The Federation of Cooperatives and the Social Economy of Madrid (FECOMA) has been awarded the ‘Mentor or institution’ prize in the fourth edition of the Awards of the Entrepreneurship School of the University of Alcalá (UAH). The distinction was presented during a ceremony held in the iconic San Ildefonso Chapel, located in the historic heart of Alcalá de Henares. This recognition highlights the alliance between FECOMA and the Entrepreneurship School of UAH, as well as their dedication to promoting an entrepreneurial culture focused on solidarity, sustainability, and inclusion.
The event was hosted by the versatile Soraya Arnelas and featured the participation of prominent members of the university community, including the director of the Entrepreneurship School, Fernando Javier Crescente, and the vice-rector for Students, Entrepreneurship, and Employability, Eva Senra. José Vicente Saz, rector of UAH, closed the ceremony emphasizing entrepreneurship as a vital driver for social and economic transformation.
FECOMA has played a key role in promoting entrepreneurship in the university setting, collaborating with UAH on various initiatives including workshops on Social Economy entrepreneurship, participation in hackathons, and support for projects that promote essential values such as sustainability and inclusion. Carlos Jiménez, president of FECOMA, received the award and emphasized the relevance of entrepreneurship in the federation, describing it as a “factory of dreams”. He also highlighted the success of cooperatives like UNIDE and GSD, which emerged from simple ideas, and emphasized the role of universities as centers of knowledge and innovation.
Jiménez stated: “Without knowledge, we are nothing. Europe is the cradle of civilization and its universities are the best proof of that.” He also mentioned the work of ASALMA, which in 2024 allowed the creation of 100 companies in the Community of Madrid under the form of a labor society.
This recognition not only reinforces FECOMA’s efforts in promoting entrepreneurship, but also renews its commitment to the university community. The federation seeks to promote an entrepreneurship model that prioritizes the values of the Social Economy, serving as a stimulus for more and more young people to understand that undertaking in a solidarity, sustainable, and inclusive manner is not only possible, but also essential.
Source: MiMub in Spanish