The Japan-Spain Business Circle awards Balfegó and Toyota in its VI Keicho Awards

• In its sixth edition of the renowned Keicho Awards for Innovation and Technology, the Japan-Spain Business Circle (CEJE) has awarded Balfegó as a Spanish company, and Toyota as a Japanese company for their contribution in the last year in the fields of technology and innovation with projects that promote sustainability in their respective sectors.

• Balfegó has been awarded for its alliance with AZTI to promote research projects with the purpose of advancing sustainability in bluefin tuna fishing and aquaculture

• Toyota has been awarded for the company’s commitment to the environment and, in particular, for its participation in the FCH2RAIL project

The VI edition of the Keicho Awards for Innovation and Technology, organized annually by the Japan-Spain Business Circle and held this year with the collaboration of CEOE, and the sponsorship of Nippon Gases, awarded the Spanish company BALFEGÓ, a generational company of fishermen from L’Ametlla de Mar, for its agreement with Azti to promote sustainability and digitalization in the production processes of bluefin tuna fishing. It also awarded the Japanese company  TOYOTA for its commitment to sustainability and the company’s dedication to combating climate change, specifically for its participation in the FCH2Rail project. 

The awards, which have the Honorary Presidency of HM King Felipe VI, have brought together representatives of institutions and prominent corporations, both Japanese and Spanish, at the Wellington Hotel in Madrid. The presence of the Minister of the Embassy of Japan in Spain, Shinji Minami; Jose Alberto González Ruiz, Secretary General of the CEOE, and Ambassador Ramón María Moreno, Secretary General of the Spain-Japan Foundation is highlighted amongst the attendees.  The event was also attended remotely by the Ambassador of Spain to Japan, Fidel Sendagorta.

In his inauguration and welcome speech to the awards, Jorge Lasheras, President of the Japan-Spain Business Circle, alluded to the importance and value of the Keicho Awards in their work to promote the development of economic relations between Japan and Spain.  The President of  CEJE also stressed the importance of recognizing the efforts and milestones of  companies, both Japanese and Spanish, and highlighted the need to continue working to promote bilateral exchanges and investments between the two countries.

Balfegó and its agreement with Azti seek to jointly promote the research, development and valorization of new products linked to the aquaculture of this species in the open sea. Among other aspects, the agreement plans to delve into the sustainability and digitalization of bluefin tuna production processes, the quality of the final product, and authentication and traceability, points in which Balfegó has been a pioneer in the fishing sector. This collaboration will also focus on the commercial development of new products and environmental sustainability, as well as research and the application of artificial intelligence in the fields of bluefin tuna fisheries and aquaculture.  The award was accepted jointly by Manel Balfegó, co-founder, and Juan Serrano, CEO of the company. In his gratitude, Juan Serrano stressed that “This award is a recognition of our career. You cannot talk about Balfegó without talking about excellence, responsibility, efficiency and, of course, innovation. It’s part of our DNA. And we do it in all those spaces in which we operate, doing so with a great commitment to sustainability, both social and environmental, which allows us to be in the leading bluefin tuna company worldwide.”

The FCH2Rail project, which was launched in January 2021, combines normal track use with emission-free and catenary-free rail journeys. To advance this alternative,  Toyota has delivered six second-generation fuel cell modules that will be integrated into the project’s hydrogen fuel cell hybrid system  in Spain, with the purpose of making emission-free train travel possible.  Representing Toyota, Fernando de Miguel, Financial, IT and Corporate Director, offered attendees an explanation of the company’s sustainable trajectory, embodied in objectives such as achieving carbon neutrality and with results such as being a leading brand in the sale of electrified vehicles in Spain in 2022. Fernando de Miguel also added that “for Toyota, it is an absolute priority to use its resources in a sustainable way. As a brand, we are very proud to lead the creation of a hydrogen society in Europe with projects in Spain such as FCH2Rail. “

Rewarding the most needed innovation

Since 2016, the objective of the Keicho Awards has been to highlight those advances and interventions carried out during the last year in terms of innovation and technology in global markets, by Japanese companies established in Spain, as well as Spanish companies with interests in Japan.

This year, the Japan-Spain Business Circle has awarded Toyota and Balfegó to recognize two companies that not only stand out for their innovative efforts, but have gone a step further, and have focused an important part of their resources on projects that enhance sustainability and responsible practices with the environment. With the urgency of climate change, the Japan-Spain Business Circle has highlighted the importance of recognizing those who are willing to transform their businesses, developing technologies to mitigate the consequences of global warming.

Since its inception in 2016, these awards have recognized Spanish chef Carme Ruscalleda and companies such as Niken Sekkei, Panasonic, Gestamp, Fujifilm, Uriach, Iberia, Nissan, Satlantis and AGC Pharma.