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Ram\u00f3n Larramendi, creator of the Windsled, received the <\/span>Genio Azul 2019<\/span><\/i> Award on March 14 in Gij\u00f3n. The prize, presented annually by the Vocento Group for the most innovative design, was awarded for his Wind Sled project.<\/span><\/p>\n The ceremony, attended by around 200 people, took place at the University Laboral Theater in the Asturian city, which hosted this year\u2019s event recognizing outstanding work in advertising and innovation.<\/span> Organizers highlighted the sled’s groundbreaking innovation for science and exploration, and especially its significance in environmental sustainability\u2014one of the central themes of the event.<\/span><\/p>\n The award was presented during a day of talks organized by CMVocento and SCOPEN, mostly attended by professionals in advertising and marketing. The sessions focused on innovation in design and featured high-profile speakers like Luis Gonz\u00e1lez Lorenzo, innovation director at Hyperloop One; architect N\u00faria Moliner, host of <\/span>Escala Humana<\/span><\/i> on Spain\u2019s TVE channel, known for her work in sustainable architecture; and cognitive neuroscientist Manuel Mart\u00edn-Loeches, a contributor to the Atapuerca project, who spoke on how humans often lie to preserve their self-image and self-esteem. Leadership coach Juan Carlos Cubeiro delivered a talk on talent and leadership development.<\/span><\/p>\n In his own talk, Ram\u00f3n Larramendi acknowledged that he belongs to a very small group of people in the world dedicated to polar exploration.<\/span> He reflected on his many expeditions, with a special focus on his most recent one, <\/span>Unexplored Antarctica<\/span><\/i>. He reminded the audience that the project has been entirely privately funded, achieved through tireless personal effort and modest financial support gathered bit by bit.<\/span> The polar explorer concluded by thanking Vocento for recognizing the personal effort that has gone into the Windsled over nearly two decades.<\/span><\/p>\n
<\/span>\u00abI\u2019m truly happy that the effort and work behind the Wind Sled is being recognized after 20 years of development. I firmly believe the future lies in sustainability, creativity, and efficiency,\u00bb<\/span><\/i> said Larramendi upon receiving the award.<\/span><\/p>\n
<\/span>\u00abThere are no more than 15 of us\u2014fewer than astronauts,\u00bb<\/span><\/i> he said, before sharing the story of his life and how the Wind Sled came to be. He emphasized the important influence of Inuit traditions and ancestral knowledge, which he noted is often undervalued in favor of more complex\u2014and sometimes less effective\u2014technological solutions.<\/span><\/p>\n
<\/span>\u00abWe hope this situation will change and that it will eventually become a part of Spain\u2019s official Polar Program, while also giving companies the chance to align their image with a project that is innovative, sustainable, and globally pioneering,\u00bb<\/span><\/i> he said.<\/span><\/p>\n