The 4D Picture project receives an honorable mention at the Third Millennium Awards 2026

On June 9th, representatives from the Aragonese R&D&I ecosystem will gather at the awards ceremony. This competition HERALD The winning candidates are announced today.

The twelfth edition of the Third Millennium Awards has its winners, chosen from among the 70 applications submittedThe jury was composed of Pilar Gayán, Director General of Science and Research of the Government of Aragon; Francisco Javier Rubio, Director of Araid; Luis Oro, Emeritus Professor of Inorganic Chemistry at the University of Zaragoza; Francisco Rojas, Head of Mission and Impact-Oriented Innovation at the Technological Institute of Aragon; Sabina Scarpellini, Researcher at the Unizar Energaia Institute; and Pilar Perla, Coordinator of Tercer Milenio.

The awards will be presented at a ceremony to be held on June 9th. Sponsored by Fersa, Government of Aragon, ITA, Ariño Duglass, Avanza, Querqus and Sugraf Technology & Product.

Runner-up: 4D Picture, Improving cancer treatment outcomes through user-centered research

Cancer patients face complex decisions in contexts of high emotional stress, information overload, and fragmented care pathways. 4D Picture is a European research and innovation project focused on transform the experience of these patientsthrough the redesign of care pathways and the structured integration of shared decision-making in clinical practice. It is being developed in the Medical Oncology Department of the Miguel Servet University Hospital, led by a multidisciplinary team from the University Institute of Engineering Research of Aragon (I3A) of the University of Zaragoza, in collaboration with the Aragon Health Research Institute (IIS Aragón) and Fractal Strategy.

Dissemination Award in Aragon: Closer to the Sun

The Scientific Culture Unit of the Center for Physics of the Cosmos Studies of Aragon (CEFCA) has seen the trio of eclipses that will occur in Spain between 2026 and 2028 as a unique opportunity to explain astronomy. Its project, Closer to the Sun, responds to "the social challenge of educating the entire population about an astronomical phenomenon of great interest"This cross-cutting outreach program for the whole of society – from children to adults, businesses, public institutions and the media – mainly integrates talks, workshops and solar observations, with activities segmented according to the target audience." 

The activities bring the Sun closer to people, both as a star and as part of the Solar System, and have also served to raise awareness about a once-in-a-lifetime event: the total solar eclipse of August 12, 2026. Special emphasis has been placed on "training the population to observe this phenomenon with the necessary precautions and the appropriate knowledge to fully enjoy it." This has been done primarily throughout the province of Teruel. A total of 139 primary education classrooms have directly benefited of a project that has also reached further. Among the results are more than 2.300 participating schoolchildren and 30.000 published informational guides, as well as an art installation in the glass cube of the Plaza de San Juan in Teruel.. 

Second prize: Was that an electron? Bringing particle physics closer to the classroom and society

This educational and outreach project developed in Aragon brings particle physics and modern physics into the classroom and society through the use of cloud chambers. Built by the students themselves with accessible and low-cost materials, they allow to observe with the naked eye the traces of subatomic particles. The project is being developed by several professors at the University of Zaragoza, in collaboration with secondary and high school teachers. Since 2023, the project has been implemented in 10 schools, currently reaching more than 600 students and over 80 teachers through classroom activities and teacher training. In addition, talks and science outreach activities have been conducted, and the work has resulted in scientific publications, presentations at national and international conferences, and various open educational materials.

Second prize: Aragon in a quantum state

The Institute of Nanoscience and Materials of Aragon (a joint center of CSIC and Unizar) launched a cross-cutting science outreach initiativeThe initiative, coordinated in 2025 by the INMA Outreach Commission, coincided with the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology declared by UNESCO. The program of activities combined exhibitions, lectures, science films, educational activities, and publications, with a presence throughout Aragon and aimed at a broad audience: from students and scientists to the general public, through accessible and free initiatives. The initiative successfully brought a complex field closer to the public, conveying that "quantum mechanics forms the basis of essential technologies in today's society (lasers, GPS, microchips) and emerging developments such as quantum computing." A large scientific team, coordinated by researcher Pepa Martínez, selected the best formats and approaches to achieve this.

