Forbes Spain has published its annual list, “26 Ideas That Will Change 2026”, a collection of innovative proposals that anticipate the most significant transformations of the year across fields such as technology, science, the economy, education, and society. Among them, Hypatia stands out as one of the ideas most strongly grounded in close and contemporary STEM role models.
In a world where only around 30% of the STEM workforce is made up of women—and where female representation in the aerospace sector is closer to 20% or less—these figures continue to highlight a persistent gap that will not close on its own. The premise is clear: the problem will only be solved if today’s girls stop believing that scientific and technological careers are not designed for them. Through Hypatia III (Hypatia Mars Association), a multigenerational, multidisciplinary mission focused on both research and social impact, the goal is to provide close and contemporary role models, with real stories and experiences that girls can see, imagine, and recognize as possible for themselves.
Aerospace engineer and leader in educational and science communication initiatives, Estel Blay combines her technical background with a transformative social vision: ensuring that every girl stops questioning whether she belongs in the STEM world and begins to understand that passion is what creates belonging. This vision underpins the work being carried out by Hypatia III, which
aims to help redefine future generations of scientific talent. The next mission is scheduled for autumn 2027.
The list also emphasizes that, looking ahead to 2026, society will increasingly demand technologies capable of generating positive impact, not just efficiency. Alongside Hypatia, the Forbes list includes other transformative ideas such as humanoid robotics applied to industry, space-based energy generation, the “desire economy” in tourism, and data-driven predictive medicine.
Forbes Recognizes Hypatia as One of the Key Ideas That Will Transform 2026
