• More than 100 innovative ideas and projects were submitted.
  • Four winning projects were awarded a total of AED 200,000, in addition to opportunities to join an accelerator programme.
  • “Ghaf” from Khalifa University wins first place for promoting low-carbon lifestyles.
  • “Tyredo” from the Higher Colleges of Technology wins second place for clean energy generation.
  • The “Sustainable Student Swap” platform from UAE University secures third place.
  • “Oil Skimmer”, an intelligent marine protection system from the Higher Colleges of Technology, wins fourth place.

Dubai: In collaboration with the Mohammed Bin Rashid Innovation Fund (MBRIF), the Mohammed Bin Rashid Centre for Government Innovation (MBRCGI) announced the winners of the sixth edition of the Pitch @ GOV programme, organised in partnership with UAE University. This special edition was dedicated to university students across the UAE, focusing on a single challenge: “Renewable Energy for a Better Life.”

The first place was awarded to “Ghaf”, from Khalifa University, a digital application designed to encourage individuals and businesses to adopt low-carbon lifestyles through a rewards-based incentive and points system. The second place went to “Tyredo”, from the Higher Colleges of Technology, an innovative solution that transforms used car tyres into smart roads capable of generating clean energy using piezoelectric materials, in line with the UAE’s vision to develop sustainable infrastructure under the UAE Energy Strategy 2050. 

The third place was awarded to the “Sustainable Student Swap” platform from the UAE University, a smart platform that enables students to exchange items and supplies through an AI-powered application supported by an incentive-based points system, contributing to waste reduction and promoting a circular economy culture on campus.

The fourth place was awarded to “Oil Skimmer”, from the Higher Colleges of Technology, an intelligent system designed to recover oil spills safely and sustainably from marine environments, with the aim of protecting marine ecosystems and reducing the environmental impact of oil pollution.

Huda Al Hashimi: Empowering Youth to Develop Practical Innovation Models

Her Excellency Huda Al Hashimi, Assistant Minister of Cabinet Affairs for Strategic Affairs, stated that the sixth edition of Pitch @ GOV marked a new phase in the UAE Government’s efforts to empower youth and enhance their role in designing future-ready innovative solutions that would ensure the wellbeing of future generations. She hailed the outstanding level demonstrated by participants from universities across the UAE.

H.E. Al Hashimi noted that the sixth edition featured nominated innovations and practical models that support the government’s clean and sustainable energy priorities, reflecting the UAE Government’s commitment to embedding innovation as a working methodology to develop effective solutions to global challenges, and reinforcing the UAE’s leadership in leveraging knowledge and innovation to shape a better future for humanity.

Fatima Al Naqbi: The programme reflects the strong potential of youth in the UAE

H.E. Fatima Yousef Al Naqbi, Acting Assistant Undersecretary for Support Services at the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry’s representative on the Mohammed Bin Rashid Innovation Fund, stated that: “This programme reflects the strong potential of Emirati youth and underscores the UAE’s success in fostering an enabling environment for innovation and future-focused thinking, in line with the vision of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Innovation Fund to empower and support innovators throughout their entrepreneurial journey.”

“These initiatives represent a practical model of innovation as a key driver of comprehensive development and embody the UAE’s vision to build a sustainable economy based on knowledge, innovation, and collaboration. We congratulate the winners of this year’s challenge, which focused on developing renewable energy solutions in line with national priorities to enhance competitiveness and future leadership,” she added.

Ahmed Alraeesi: An enabling platform to channel creativity into practical solutions

Professor Dr Ahmed Alraeesi, Vice Chancellor of the UAE University, stated that the Renewable Energy for a Better Life challenge reflects the University’s vision to empower youth to innovate and actively participate in addressing global environmental challenges. “Driven by our belief that today’s students are tomorrow’s leaders, this challenge represents an enabling platform to stimulate creativity and channel it into practical solutions that support the UAE’s sustainability journey,” he said.

More than 100 innovative ideas

The sixth edition of the challenge attracted more than 100 innovative ideas and projects from universities across the UAE, featuring a wide and diverse range of renewable energy solutions. Finalists presented their projects before a judging panel comprising experts and specialists from the Mohammed Bin Rashid Centre for Government Innovation, the Mohammed Bin Rashid Innovation Fund, and UAE University.

This edition recorded the highest level of financial support since the programme’s launch, with four projects receiving a total of AED 200,000, in addition to the opportunity to join the MBRIF Accelerator Programme. The awards were distributed as follows: AED 80,000 for the first place, AED 60,000 for the second place, AED 40,000 for the third place, and AED 20,000 for the fourth place.

Pitch @ GOV

Since its inception, the Pitch @ GOV initiative has attracted more than 1,000 participants and hosted over 100 pitch presentations, during which participants showcased a wide range of innovative solutions, with shortlisted projects evaluated by expert judging panels.

The Mohammed Bin Rashid Centre for Government Innovation adopts a methodology built on three key pillars: Innovation Enablers, through building a knowledge base of trends, experts, and insights; Innovation Possibilities, focused on incubating and delivering innovative initiatives within the UAE Government; and Innovation Platforms, which aim to provide innovative methodologies to amplify government capabilities.

This approach aligns with the objectives of the “We the UAE 2031” vision and reflects MBRCGI’s commitment to fostering an innovation-driven ecosystem that builds individual capabilities and positions the UAE as a global innovation hub.