Young Research Talent Award: María Sancho Albero, University of Zaragoza (Institute of Nanoscience and Materials of Aragon)

María Sancho Albero (Leciñena, Zaragoza, 1993) is a biotechnologist who He researches in the field of nanomedicineShe is currently a Ramón y Cajal researcher at the Institute of Nanoscience and Materials of Aragon, pursuing the development of new cancer treatment strategies based on nanotechnology products. During her multidisciplinary and international training, she has published numerous articles in high-impact scientific journals and has obtained competitive international and national contracts (for example, the AECC 2023 postdoctoral grant, the postdoctoral individual fellowship Marie Sklodowska-Curie MSCA 2023 or the Ramón y Cajal grant 2024). She is the principal investigator of a prestigious ERC Starting Grant 2024 project (1.843.500 euros) recently awarded. 

His line of research focuses on the study of new vehicles to deliver therapeutic nanomaterials to cancer targets selectively and study the key factors within biological environments that have hindered their transfer to the clinical setting. 

Runner-up: Carlos Moreno Yruela, Institute of Bioengineering of Catalonia

Carlos Moreno Yruela (Zaragoza, 1991) is a chemist from Aragon, a graduate of the University of Zaragoza, and holds a doctorate in Pharmaceutical Sciences. He has conducted his research in Denmark, the United States, and Switzerland. Currently, He is in the process of opening his laboratory at the Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (Barcelona) thanks to a prestigious European project from the ERC Starting Grant program. 

This researcher works in the Characterization of new therapeutic targets against cancer and neurodegenerationas well as developing methods to facilitate obtaining drugs against them. His research has been published in high-impact journals such as Science Advances, Nature Chemical Biology, Nature Communications and Cell Chemical Biology, This has allowed him to secure over €2 million in funding since completing his PhD. He is also committed to science outreach and organizes the Pint of Science festival in Lausanne, which attracts over 500 participants each year.

Runner-up: Iván Lizaga Villuendas, Pyrenean Institute of Ecology-CSIC

Iván Lizaga Villuendas (Fuentes de Ebro, Zaragoza, 1991) is an international authority in environmental sciences who, At less than 35 years old, he has obtained a position as a tenured scientist at the Pyrenean Institute of Ecology. (IPE-CSIC). Her interdisciplinary profile stands out, merging geochemistry (sediment and contaminant tracing), satellite remote sensing, and artificial intelligence to create early warning systems for soil degradation. Her work has a profound global impact, as she coordinates university training in Sub-Saharan Africa (She-Creeds project, €1,44 million) and has created early warning systems for the governments of the African Great Lakes region (DeltaSense). Furthermore, her work directly benefits Aragon, as she leads the advanced monitoring and protection of the Ebro River basin through the Upstream project. 

For the first time in Spain, “we are deploying high-frequency sensors, AI and environmental DNA to monitor erosion and water quality in real time "in the tributaries and reservoirs of the Ebro," he explains.

Research and Future Award: Liquid crystals for the rapid detection of bacteria in food 

The Liquid Crystals and Polymers (CLIP) group at the Institute of Nanoscience and Materials of Aragon (CSIC-Unizar) develops new smart materials based on complex liquid crystal colloids for applications in advanced sensors and optical technologies. Within the framework of the Licrydrops project, the team has developed a new platform of portable optical biosensors capable of detecting dangerous bacteria in food quickly, directly and quantifiably. The technology uses liquid crystal emulsions that transform invisible molecular changes into easily measurable fluorescent signals, causing the liquid crystal to 'turn on' or 'turn off' when it detects pathogens such as salmonella or listeria. In this way, it is possible perform detections in approximately one hour and with very high sensitivity. Compared to conventional methods, which require several days of analysis and specialized equipment, this approach opens the door to the development of fast and accessible tools to prevent foodborne outbreaks and improve food safety. 

