Revealed: UAE Zayed Sustainability Award announces 30 finalists

Thirty finalists are now competing for 10 awards in five categories in health, food, energy, water and global high schools.

Through its past 96 recipients, the award has positively impacted the lives of 370 million people around the world.

This year, the awards received a record 4,538 applications from 152 countries, a 13% increase in entries compared to the previous cycle.

The awards jury, comprising former heads of state, UAE government ministers and international business figures, met in Abu Dhabi in October to review the shortlisted entries identified by the awards selection committee.

“The late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan instilled in the UAE a commitment to inclusive sustainable and humanitarian development, and the Zayed Sustainability Award continues by translating this commitment into Action to commemorate his legacy. Over the past 14 years, the award has accelerated the deployment of practical and sustainable solutions,” said Dr Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and Director General of the Zayed Sustainability Prize Say.

“The Zayed Sustainability Award has played an important role in supporting the UAE’s vision to drive inclusive climate action. The award will continue to expand the UAE’s role in supporting global sustainable innovation and advancing the empowerment of entities and schools that contribute to global development. record of progress on rights,” he added.

Many of this year’s finalists propose sustainable solutions to environmental problems, while also empowering members of their local communities by unlocking their entrepreneurial potential. Many of these solutions leverage next-generation technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT) to drive impact.

“The diversity of innovations showcased in this year’s applications, including inspiring projects envisioned by young people, reflects the award’s continued ability to nurture the world’s sustainability pioneers by providing a unique platform for driving transformational change,” said jury Ólafur Ra​​​gnar Grímsson said Icelandic chairman and former president.

The Zayed Sustainability Award pays tribute to the legacy of the UAE’s late Founding Father, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. It was established in 2008 to advance sustainable development and humanitarian action by recognizing and rewarding small and medium-sized businesses, nonprofits and high schools that provide impactful, innovative and inspiring solutions around the world.

In the health, food, energy and water categories, each winner will receive US$600,000 (AED2.2 million). The Global High School category has six winners representing six world regions, with each winner receiving up to $100,000 (Dh367,298).

– Associação Expedicionários da Saúde (Brazil), a non-profit organization (NPO) that provides specialized medical and surgical care to geographically isolated indigenous communities in the Amazon through its mobile hospital complex.

– Helmholtz Center for Infection Research (Germany), a non-profit organization developing a surveillance outbreak response management and analysis system, an open-source digital platform for early detection of disease outbreaks and management of epidemic control.

– Ory Laboratory (Japan) is an SME developing OriHime, a robot designed for people with disabilities to reduce social isolation and provide them with opportunities to work and connect with society.

– Nuru International (United States), a non-profit organization helping African farmers transition from subsistence farming to farmer-owned and farmer-led cooperative agribusiness, adapting their capacity development activities to existing efforts by government agencies and local conditions.

– Sanergy (Kenya), a small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) that addresses high agricultural input prices, insufficient supplies and declining soil fertility faced by farmers in sub-Saharan Africa by manufacturing organic fertilizers and insect protein from various waste streams.

– Ynsect (France), an SME producing insect protein and natural insect fertilizers, owns the first European insect factory with innovative vertical farming and integrated biorefinery.

– Green Girls (Cameroon), a non-profit organization that uses a patented algorithm to identify areas where women and girls can benefit from energy access, and then deploys decentralised solar photovoltaic and biogas systems in identified areas for lighting and cleaning cooking.

– NeuroTech (Jordan), an SME, has developed AI-based algorithms and blockchain-based transaction systems to bring reliable energy supply to refugee camps.

-Solarkiosk Solutions GmbH (Germany), an SME, developed “E-HUBB” and the interconnected solar market center “THE PULSE” to provide local farmers and micro-enterprises with renewable energy for productive use.

-HELIOZ (Austria), an SME, has deployed a solar-powered device that notifies people when water is safe to drink – a way to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and indoor air pollution.

-LEDARS (Bangladesh), a non-profit organization integrating water management models to address water scarcity in disaster-prone areas where water is unavailable due to salinity and flooding.

– Seisui Industries Inc. (Japan), an SME, has developed a mobile sewage treatment plant that can be customized and deployed when and where it is needed.

Americas: Nuestra Señora del Carmen Rural Integral Ethno-educational Centre (Colombia), Maria Sanchez de Thompson Technical School No.3 (Argentina) and Bios Terrae Foundation – ICAM Ubate (Colombia).

Europe and Central Asia: ES Kreativno pero (Serbia), Northfleet Technology College (UK) and Romain-Rolland Gymnasium (Germany).

Middle East and North Africa: School for Gifted Students (Iraq), JSS Private School (UAE) and Obour STEM School (Egypt).

Sub-Saharan Africa: Cheshire High School (Nigeria), Mount Mary Secondary School (Kenya) and UWC East Africa – Arusha (Tanzania).

South Asia: Dhaka Residential Demonstration Academy (Bangladesh), Kopila Valley School (Nepal) and Obhizatrik School (Bangladesh).

East Asia and the Pacific: Bohol Wisdom School (Philippines), Kamil Muslim College (Fiji) and Sangam Sadhu Kuppuswamy Memorial College (Fiji).