CEMEX-Tec Award Recognizes the Social Impact of Entrepreneurs

• This year's global call doubles its entries, with 701 projects from 29 countries.
• Two new categories will be introduced in the 2019 call: Community entrepreneurship; and Collaborative action.

The 8^th edition of the CEMEX-Tec Center for Sustainable Development Award recognized 17 projects from entrepreneurs and innovators that aim to generate high social impact in communities around the world. The two first place (Mexico and International Prize) award winners will receive US$25,000 each for the implementation of their projects in the "Transforming Communities" category. In the "Social Entrepreneurs" category, 15 additional projects will obtain training, and the three first place award winners will receive US$10,000 each in seed capital.

During its eight-year trajectory, the Award has received more than 2,000 project entries, including proposals from 29 countries this year such as India, the Philippines, Singapore, Egypt, Spain, Colombia, Peru, and Mexico, among others. This is the global call of the Award.

This year's Award also registered the participation of 120 universities, 50% from Mexico and 50% from abroad, including the Polytechnic University of Catalonia, American University in Cairo, University of Rwanda, and University of Antioquia, just to name a few.

"We are proud and above all committed to continue opening the door to entrepreneurs from around the world. Without a doubt, it is the most substantial step to continue promoting innovative initiatives that seek true transformation and systemic change within their communities," said Martha Herrera, Corporate Director of Social Responsibility of CEMEX and of CEMEX-Tec Center for Sustainable Development. "I trust that this award, as well as all of the work we do through the CEMEX-Tec Center, is an integral part of a joint effort to improve where we live," she stated.

"It is very satisfying that this award has spread throughout the world," said David Garza, Dean of Tecnológico de Monterrey. "It started locally, and today we are crossing borders. This shows the strength that this initiative has achieved, which aims to consolidate the entrepreneurial ecosystem beyond Mexico," he concluded.

Two new categories will be launched in 2019. The first, Community Entrepreneurship, will focus on recognizing productive projects that have improved the quality of life in their communities, based on their sustainable business and environmentally friendly models. The second, Collaborative Action, will recognize multisectoral areas that have generated a relevant social impact.

Finally, in order to achieve a true transformation in this ecosystem and in any other, it is important to have allies that pursue the same objectives. Among its social entrepreneurship network, Ashoka, MassChallenge, yCo, and Civic Council supported the CEMEX-Tec Award.

For the full winners list of the CEMEX-Tec Award 2018, please visit: http://www.cdcs.com.mx/premio/

About CEMEX-Tec Center

Founded in 2010, the CEMEX-Tecnologico de Monterrey Center for Sustainable Development understands sustainability as a continuous work towards social development, growth economic and care of natural resources. Sustainable development means "meeting the needs of the present generation without compromising the capacity of future generations to meet their own needs." For more information visit: http://www.cdcs.com.mx/?lang=en

About CEMEX

CEMEX is a global building materials company that provides high-quality products and reliable services to customers and communities in more than 50 countries. CEMEX has a rich history of improving the well-being of those it serves through innovative building solutions, efficiency advancements, and efforts to promote a sustainable future.

For more information about CEMEX, please visit: www.cemex.com.

About Tecnológico de Monterrey

Tecnológico de Monterrey, www.tec.mx, is a private non-profit university founded in 1943 whose vision is to train leaders with entrepreneurial spirit, human sense and competitive in an international market; with presence in 26 cities in Mexico. The Tec de Monterrey has an enrollment of more than 60 thousand students of graduate and postgraduate level, and more than 6 thousand 600 teachers; it also has more than 27 thousand high school students and more than 2,500 teachers of that degree. The institution is accredited by Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) of the United States. According to the QS World University Rankings (2019), Tecnológico de Monterrey is ranked in the position number 178, and in its opinion indicator of Employers it is ranked as number 1 in Mexico and as number 62 in the world. At QS University Rankings: Latin America (2018) it occupies the fifth position; in this same region, according to the Times Higher Education Latin America University Rankings (2018) ranked number 1 in Mexico and the 5th in Latin America; and is the only Latin American university in the Top Schools for Entrepreneurship (2018) of Princeton Review and Entrepreneur, it is also occupying position 14 in programs of entrepreneurship in an undergraduate degree. In addition, for the second consecutive year, the Institution was placed as number 1 in the Education Sector within the "MERCO Empresas" Ranking that measures corporate reputation.

About Ashoka

It is a global organization, with 35 years of experience, which promotes entrepreneurship and social innovation. It has the largest and most powerful network of social entrepreneurs around the world with more than 3,500 members in more than 90 countries. Its strategy connects communities of social leaders, business, academia and government to enhance intersectoral collaboration and social impact. Ashoka creates the conditions for each individual to have the skills, knowledge and tools in entrepreneurship and social innovation to become agents of change.

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