Santander and the Oxentia Foundation to find the best cybersecurity projects

  • Santander X Global Challenge | Cyberprotect the Future for start-ups and scale-ups from 11 countries.
  • The six winning projects will receive EUR 120,000 in prizes, access to the Santander X 100 global community and the opportunity to submit their projects to Forgepoint Capital and the Santander Group’s cybersecurity team.
  • The deadline for applications to the Santander X Global Challenge is 28 September.

The Santander Group 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, Spain, Mexico, Germany, Poland, Portugal, the United States, Uruguay and the United Kingdom) 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 EUR 120,000 in prizes: EUR 30,000 for the top three start-ups (EUR 10,000 each) and EUR 90,000 for the top three scale-ups (EUR 30,000 each). Winners will also get access to the Santander X 100, the global entrepreneurial community where the top Santander X projects are connected with the resources they need to grow. In addition, they will also have the opportunity to present their project to Forgepoint Capital and the Santander Group’s cybersecurity team, competing for the opportunity to run a pilot.

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.

Diego Calascibetta

Global Head of Entrepreneurship and Fintech Station at Santander Universidades

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.

Steve Cleverley

CEO of Oxentia Foundation

Santander Group offers, through Santander X, specialised training to 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. At the same time, it offers numerous development programmes for people entering as well as those already in the labour market, supporting them in expanding their professional competences.

Santander Group and its support for education and entrepreneurship and enhancing employability

The Santander Group is firmly committed to progress and inclusive sustainable growth with an aim to eliminate social exclusion. 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).

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.