The Rector of the Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV), Professor Pepe Capilla, took part on Wednesday, May 7, in the final gala of the UP! STEAM 6 competition—an event that brought together hundreds of students of various ages, schools, and towns in the UPV’s sports pavilion, all committed to innovation, creativity, and learning through socially impactful technology projects.
The day began at 5:00 p.m. with an exhibition of the finalist projects and concluded with the awards ceremony for the Dreamers, Coders, Makers, and Gamers categories. The gala, organized by the STEAM Chair of the UPV Social Council, was attended by academic and regional authorities, including the Rector himself, the President of the UPV Social Council, Mónica Bragado, the Regional Secretary for Universities, Esther Gómez, and the Regional Secretary for Education, Daniel McEvoy Bravo, among others.
In his speech, Pepe Capilla emphasized the transformative power of education when lived with passion and engagement, as demonstrated by the educational community that made this edition possible. “We need many people like you who dream—who dream of the future,” he said, addressing the participating students directly. “Here at the UPV, we are committed to a holistic education, where learning is enjoyable and students develop essential skills such as teamwork, resilience, and creativity.”
The Rector also stressed the urgent need to spark scientific and technological vocations from an early age—an objective that lies at the heart of initiatives like UP! STEAM. “There is a shortage of technological vocations. That’s why we need every one of you. You are the future of science, engineering, technology, and applied arts, and these projects are a fantastic way to discover that,” he stated. Capilla encouraged young people to continue exploring their interests and developing their talents, highlighting the university as a space where curiosity is nurtured and talent is fostered.
Capilla offered special thanks to the students, teachers, and families involved, and also acknowledged the social commitment of the university community. He made particular mention of the UPV students who actively participated in recovery efforts following the DANA storm that affected the city of Valencia last September. “We are a very supportive community, and from here come the engineers who help rebuild after events like that,” he noted.
The ceremony concluded with the presentation of special awards for best exhibitions and a group photo with the winning teams. The Rector closed by publicly expressing his appreciation for the involvement of the UPV Social Council: “I’m proud of our Social Council, because its support for initiatives like this is essential.”
Through events like this, the UPV reaffirms its commitment to a transformative education—one that brings together science, technology, art, and social responsibility in projects that make a real difference and pave the way for future generations.
