Arab Press

بالشعب و للشعب
Friday, Aug 22, 2025

Enterprising students take part in Saudi ideation challenge

More than 90 students recently took part in an ideation challenge hosted by a leading Saudi research institution.
The three-day event at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology was held in partnership with the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, the Saline Water Conversion Corp., and Saudia Aerospace Engineering Industries.

Designed to push the limits of innovation and creative thinking, the KAUST Ignite initiative challenged students to take on some of the biggest regional and global issues.

Armed with their own entrepreneurial thinking, education experience, and passion for problem-solving, team members worked toward cutting-edge solutions and on the final day shared their thinking processes with an emphasis on next steps, goals, and the positive impact their solution could have on the world.

Hattan Ahmed, director of the KAUST Entrepreneurship Center, said: “Each KAUST Ignite event starts with a simple question: How do we spark solutions that can change the world?

“We are very fortunate to have partners the Ministry of Hajj, SAEI, and SWCC to design key challenges and provide mentorship opportunities.

“Seeing the level of innovation that can emerge in just a few days is inspiring and gives us all great hope for the future.”

The 94 students participating in the event, that ended on Saturday, came from more than 18 Saudi universities and were all graduates of KAUST’s latest online course, Entrepreneurship Adventures.

They were assigned to teams of five based on their individual skills and academic backgrounds. Once grouped, teams were given real-world challenges presented by KAUST Ignite partners representing water, aviation, and the Hajj experience.

One of the challenges, to reimagine the food experience at holy sites to ensure a better quality of service, greater availability, and improved nutritional needs, was presented by the Ministry of Hajj and won by team Biscuit with its biodegradable and recyclable utensil package.

Another challenge, put forward by the SWCC, was to improve desalination through the optimization of alternative energy sources and address the impact of jellyfish on freshwater production. The winning team was Mangrove which came up with the idea for a jellyfish trap that allowed for relocation.

The third challenge was focused on enhancing technologies to improve wildlife detection and curb bird strikes, presented by SAEI. The Future Seekers team was the victor with a solution that used radiofrequency fields to disrupt birds at aviation sites.
Newsletter

Related Articles

Arab Press
0:00
0:00
Close
Dogfights in the Skies: Airbus on Track to Overtake Boeing and Claim Aviation Supremacy
Tim Cook Promises an AI Revolution at Apple: "One of the Most Significant Technologies of Our Generation"
Are AI Data Centres the Infrastructure of the Future or the Next Crisis?
Miles Worth Billions: How Airlines Generate Huge Profits
Zelenskyy Returns to White House Flanked by European Allies as Trump Pressures Land-Swap Deal with Putin
Beijing is moving into gold and other assets, diversifying away from the dollar
Trump Backs Putin’s Land-for-Peace Proposal Amid Kyiv’s Rejection
Zelenskyy to Visit Washington after Trump–Putin Summit Yields No Agreement
Iranian Protection Offers Chinese Vehicle Shipments a Cost Advantage over Japanese and Korean Makers
United States Sells Luxury Yacht Amadea, Valued at Approximately $325 Million, in First Sale of a Seized Russian Yacht Since the Invasion of Ukraine
Saudi Arabia accelerates renewables to curb domestic oil use
Cristiano Ronaldo and Georgina Rodríguez announce engagement
Asia-Pacific dominates world’s busiest flight routes, with South Korea’s Jeju–Seoul corridor leading global rankings
Private Welsh island with 19th-century fort listed for sale at over £3 million
Sam Altman challenges Elon Musk with plans for Neuralink rival
Australia to Recognize the State of Palestine at UN Assembly
The Collapse of the Programmer Dream: AI Experts Now the Real High-Earners
Armenia and Azerbaijan to Sign US-Brokered Framework Agreement for Nakhchivan Corridor
British Labour Government Utilizes Counter-Terrorism Tools for Social Media Monitoring Against Legitimate Critics
WhatsApp Deletes 6.8 Million Scam Accounts Amid Rising Global Fraud
Texas Residents Face Water Restrictions While AI Data Centers Consume Millions of Gallons
India Rejects U.S. Tariff Threat, Defends Russian Oil Purchases
United States Establishes Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and Digital Asset Stockpile
Thousands of Private ChatGPT Conversations Accidentally Indexed by Google
China Tightens Mineral Controls, Curtailing Critical Inputs for Western Defence Contractors
JPMorgan and Coinbase Unveil Partnership to Let Chase Cardholders Buy Crypto Directly
British Tourist Dies Following Hair Transplant in Turkey, Police Investigate
WhatsApp Users Targeted in New Scam Involving Account Takeovers
Trump Deploys Nuclear Submarines After Threats from Former Russian President Medvedev
Germany’s Economic Breakdown and the Return of Militarization: From Industrial Collapse to a New Offensive Strategy
Germany Enters Fiscal Crisis as Cabinet Approves €174 Billion in New Debt
IMF Upgrades Global Growth Forecast as Weaker Dollar Supports Outlook
Politics is a good business: Barack Obama’s Reported Net Worth Growth, 1990–2025
UN's Top Court Declares Environmental Protection a Legal Obligation Under International Law
"Crazy Thing": OpenAI's Sam Altman Warns Of AI Voice Fraud Crisis In Banking
Japanese Prime Minister Vows to Stay After Coalition Loses Upper House Majority
President Trump Diagnosed with Chronic Venous Insufficiency After Leg Swelling
Man Dies After Being Pulled Into MRI Machine Due to Metal Chain in New York Clinic
FIFA Pressured to Rethink World Cup Calendar Due to Climate Change
Iranian President Reportedly Injured During Israeli Strike on Secret Facility
Kurdistan Workers Party Takes Symbolic Step Towards Peace in Northern Iraq
BRICS Expands Membership with Indonesia and Ten New Partner Countries
Elon Musk Founds a Party Following a Poll on X: "You Wanted It – You Got It!"
AI Raises Alarms Over Long-Term Job Security
Russia Formally Recognizes Taliban Government in Afghanistan
Saudi Arabia Maintains Ties with Iran Despite Israel Conflict
Mediators Edge Closer to Israel-Hamas Ceasefire Agreement
Germany Seeks Taliban Deal to Deport Afghan Migrants
Emirates Airline Expands Market Share with New $20 Million Campaign
Robots Compete in Football Tournament in China Amid Injuries
×