This AI tool claims to detect wildfires in seconds – and it just won a major technology award

Barcelona event showcases international wildfire prevention innovation

Mobile World Capital Barcelona has reported that the Embrace the Forest project from Brazil was awarded the Barcelona Horizon Award at the first MWCapital Awards, recognising international technology projects with environmental and social impact.

The project, selected from 157 entries submitted from 34 countries, uses artificial intelligence and real-time data to improve wildfire prevention and response, reducing damage and carbon emissions.

The announcement was made during a ceremony at the Mirador Torre Glòries in Spain, hosted by MWCapital in collaboration with GSMA Foundry, B Lab Spain, the State Secretariat for Digitalisation and Artificial Intelligence (SEDIA), and Red.es.

Embrace the Forest’s software platform, Pantera, monitors 17.5 million hectares including tiger reserves in India and Brazilian natural areas.

The software detects wildfires within seconds using AI and drones, with Mobile World Capital Barcelona reporting reductions of 85% in burned areas and 70% in operational costs.

AI-driven solutions for climate and health challenges

According to Mobile World Capital Barcelona, the MWCapital Awards recognised six winners across five categories, each aligned with a specific United Nations Sustainable Development Goal.

In the Business Category, Samsung Electronics Iberia received the award for “Technology with Purpose”, a suite of AI-powered accessibility tools including communication devices for ALS patients and sensory-assistive wearables for people with autism.

Colombia’s Salva Health won the Startups category with “Julieta”, an AI-powered portable device for breast cancer screening in low-resource regions. MWCapital stated that the device demonstrated 82% accuracy and 81% sensitivity during trials involving 2,300 patients.

Australia’s Western Sydney University received recognition in the Research Centres category for its SIMPaCT project, a smart irrigation system that uses sensors and AI to reduce water usage by up to 70%.

The non-profit award was given to SIC4Change for its Nut4Health programme in Mauritania, which uses blockchain and smart contracts to support early detection of child malnutrition and improve maternal health outcomes.

Finland’s City of Tampere received the Public Institutions award for its data-driven smart city platform that uses digital twins and IoT sensors to manage pedestrian flow and optimise urban planning.

Judging panel focuses on impact and scalability

Mobile World Capital Barcelona confirmed that the projects were evaluated by a jury comprising experts from GSMA, B Lab Spain, Red.es, AMETIC, MIT, and the International Telecommunication Union.

The jury assessed entries based on innovation, scalability and measurable impact.

MWCapital stated that the winners will showcase their projects at MWC26 Barcelona, providing an opportunity to connect with global stakeholders in digital transformation and sustainability.

Francesc Fajula, CEO of Mobile World Capital Barcelona, said: “Today, technological progress must consider not only economic criteria but also social and environmental ones.”

He added: “Technology is our best ally in building a more sustainable, fair and equitable society.”

Award partners highlight ethical technology use

John Hoffman, CEO of GSMA Ltd., said: “MWCapital Awards are a powerful reminder that technology, when deployed ethically and inclusively, can accelerate progress toward one of the world’s most urgent goals.”

He continued: “The awards showcase projects that deliver real and measurable impact, from improving health outcomes and urban resilience to fighting climate change.”

He added: “At the GSMA, we are proud to champion innovation that drives digital transformation with purpose, and we look forward to seeing these remarkable initiatives take the global stage at MWC26 Barcelona.”

Jesús Herrero, Director General of Red.es, stated: “These awards represent a magnificent opportunity to showcase the best international projects where new technologies are being applied to achieve a more sustainable, equitable, and inclusive world.”

Lucas Hunter, Interim Executive Director of B Lab Spain, said: “At B Lab Spain, we welcome initiatives like the MWCapital Awards that shine a spotlight on the real, measurable impact of technological innovation.”

He added: “These projects show that it is possible to combine technical excellence with business models that prioritise people and the planet.”

He continued: “Recognising this kind of leadership and promoting strategic frameworks such as the B Corp standards is key to accelerating the transition towards an economic model capable of addressing today’s challenges.”

Technology and the 2030 Agenda

MWCapital stated that the Awards are aligned with the United Nations 2030 Agenda and Sustainable Development Goals, and that they seek to promote digital solutions that contribute to health, environmental sustainability and inclusive development.

The organisation said the event brought together entrepreneurs, public and private stakeholders and social innovators for the ceremony.

MWCapital also noted that the event aimed to inspire a new generation of technology leaders committed to solving global problems through collaboration and real-world application of digital tools.

In addition to the award presentation, MWCapital announced that Embrace the Forest will receive up to €50,000 to pilot its wildfire prevention platform in Barcelona.

The organisation added that this will support local efforts to monitor and respond to fire risks using AI, drones and predictive analytics.

Wildfire prevention and sustainable tech recognised at MWCapital Awards: Summary

Mobile World Capital Barcelona reported that the MWCapital Awards took place in June 2025.

The event was organised with GSMA Foundry, B Lab Spain, SEDIA and Red.es.

Embrace the Forest from Brazil received the Barcelona Horizon Award for wildfire prevention.

Its Pantera platform uses AI and drone data to detect wildfires.

MWCapital reported an 85% reduction in burned areas and 70% cost savings.

The project monitors 17.5 million hectares in India and Brazil.

Winners were selected from 157 entries across 34 countries.

Other winners included projects from Spain, Colombia, Australia, Mauritania and Finland.

Award categories included business, startups, research, non-profit and public institutions.

The projects addressed health, accessibility, smart cities and environmental resilience.

Francesc Fajula, CEO of MWCapital, emphasised social and environmental goals.

John Hoffman of GSMA praised the ethical deployment of digital tools.

Winners will be featured at MWC26 Barcelona.

The awards align with the UN 2030 Agenda and Sustainable Development Goals.