Three graduates from the ETSI of the University of Seville awarded prizes for Excellence in Telecommunications Engineering

The XLV edition of the Awards for Excellence in Telecommunications Engineering, awarded by the Official College and the Spanish Association of Telecommunications Engineers (COIT-AEIT), has recognized the talent of three representatives from the Higher Technical School of Engineering (ETSi) of the University of Seville in its main categories.

He CBNK Award for Best Master's Thesis in Cybersecurity applied to companies, has been awarded to the student of the Master's Degree in Telecommunications Engineering at ETSi, Roberto Lama Rodríguezfor their work “Industrial Cybersecurity Master Plan: Application to an Electrical Substation”, Led by Alejandro Carballar Rincón, Professor of Electronic Engineering at the University of Seville, this project addresses cybersecurity in industrial environments, with a particular focus on electrical substations. Based on the analysis of a real-world installation, a Cybersecurity Master Plan is developed through a study of the current state, risk analysis, and the proposal of mitigation measures. Solutions such as IDS and SIEM are also evaluated, and a simulated environment is implemented where attacks based on the MITRE ATT&CK matrix are launched to validate the designed security architecture. This work lays the foundation for a robust framework for protecting critical infrastructure.

Likewise, Manuel Jerez González, a student in the same master's program as his award-winning colleague and also under the tutelage of Professor Carballar, has been awarded the COIT-AEIT Award for Best Master's Thesis in Fundamentals and Basic Technologies of Information and Communications, and their Applications for their project “Fiber optic sensors for radiometry measurements in concentrated solar power (CSP) applications”. This paper presents the development of a radiometer based on fiber optics and a photodetector capable of measuring solar irradiance and concentrated flux in solar installations. The device stands out for its high sensitivity, fast response, low cost, and modular design, and has been validated under various conditions, including solar simulators, demonstrating its potential as an efficient alternative to commercially available equipment.

In the category of Best Academic Trajectory in Telecommunications Engineering, the Huawei Award has been given to Enrique Sánchez Cardoso, also from the University of Seville, in recognition of his academic excellence throughout his studies. Originally from Mairena del Alcor (Seville), he completed his primary education at CEIP San Bartolomé, IES María Inmaculada, and IES Los Alcores, where he received the highest honors. He then earned his Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Telecommunications Engineering from the Higher Technical School of Engineering at the University of Seville, graduating with honors in both programs Extraordinary End-of-Studies AwardHer constant motivation for technology and learning has been recognized nationally for her impeccable academic record.

In this 45th edition of the Awards for Excellence in Telecommunications Engineering, the COIT-AEIT (Official Association of Telecommunications Engineers of Spain) has granted a total of twelve awards across its three main categories, recognizing high-impact work in areas such as cybersecurity, sustainability, satellite communications, artificial intelligence, and human-centered engineering. The winning universities come from all over Spain, highlighting the high level of education and research at the national level. The University of Seville was one of the most recognized institutions in this edition, with awards in each of the main categories, reaffirming its commitment to academic excellence, technological innovation, and the training of highly qualified professionals in the field of telecommunications engineering.

In total, awards have been given in the categories of Best Doctoral Thesis, Best Master's Thesis, and Best Academic Record, recognizing the research and academic work of students from all over Spain. This year's edition has benefited from the collaboration of organizations such as CBNK, Fundación Mutualidad de la Ingeniería, Hisdesat, Hispasat, Huawei, In-nova, Isdefe, the Royal Academy of Engineering, and Reintel.

The awards highlight the innovation, effort and transformative potential of young talent in the field of telecommunications engineering, a key sector for technological and social development.