Sustainable Projects from UPAEP Triumph at the Italian Technology Awards
Puebla, Mexico — August 22, 2025
Students from the Universidad Popular Autónoma del Estado de Puebla (UPAEP) have earned international recognition by winning the prestigious Italian Technology Awards 2025, highlighting the university’s commitment to innovation, sustainability, and academic-industry collaboration.
Award-Winning Teams and Their Projects
The successful contenders from UPAEP include María Fernanda Ramírez Bustamante (Bionic Engineering), Carlos Chapital Ortega (Industrial Chemical Engineering), and Kenya Hernández Mundo (Mechatronics Engineering). Their projects stood out among submissions from various top Mexican universities such as the Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León and Tecnológico de Monterrey.
María Fernanda Ramírez’s project, titled “From Waste to Health: Designing Eco-Friendly Fillers and Surgical Trays Using Agricultural Biocomposites,” proposes creating biodegradable surgical instruments from agricultural waste materials. This initiative aims to reduce medical plastic waste through sustainable material innovation.
Carlos Chapital presented his work called “Conceptual Development of Biofilm for Food Packaging Based on Starch, Nanocrystalline Cellulose, and Essential Oils.” His project’s goal is to replace highly polluting plastic bags with biodegradable, cost-effective, and easily produced packaging alternatives.
These projects underline UPAEP’s drive to tackle sustainability challenges by fostering creative solutions that merge environmental responsibility with cutting-edge technology.
The Italian Technology Awards and Its Significance
The Italian Technology Awards are organized jointly by the Italian Trade Agency (ICE) and the Italian Association of Manufacturers of Machines and Molds for Plastic and Rubber (AMAPLAST). This global contest focuses on technological innovation associated with the foundry and plastics industries and emphasizes sustainable development.
Participants present research theses in English, focusing on innovative uses of materials, industrial processes, and new technologies. The evaluation includes rigorous academic and technical judgments by an expert panel from Italy, ensuring high standards and relevance to real-world industrial challenges.
As part of the prize, the UPAEP winners enjoyed an academic residency in Italy during June 2025. There, they engaged with leading Italian industrial firms, experienced firsthand the latest technological advances, and met with executives from companies that have operations both in Italy and Mexico. This exposure significantly enriched their understanding of global industry dynamics and innovation strategies.
UPAEP’s Commitment to Global Educational Excellence and Industry Linkage
The Italian Technology Awards exemplify the bridge between academia and international industry, a relationship that UPAEP actively fosters. By encouraging students to develop impactful projects that address pressing sustainability and innovation challenges, UPAEP continues to reinforce its mission: to educate responsible leaders dedicated to social transformation and sustainable development for Mexico and the wider world.
This achievement also reflects the university’s comprehensive approach to engineering education, combining robust academic training with opportunities for global collaboration and hands-on experience.
Learn More About UPAEP’s Engineering Programs
- Bionic Engineering
- Mechatronics Engineering
- Industrial Chemical Engineering
For further details, visit UPAEP’s official website or contact UPRESS at upress@upaep.mx.
Photo and report by Hugo Quintero
© 2025 Universidad Popular Autónoma del Estado de Puebla. All rights reserved.
