Two innovative student-led companies from Malta will head to Athens this summer to represent the country at Gen-E 2025, Europe’s biggest entrepreneurship festival for young people.

The teams – Simplex from St Aloysius College Sixth Form and MediMind from St Martin’s Institute of Higher Education – earned the honour after winning top prizes at this year’s JA Malta awards.

Simplex took home the Company of the Year award for its practical, eco-conscious Pill-Popper Device, which is made from recycled wood and designed to help the elderly and people with conditions like Parkinson’s open blister pill packs with ease.

Meanwhile, MediMind was named StartUp of the Year for its smart healthtech system addressing medication non-adherence among older adults. The startup created an integrated solution – combining a smart pillbox, mobile app, and home pod – to help seniors manage medication at home more reliably.

Both teams will now compete against students from 42 other countries at Gen-E 2025, which will be held in Athens from July 1–3.

More than 250 students from 12 schools and institutions took part in this year’s JA Malta Company and StartUp programmes. Alongside their win, Simplex and MediMind were each awarded a one-year membership with the Malta Chamber and 10 hours of consultancy from the Bajada Group to fine-tune their international presentations.

JA Malta is the local chapter of JA Worldwide, a global NGO nominated for the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize. The organisation helps prepare students for successful careers by teaching entrepreneurship, financial literacy, and work-readiness through hands-on experiences.