Ayim is an Alumni of the Advanced Master’s Degree in Industrial Engineering at Universidad Europea de Madrid. Now, he is the founder of Vulkano Engineering, and he and his business partner Miguel have won first prize in NASA’s international competition “Lunar Torch”.
Please tell us when you studied and which faculty and campus you were at. How was your journey after completing your studies at Universidad Europea until the creation of your project?
Advanced Master’s Degree in Industrial Engineering, academic year 2017-2018 at Villaviciosa de Odón.
During my master’s degree, I worked in a start-up in the solar industry. Shortly after finishing my studies I joined a multinational in the same industry, and in 2021 I started a new chapter as an entrepreneur together with my partner Miguel. What I learned from the master’s degree allowed me to become a more rounded engineer on the technical side, as well as to have a broader vision focused on business administration and management.
A few months after founding Vulkano Engineering, we entered an international NASA competition and won first prize. The success of our lunar heliostat project for NASA as part of the Artemis 1 programme, the first in a series of increasingly complex missions seeking human habitation on the Moon and later on Mars, has given us greater visibility, as well as new contracts and customers.
Vulkano Engineering is a technology-based company that provides innovative solutions and specialised consultancy in different industrial sectors: solar, railway and aerospace. We develop products, projects and processes aimed at meeting market needs while contributing to the sustainable advancement of society.
We offer all-round engineering services covering all stages of development, from the concept phase and defining requirements to industrialisation, always in accordance with the highest quality, safety and environmental protection requirements. We are known for striving for technological innovation and excellence.
Our team stands out for its expertise in the area of mechanical engineering, computer-aided design (CAD) and the numerical simulation of structures (CAE). Our solid know-how means we can offer our customers cost-effective solutions for their projects.
Tell us a little more about your work. What do you enjoy the most? What challenges do you face on the daily? Do you have an anecdote you would like to share?
In order to develop and work in this kind of business, you must be enthusiastic about engineering. My partner Miguel and I agree that we’ve had a passion for technology since we were children. Studying engineering gave us the chance to turn those ideas that we used to build with toy parts as children into real products, equipment and structures that meet needs and represent a technological advance for society. An engineering degree involves in-depth study, which trains you not only on a technical level, but also in other essential skills for a professional: hard work and sacrifice.
What I am passionate about in this profession is facing different kinds of challenges, taking an active part in driving the advances that allow society to develop towards a more comfortable and simpler future for humanity; seeking the decarbonisation of economies in line with the sustainability of the planet at a time when social awareness is more important than ever.
Without a doubt, our greatest professional success so far is the recognition from NASA, having received first prize in the international competition “Lunar Torch”. We will never forget the day when we saw how such a world-renowned organisation, formed by engineers with years of experience in top-level positions of responsibility, described our work as "magnificent", awarding us the first prize among projects of an extraordinary level that involved more than 195 engineers, companies and universities from all over the world.
* Here you can find the links:
https://www.nasa.gov/solve/lunar_torch_challenge/
https://www.nasa.gov/lunar-torch-challenge-winners
Why did you choose Universidad Europea? What values and characteristics do you think it has that have contributed to your professional development?
One of the main reasons for choosing the Universidad Europea Master’s Degree was the possibility of attending classes on Fridays and Saturdays, which was compatible with my work schedule. In my opinion, the on-campus teaching and practical classes (labs) are highly important for development and learning in engineering studies. Furthermore, they promote a lot of opportunities for networking.
Another reason for choosing Universidad Europea is the solid business background of many of the professors, which makes them closer to the reality of working life.
What is your best memory from Universidad Europea?
I have very good memories with colleagues from our everyday university lives, during classes or practical training, but I would of course highlight the ceremony on our graduation day. You feel a combination of satisfaction, euphoria and fulfilment for all your hard work. Having my parents there with me that day was really touching.
What advice would you give to those who have just finished their studies and are now going out into the working world?
When you finish your education, after so many years of studying where you have followed a set path since childhood, it’s normal to find yourself feeling a little lost. You have to face the “real” working world.
There’s no need to be afraid, use everything you’ve learned during your education as a foundation for acquiring new skills, and what you don’t know, you can learn. We’ve all made not just one, but many mistakes and it’s something normal in the learning process. The working world is full of new challenges, and the most important thing is your attitude when facing them.
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