What's New:
Together, we launched the first-ever UPS Healthcare Award to recognize outstanding startups solving challenges across the healthcare industry.

Why It Matters:
Building a healthier future starts with empowering today's young leaders. We’re proud to partner with Junior Achievement (JA) Europe to champion the bright minds creating healthier communities for all.

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The award came to life at the European Parliament in Brussels on May 12. The ceremony gave the top three finalists a chance to pitch their startups live before an audience of EU policymakers, healthcare leaders and industry experts. More than an event, it was a clear example of how business and nonprofit partners can work together to support communities and invest in the future.

JA Europe is the largest organization in Europe dedicated to inspiring and preparing young people to succeed in the global economy. Each year, it reaches more than 7.5 million young people across 40 countries through programs focused on entrepreneurship, work readiness and financial health.

This year's competition brought together innovative founders from ages 18 to 30 building solutions in pharmaceutical logistics, reimagining medical devices and driving laboratory innovation.

Meet the Finalists

• LUMi (Cyprus): Developed a smart, reusable surgical drain monitoring system powered by AI for real-time gastrointestinal leak detection, enhancing patient care and decision-making.
• MammoCheck (Cyprus): Created a radiation-free, AI-powered breast cancer screening solution for at-home use via smartphones and thermal imaging. Aiming to make early detection simpler and more accessible.
• Saga Medi (Netherlands): Introduced a reusable alternative to single-use kidney dishes, combining sustainability with practical healthcare innovation to reduce daily medical waste.

Celebrating the Finalists

All three startups were named winners of the UPS Healthcare Award for their innovative ideas and potential to create positive community impact. Each received a $5,000 prize to help accelerate their work and bring their healthcare innovations closer to scale.

In addition, following the pitches to the jury on May 12, Saga Medi was selected as the overall winner and awarded a mentorship opportunity with UPS Healthcare experts, providing tailored guidance and industry expertise to support the next phase of growth.

Showing Up for Communities

This award isn’t just about a competition—it’s about empowering young innovators to bring meaningful healthcare solutions to life. By collaborating with The UPS Foundation and JA Europe, we’ve created a platform for young talent to be seen, heard, and supported, unlocking opportunities like mentorship and partnerships.

It’s a reminder that strong communities are built through collaboration. Because when we support young innovators, we build a healthier future for all.

About UPS Healthcare

UPS Healthcare delivers unparalleled healthcare logistics expertise to its customers around the world. UPS Healthcare has 17+ million square feet of cGMP and GDP-compliant healthcare distribution space globally. Services include inventory management, cold chain packaging and shipping, storage and fulfillment of medical devices, and lab and clinical trial logistics. UPS Healthcare's global infrastructure, its UPS^® Premier visibility service, its track and trace technology, and its global quality system are well-suited to meet today's complex logistics demands for the pharmaceutical, medical device, and laboratory diagnostic industries.

The UPS Foundation leads UPS’s global citizenship and philanthropy efforts, focusing on building safer, more resilient, and healthier communities worldwide. Their work is guided by four core priorities: Health & Humanitarian Relief, Economic Empowerment, Local Community Engagement, and Planet Protection. These priorities shape a strategic approach that combines UPS’s logistics expertise, employee volunteerism, and financial and in-kind support to deliver meaningful, measurable impact.

JA Europe is the largest and leading organisation in Europe dedicated to inspiring and preparing young people to succeed. For over 100 years, Junior Achievement Worldwide has delivered hands-on, experiential learning in entrepreneurship, work readiness and financial health. In the last school year, the JA Europe network in over 40 countries provided over 7.5 million learning experiences for youth in online, in-person and blended formats. The organisation provided over 95,500 teaching experiences and 86,500 volunteering and mentoring experiences.

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