Professors and students from leading institutions around the world convened in Dubai from 18 – 21 November for the 10th anniversary of Dubai Future Solutions – Prototypes for Humanity, a programme supporting the world’s most innovative technologies to solve pressing global problems.
More than 2,700 applications were submitted for the 2024 programme, from leading universities globally including Stanford, University of Oxford, Cambridge, ETH Zurich and MIT. Some 100 projects were chosen for the showcase, selected for their innovation, demonstrating the highest potential to solve the greatest global problems, backed by rigorous academic research. An international jury was tasked with awarding a $100,000 (€94,800) cash prize to five projects demonstrating remarkable research.
Among the projects at the exhibition was ‘PREVENT – Early Screening Test to Prevent Pre-Eclampsia and Save Lives,’ from third year PhD student Ella Fouhy, from the research group of Professor Patricia Maguire. It is the first UCD project ever to be featured in the exhibition.
Director of Prototypes for Humanity, Tadeu Baldani Caravieri, said the event was the world’s most comprehensive convening of global academic innovation: “The diversity of applications we received for the 2024 programme, covering all fields of sciences, technology and creative studies, reflects a remarkably exciting global state of innovation. [We] showcase the latest research coming from universities around the world - reflecting what problems are keeping bright young minds awake, and where and how innovative solutions are being created. Over the last decade, we have built the world’s largest network of academic talent to create awareness about the critical role of academia for progress, and to co-develop solutions that can have a tangible impact on people’s lives."
PhD candidate Ella Fouhy said: “Participating in this exhibition is a fantastic opportunity to meet other graduate students from over 100 universities across the world and showcase our projects with the potential to evolve the research into new ventures.”
Professor Patricia Maguire said: “Prototypes for Humanity offers a wonderful opportunity to showcase UCD innovative talent on a global stage. It is most definitely a competition that current PhD students across UCD should consider applying to. If shortlisted, they will get a chance to present their innovative research, gain international recognition and network with leading minds in a diverse range of fields.”
The 2024 jury for Dubai Future Solutions – Prototypes for Humanity awards, led by Her Highness HH Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum, selected five winners across the categories of Energy, Civil Society, Nature, AI & Data-Science, and Health.
The standout participants were presented with a total prize purse of US$100,000 to further advance research in their respective fields. In partnership with the Dubai Future Foundation, Hussain Sajwani–DAMAC Foundation, Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, and DIFC, this platform celebrates academic visionaries driving creative solutions that tackle humanity’s biggest social and environmental challenges head-on.
The winners were:
Category: Energy
Winner: Terracell (Stanford University, USA) – Soil-powered renewable energy for IoT sensors
Category: Civil society
Winner: Freza Nanotech (Uganda Christian University) – Biodegradable solutions for fruit and vegetable preservation
Category: Nature
Winner: Plasma Wastewater Purification (Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi) – Advanced plasma treatment for wastewater contaminants
Category: AI & Data-Science
Winner: In-network ML (University of Oxford, UK) – In-network ML for ultra-low latency in time-sensitive applications
Category: Health
Winner: Angie (ETH Zürich, Switzerland) – Magnetically guided microcapsules for brain tumour treatment
Dubai Future Solutions – Prototypes for Humanity engages an unmatched network of academic talent, including 20,000 professors from over 800 universities across over 100 countries, including 90% of the world’s top universities.
Learn more about the programme at www.prototypesforhumanity.com.