The Magnificent Five of Huawei

Reporter: Cecilia Balderas | Photographer: Israel Vera

Meet the five outstanding students from the Instituto Politécnico Nacional (IPN) who won Huawei’s “Seeds for the Future” competition.

Wearing their maroon-and-white IPN jackets—with the emblem placed over their hearts—five students from different IPN schools walked proudly down the corridor leading to the Office of the Institute’s Director General. Smiling and confident, they share the honor of being among the ten national winners of Huawei’s annual program “Seeds for the Future”, a global initiative focused on information and communication technologies (ICT) and smart device innovation.

Before traveling to China to take part in the Tech4Good program held from October 19 to 25, they spoke with Gaceta Politécnica about their experiences and goals.

Overcoming Fear

“You miss 100% of the opportunities you don’t take.” This phrase motivates José Alberto Gutiérrez Martínez, a tall, slim, bespectacled student who describes himself as introverted. He studies at the Escuela Superior de Ingeniería Mecánica y Eléctrica (ESIME), Azcapotzalco Unit, and firmly believes that fear should never stop anyone from seizing new opportunities.

His project focuses on automated self-cleaning systems using a Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) and a Human-Machine Interface (HMI) to enhance alarm control and improve user interaction during operation.

Artificial Intelligence Against Drought

Jazmín Montserrath Velázquez Trinidad, from the Escuela Superior de Cómputo (ESCOM), learned she was one of the winners while she was in Colombia as part of the IPN’s international mobility program led by Director General Arturo Reyes Sandoval.

To join the other nine winners heading to China for Tech4Good, Jazmín flew back to Mexico City and, less than 48 hours after landing, boarded another flight for the 14-hour journey to Asia.

Her project addresses water scarcity in rural areas through Artificial Intelligence, promoting efficient rainwater collection in drought-prone regions.

José de Jesús Morales Figueroa, also from ESIME Azcapotzalco, believes in expanding his horizons by taking full advantage of IPN opportunities—international mobility, academic and sports scholarships, competitions, and challenges that foster growth. A motorsports enthusiast, he developed a vehicle safety system that sends emergency signals in the event of an accident.

“My goal in going to China,” he said, “is to learn about technological progress firsthand. China is advancing rapidly in innovation, and as someone passionate about automobiles, I’m eager to see how efficiently they work in that industry.”

The Top Ten

For Citlali Banda García, a student at the Unidad Profesional Interdisciplinaria en Ingeniería y Tecnologías Avanzadas (UPIITA), self-confidence, discipline, and dedication are key to holistic growth.

“The day the results came out, they emailed me asking for my contact details because they couldn’t reach me. Later that night, I saw another message that said, ‘Congratulations, you’re part of the 2025 program.’ I thought: they only chose the top ten, and I’m one of them,” she recalled.

Driven by her awareness of the country’s challenges, Citlali designed a project to capture water directly from the atmosphere using a remotely monitored device that operates 24 hours a day.

Christof Yeram Sánchez Montes, from the Unidad Profesional Interdisciplinaria de Energía y Movilidad (UPIEM), believes in the power of networking—building professional and personal connections to exchange knowledge, resources, and support.

A classmate from ESCOM told him about Huawei’s call for applications and shared his own experience as a previous participant, inspiring Christof to apply. Once in China, he hopes to connect with researchers, learn from them, and build ties with Huawei for future collaborations.

“My project is called E-Cross. It focuses on enabling electric vehicles—whether fleets or individual units—to recharge using renewable energy through clean energy certificates. The system is based on a cyber-physical model that incorporates blockchain technology,” he explained.

Winning Huawei’s Seeds for the Future competition brought these five IPN students together—but it’s likely not the last time they’ll cross paths.

Their shared passion for science, technology, and innovation, along with their pride in being part of the Politécnico, will keep them connected.

Before leaving the Institute’s central offices, the students gathered and shouted the traditional “¡Huélum!”—a cheer that stirs emotion in every Politécnico heart.

They leave full of energy, confidence, and the certainty that this is just the beginning of a bright future.