2025 has been an especially important year for the Banco Sabadell Foundation, in which we have reaffirmed our commitments, promoted new initiatives and supported companies and people that contribute to collective progress.
The intense level of activity carried out by the Foundation is reflected in various indicators, including more than 140 projects promoted by us, almost 17,000 beneficiaries, a total of 715 prizes, grants and bursaries awarded, and more than 100 volunteers in social impact programmes. These figures are the result of ongoing actions carried out over time in order to create real opportunities and maximise the impact of our actions through collaboration and partnerships.
In this context, supporting knowledge and research continues to be a key part of our activity. 2025 marked the twentieth anniversary of the Banco Sabadell Foundation Award for Biomedical Research, which recognises scientific excellence and research. To celebrate this, we promoted Conversations around Science, a cycle of dialogues between winners of the award to reflect on two decades of research and offer a shared outlook on future scientific challenges.
All of this work shares a clear central thread: talent, as a core element of the activities of the Banco Sabadell Foundation and the driver of many of our initiatives. With this conviction, in 2025 we wanted to honour that theme through The Culture around Talent, an event that brought together more than 200 young people and leading experts to open up new perspectives and spaces for reflection.
The involvement of Banco Sabadell staff through the Foundation’s volunteering programmes was once again a key pillar of our endeavours in 2025. Their participation broadens the reach of the initiatives that we support and reflects the Bank’s commitment to projects that generate value and contribute to collective development.
This 2025 Report sets out the mission pursued by the Banco Sabadell Foundation to foster knowledge, culture and young talent. This is our guiding principle and it underpins every initiative that we support, with a strong conviction that innovation, education and research are the keys to building a fairer and more inclusive society.
With that conviction, we continue to move forward, combining efforts and reaffirming our commitment to the progress and wellbeing of people.
Josep Oliu, Chairman of the Banco Sabadell Foundation
The Banco Sabadell Foundation remains firm in its commitment to fostering research and talent by holding its annual Banco Sabadell Foundation Awards. These awards, well-established as prestigious accolades in our country’s scientific and academic ecosystem, recognise the excellence of young researchers whose contributions make a decisive contribution to the progress and wellbeing of people.
This year has been one of special significance, as it marked the 20th anniversary of the Banco Sabadell Foundation Award for Biomedical Research, an initiative that, since its inception, has showcased some of the most brilliant and promising careers in the field of biomedicine. This milestone symbolises two decades of continued support to cutting-edge science and demonstrates the Foundation’s ongoing commitment to research efforts intended to address today’s major health challenges.
Together with the biomedical field, the Banco Sabadell Foundation Awards recognise excellence in key areas for sustainable development and the advancement of society, such as economic research, sciences and engineering, and marine sustainability. With these accolades, the Banco Sabadell Foundation promotes both basic and applied research, fostering knowledge transfer and dialogue between science and society.
Talent is a transformative force capable of bringing about social, cultural and economic progress. That is why at the Banco Sabadell Foundation we are promoting The Culture around Talent, as a space in which to meet, give visibility to and inspire new generations eager to embrace their entrepreneurial spirit and to research, create and generate a positive impact on society.
We act as an active agent and catalyst of young talent, creating opportunities for training, research and creation in various disciplines. This way, we help to amplify the positive impact of talent when it is developed within the community, jump-starting careers to the benefit of all and forging connections that open the doors to new possibilities for growth.
The Culture around Talent reflects a profound conviction: a strong belief that supporting excellence among those whose careers are just starting not only facilitates their personal and professional development but also creates a stronger, more innovative and charitable society that is ready to take on the challenges of the future.
In keeping with this mindset, the first The Culture around Talent event organised by the Foundation was held in Barcelona on 17 September. The event was conceived to connect, inspire and showcase the value of young people who stand out because of their excellence, creativity and knowledge. Around 300 people took part in the event, which brought together entrepreneurs and leaders of creative and impactful projects related to the Foundation’s ecosystem. With chats covering topics such as technology, the globalised world, welfare and creativity, the speakers shared their experiences and lessons learnt in a safe space for dialogue and inspiration created by and for young people.
“Talent is momentum, a driver for change, especially when it is multiplied and connects communities. With The Culture of Talent, we want to showcase everything we have built with generosity, vision and commitment, and to reinforce the idea that investing in talent is not only a philanthropic action, but also a catalyst for change and for social, cultural, and economic impact”.
Sonia Mulero, Director of the Banco Sabadell Foundation.
Culture and the arts comprise a key pillar for the development of a more cohesive, critical and creative society. That is why we promote initiatives that support creativity and offer opportunities to talented youths, so that they may develop their skills and unlock their potential, on the understanding of culture as a driver of transformation.
We bring culture to various audiences across the country, through our own programmes and collaborations with leading entities, helping to galvanise rural territories and to showcase our heritage sites as spaces in which to define our identity and future. In parallel to this, we also promote creativity, innovation and critical thinking as drivers of inspiration and progress.
We view culture not only as a form of artistic expression but also as a common good that strengthens social links and broadens collective horizons.
Research and education are fundamental drivers of social progress and sustainable development. We therefore promote opportunities and initiatives that strengthen training and foster the development of young talent, generating a positive and lasting impact on society.
We contribute to enhancing collective capacity to face future challenges by supporting knowledge as the foundation for decision-making, innovation and scientific advancement, while also fostering the region’s growth through increased productivity, creativity and knowledge transfer.
In addition, we promote new opportunities for lifelong learning and support individuals in developing their capabilities, enhancing their employability and enabling their active participation in a constantly evolving society.
The activities of the Banco Sabadell Foundation are embedded into Banco Sabadell’s Commitment to Sustainability, an action framework that incorporates Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) criteria into the Institution’s vision for the future. This approach steers our initiatives towards responsible development that is consistent with current challenges.
Through this commitment, we align our actions with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and promote courses of action that help to have a positive impact, promote transformation and foster well-balanced and sustainable progress.
The contribution by the Foundation to Banco Sabadell Group is also reflected in the active participation of employees in programmes with a social impact. Their involvement is key, as it brings about positive changes in people and helps to have a real impact on the community. Through the Banco Sabadell Foundation, we promote initiatives that match the skills of our employees with specific social needs. From mentoring for talented youths to advice on the value proposition of third-sector projects, each volunteering action reflects our commitment to people and to a fairer and more diverse future.
Throughout 2025, 100 professionals from Banco Sabadell participated in the social impact programmes of the Banco Sabadell Foundation.
- 40 people from Banco Sabadell and 10 from Sabadell Seguros took part in the B-Value social innovation programme, co-promoted with the Ship2B Foundation
- 31 people from Banco Sabadell’s tech skills centre in Alicante (Centro de Competencias Tecnológico de Alicante, or CCTA) took part in the mentoring and talent management programme organised by Alicante University and Miguel Hernandez University in Elche
- 3 people took part in U4Impact’s TalentUO Hackathon at the University of Oviedo
- 3 people participated in the Research Hackathon organised by Universidad Jaume I
- 10 people took part in the Special Intervention Plan for Valencian Youths promoted with Fundación Princesa de Girona
- 2 people took part in the INCUBADORA programme of the Reina Sofia School of Music
