•The Foundation participated in a high-level forum in Mexico City to promote gender equality in fields such as science, technology and engineering
•During their visit to the country with UNICEF, representatives of the Foundation heard stories of empowerment among girls with STEM vocations supported by the alliance between the two organisations
MEXICO CITY / MADRID, 13 October 2025.- The Abertis Foundation and UNICEF are promoting STEM education in Mexico for children and adolescents as part of their joint alliance to reduce the gender gap in science, technology, engineering and mathematics in the country.
During the first year of the project, more than 6,000 children and adolescents in 347 schools in Mexico City, Jalisco and Nuevo León have developed their STEM vocation thanks to the training provided by the alliance to more than 440 teachers. Altogether, this programme has already reached more than 70,000 people through all the initiatives promoted by local partners in the STEM ecosystems.
During a visit to Mexico with UNICEF, representatives from the Abertis Foundation saw first-hand the impact of the project and heard stories of empowerment from young participants with STEM vocations.
In addition, the Foundation participated in a high-level forum in Mexico City, which brought together education authorities and representatives from the private sector, academia and civil society to address the challenges and opportunities for girls and adolescents to access STEM disciplines. Participants included the president of the Abertis Foundation, Elena Salgado, the UNICEF representative in Mexico, Fernando Carrera, and the Mexican Government's Secretary for Women, Minerva Citlalli Hernández Mora, among other leading figures.
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An alliance that promotes equality
There are still too few women in STEM fields: according to the OECD, only 30% to 35% of students worldwide in these disciplines are women. In Mexico, this percentage is slightly higher, but still far from parity.
To turn this situation around, the Abertis Foundation backs UNICEF programmes in Mexico through an ambitious scheme designed to promote female talent and leadership from an early age. Teacher training and practical application projects enable participating girls and teenagers to boost their confidence, develop skills and reinforce their motivation to pursue STEM studies and become future leaders in these areas.
At Fundación Abertis, this initiative has the backing and leadership of its president, Elena Salgado, a senior industrial engineer and prominent advocate for women's participation in STEM fields. During her speech at the high-level forum, Salgado pointed out that "promoting STEM vocations among girls is not only a matter of equality, but also an investment in talent that will transform the future. When we open the doors of science, technology, engineering and mathematics to them, we are building a more innovative, inclusive society that is prepared for global challenges". The president of the Abertis Foundation also stated that "it is essential to build and share a common vision of the importance of STEM for the present and future of girls in Mexico and, in turn, to promote a joint and coordinated effort between the public and private sectors to advance in this area."
Another key point addressed by Salgado is the close relationship between study and activity in science, technology, engineering and mathematics and research and innovation. By way of example, she underscored that it will be hard to achieve truly fair artificial intelligence without gender bias if women continue to be a minority among STEM graduates who design, train and supervise the algorithms on which it is based.
For her part, Marta López Fesser, head of Corporate Alliances at UNICEF Spain, highlighted that "the Abertis Foundation's support for STEM education for girls and boys in Mexico demonstrates how, in partnership with UNICEF, not only can we stimulate and accompany STEM vocations among the younger generations, but also provoke reflections and transcendental dialogues that underlie the current model of coexistence in order to move towards a more egalitarian, fair and shared society".
The project is also coordinated with Abertis' subsidiary in Mexico, Red de Carreteras de Occidente (RCO). "Going beyond regulatory compliance means taking on responsible leadership. At RCO, we promote projects that combine infrastructure, education and sustainability, demonstrating that business growth and social welfare can advance together," emphasised Alcalde, RCO's CEO. In this regard, the Abertis Foundation, in conjunction with the Group's companies, acts from the private sector as a strategic partner in innovative alliances, thus contributing to quality education and keeping the gender perspective very much in mind.
Commitment to more inclusive education
The Abertis Foundation supports STEM education in Mexico through its strategic alliance with UNICEF. This alliance was renewed in 2022 with two fundamental objectives: improving road safety, particularly for children and young people, and promoting educational development in vulnerable communities.
The Abertis Foundation combines initiatives in education, road safety and social action to create safer and more equitable environments, especially for girls and young people in vulnerable situations. Its comprehensive approach, aligned with the Abertis Group's ESG Plan, seeks not only to save lives, but also to pave the way for a future with more opportunities.
About UNICEF
UNICEF works in the world’s toughest places to reach the world's most disadvantaged children and adolescents. Across more than 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for all.
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