The work, led by Alberto Concellón, a Ramón y Cajal researcher, and carried out in Aragon, has been published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society, one of the most prestigious international scientific publications in chemistry. In addition to its scientific relevance, the project stands out for its transfer potential in areas such as food quality control, portable diagnostics and rapid pathogen detection, as well as for its ability to adapt to other microorganisms and contaminants of health and environmental interest. 

Second prize: Climaroma, the influence of climate change on the aroma of wines from the Poctefa territory

The Climaroma project, which is being carried out by the Aroma Analysis and Enology Laboratory of the Faculty of Sciences at Unizar, was created with the objective of Understanding the relationship between climate change and the loss of wine qualityIdentifying the meteorological variables responsible for the appearance of aromatic defects, the project aims to develop predictive models of the aromatic quality of Garnacha wine and validate adaptation strategies using sustainable biostimulants to mitigate the impact of climate change on vineyards. Furthermore, Climaroma seeks to promote the social and economic viability of these innovations through a technology transfer program for the wine sector, which includes useful tools for land-use planning based on predictive models.

Technological Innovation Award: Libelium, 20 years leading Datacracy from Aragon – From sensor to Digital Twin with iris360

Libelium celebrates its anniversary in 2026 20 anniversaryFounded as a spin-off from the University of Zaragoza, it has since established itself as a global leader in the Internet of Things (IoT) and sustainability. The company states that “our trajectory is a testament to resilience and evolution,” having gone from being pioneers in sensor technology to leading what could be called the era of 'datacracy' with one of its most recent developments: The iris360 platform, capable of creating digital twins for the intelligent management of cities and heritage. Iris360 is defined as an “action space” for sustainability reporting and governance that uses digital twins to simulate real-world scenarios. This allows public managers to “break down information silos, integrating data from their own sensors, third parties, and open sources to make evidence-based decisions.” 

It is applied in the Alhambra of Granada for dynamic management of tourist flows, predictive heritage conservation, and biodiversity monitoring. Among the flagship projects carried out in Aragon, the digital twins of the city of Zaragoza and the Cinco Villas region stand out. From Libelium's perspective, "technological maturity and the capacity for constant innovation are key to transforming data into real impact." Currently, 93 people work at Libelium (including strategic acquisitions such as Hopu). The company has a presence in more than 140 countries and exports 90% of its revenue (9 million euros in 2025). 

Second prize: Bemaps

BeMaps is a web mapping tool from the company Geospatiumlab, a spin-off of the University of ZaragozaTo create and share flawlessly crafted maps in just three steps. It allows users who are not GIS (Geographic Information Systems) experts to create maps, meeting demanding cartographic design quality standards and maintaining complete control over the data. This tool, launched in November 2025, was designed in collaboration with the Unizar Territorial Planning Studies Group (GEOT). Geospatiumlab, a software development company, was founded in 2007 and specializes in the analysis and processing of geolocated data, the development of geolocation-based web and mobile applications, and consulting for the design and implementation of geographic information systems.

Second prize: Pensumo, technology that transforms everyday consumption into savings for the future

Pensumo is a Spanish fintech company (it applies technology to financial products and services) that has developed A pioneering technological solution that turns everyday purchases into automatic retirement savingsThrough a free app, users contribute to their Pensumo pension plan every time they shop at participating stores, without any additional financial effort. The company has created a complex technological infrastructure that connects cashback, open banking, financial automation, and regulatory compliance in a remarkably simple experience for both users and businesses. The Pensumo Pension initiative was selected to be part of the first cohort of the Spanish financial regulatory sandbox, promoted by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Digital Transformation.

Source: Heraldo de Aragón