Her Highness Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairperson of Dubai Culture, honored five talented students who won the 'Dubai Solutions for the Future – Innovations for Humanity' 2025 initiative. The event is held under the directives of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai. The award ceremony took place during the fourth edition of the Dubai Future Forum, recognizing their university innovations that address the most pressing human issues in health, technology, the environment, and social impact worldwide. The winners were awarded a joint prize of $100,000 to support their scientific research. The judging panel, chaired by Her Highness Sheikha Latifa and comprising a select group of experts and officials, chose the five winners from 100 students who qualified for the initiative, which is being held this week in Area 2071 at the Emirates Towers. Over the past few months, students, graduates, and professors from over 1,200 universities in 120 countries have submitted thousands of ideas, solutions, and innovations, reflecting the growing global momentum for research and development aimed at serving humanity. Her Highness Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum expressed her pride in the new generation of creators and innovators who presented high-quality solutions that embody the concepts of innovation, excellence, and the power of human thought. She said: 'Today, we celebrate a select group of young people who believed in their ability to make a difference, who harnessed their potential and presented exceptional innovations capable of turning challenges into opportunities. We reaffirm our commitment to empowering these creators and continuing to support every initiative that contributes to improving the quality of life and enhancing the readiness of our cities for the future.' The 'Dubai Solutions for the Future – Innovations for Humanity' initiative selected five exceptional innovators across five categories: Health Diagnostics and Treatments, Circular Systems, Future of Energy, Urban Communities, and Life Resources. In the Health Diagnostics and Treatments category, the 'Casper' project from the University of Oxford (UK) won for developing a precise gene-targeting therapy and a diagnostic platform designed to combat drug-resistant infections. In the Urban Communities category, the 'Focadian' project from Harvard University (USA) was recognized for its AI-powered voice analysis tool to monitor worker fatigue and help prevent accidents in high-risk sectors, including construction. In the Circular Systems category, the 'Speed' project from Nanyang Technological University (Singapore) won with its nanoparticle-based platform for rapid enzyme analysis that can break down plastics, accelerating recycling solutions. In the Life Resources category, the 'Bloom Science AI' project from Queensland University of Technology (Australia) was acknowledged for its AI program capable of mapping underground carbon dioxide flow in real-time, up to 10,000 times faster than traditional methods. In the Future of Energy category, the 'Iron Lights Lives' project from the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (India) was honored for its low-cost, long-duration iron-air battery capable of storing renewable energy for over 100 hours, making it a viable alternative to lithium-ion technology. The list of 100 distinguished projects also included participants from universities in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Egypt, and Jordan, as well as applicants from other prominent international academic institutions. On this occasion, Khalid Al Ghaith, CEO of Dubai Future Foundation, stated that the initiative provides a global platform to showcase the most promising innovations from around the world and provide them with opportunities to scale and be applied on the ground, starting from Dubai. He added: 'Through this initiative, we aim to highlight the importance of creative innovations in shaping the future and leveraging its diverse opportunities by supporting creative ideas and encouraging them to contribute to the development of various sectors and create a better future for humanity.' Hussein Sajwani, founder of DAMAC Properties, said: 'We believe that technological innovation is at the core of progress, and we are honored to be part of this important initiative that inspires the youth to push boundaries for the betterment of humanity. With over four decades of achievements, we understand the importance of focus and dedication to turn ideas into tangible reality.' Taddo Baldani Caravieri, Director of the 'Dubai Solutions for the Future – Innovations for Humanity' initiative, noted that this week's exhibition forms a platform that brings together the world's most diverse and prominent academic innovations. He added that our extensive network is what gives the 'Dubai Solutions for the Future – Innovations for Humanity' initiative its true value, and our strength lies in the integrated ecosystem that the UAE has developed, which links academic, government, and industrial circles within a shared vision of innovation. The young innovators will have the opportunity over the course of the exhibition to connect with local and international government entities, experts from various industrial sectors, and investors, in addition to benefiting from funding opportunities in diverse fields including healthcare, energy, agriculture, smart infrastructure, and AI applications. These connections form a pivotal step in enabling students to develop their ideas to the next stage of commercial innovation, ultimately enabling them to make a tangible impact in addressing real-world global challenges.
