, called for a paradigm shift: “The gender gap is not just about presence; we must end the androcentric view of science. We need a structural change so that equality is integrated systemically.”
Industrial Viability and Leadership
This social change has a direct reflection in the economic sphere. Iker Usabiaga from Danobatgroup issued a warning regarding the sector’s viability: “We cannot transform the industry if there is not a sufficient number of women. Fostering talent is not just about equality; it is a strategic necessity for the future of the industry.”
To meet this strategic need, Nerea Enbeita, director of the Euskaltel Foundation, considered it essential to influence the attitude and empowerment of professionals, focusing on leadership: “Training is essential, but it is not enough. Educating in leadership and self-esteem is fundamental so that women believe they are capable of leading.”
Details of the VI Edition
In the current edition, women up to 40 years old working in any area of the digital environment can participate. There will be a single prize, and the jury will consider the following criteria: the candidate’s future projection, her professional career, and her ability to inspire and empower women in the sector.
Registration is now open, and candidacies can be submitted at www.gladyssaria.eus until June 1st. The winner will receive a prize of 4,000 euros.
Previous Winners:
- 2021: Ane Iturzaeta Agirre
- 2022: Olatz Perez de Viñaspre
- 2023: Amaia Abanda Elustondo
- 2024: Lorea Argarate Zubia
- 2025: Usue Mori Carrascal