Transport Ministry awards the 2025 National Civil Engineering Prize to José Luis Manzanares Japón

This award recognizes the “extraordinary” professional career and contributions of the President of the Ayesa Foundation and founder of the company.

The work of Dr. José Luis Manzanares Japón has significantly influenced infrastructure and urban development both in Spain and abroad.

The Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility has granted the 2025 National Civil Engineering Prize to José Luis Manzanares Japón, Doctor of Civil Engineering (Caminos, Canales y Puertos), “in recognition of his extensive and extraordinary professional career in the fields of water and structural engineering.”

The jury, chaired by the Secretary of State for Transport and Sustainable Mobility, José Antonio Santano, awarded the prize to Manzanares Japón for the “outstanding qualities and circumstances” that define his professional path. With a career spanning over five decades, José Luis Manzanares Japón’s work has had a significant impact on infrastructure and urban development in Spain and internationally.

The jury emphasized that the engineer “has masterfully combined his technical expertise with his entrepreneurial, academic, and humanistic endeavors, serving as a paradigmatic example of how engineering can transcend the technical realm to become a driver of development, innovation, and social reflection.”

Professional background of José Luis Manzanares Japón

A graduate of the 1964 class of the School of Civil Engineering at the Polytechnic University of Madrid (UPM), Manzanares earned his doctorate in 1973. As an engineer, he has designed numerous structures that merge elegance with functionality, creating what he terms “Epic Structures” — a concept aimed at integrating engineering works into their surrounding landscape and local culture. Notable examples include his iconic bridges: El Cachorro (Seville), Abbas Ibn Firnas (Córdoba), and El Guardián del Castillo (Alcalá de Guadaíra), among many other projects.

His work has also focused on integrating natural and urban environments, striving for designs that humanize public spaces. In this regard, he has led projects that enhance the quality of life in urban settings.

In addition, his contributions have been instrumental in modernizing and improving water infrastructure. He has been a pioneer in the design and construction of dams and canals and has played a key role in advancing water management in Spain. In urban water supply and sanitation, he introduced mathematical modeling and remote-control technologies for network management.

His dedication to applied knowledge is also reflected in his role as President of the Ayesa Foundation and as the driving force behind the Center for New Water Technologies (CENTA), a national research institution from which he has led multiple R&D projects.

His expertise has been crucial in the planning of major transport infrastructure projects. He has overseen the design of over 2,000 kilometers of highways and contributed to the modernization of Spain’s railway network.

In parallel with his professional practice, Manzanares Japón has maintained a distinguished academic career. Since 1975, he has served as a professor and chaired the Structures Department at the School of Architecture in Seville, where he has taught doctoral courses and led academic seminars. He has also directed national courses on bridges and hydraulic networks, playing a vital role in training new architects and engineers. He is a member of the Royal Academy of Sciences of Seville.

In his humanistic pursuits, he is the author of numerous books and articles in specialized journals and a frequent speaker. His publications cover topics ranging from hydraulic simulations and structural analysis to reflections on the societal role of engineering.

Throughout his career, he has received numerous awards and honors in recognition of his engineering achievements and his commitment to excellence and innovation. These include the Medal of Honor from the College of Civil Engineers, the Eduardo Torroja Prize for Structural Innovation, and the Medal of the City of Seville, among others.

National Civil Engineering Prize

The National Civil Engineering Prize is awarded annually by the Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility, in accordance with the Order of August 3, 2001. It serves as a reward and recognition for professional work primarily carried out in Spain in the field of civil engineering. Since its inception, twenty-one distinguished professionals have received this award.

The prize is granted based on objective criteria, taking into account the social, economic, aesthetic, and technological impact of the candidate’s work. It includes an official diploma and a monetary award of €31,470, funded by the General State Budget for 2025.

The Center for Studies and Experimentation of Public Works (CEDEX), under the Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility, is responsible for coordinating and managing the award process.