Dubai: In collaboration with the Mohammed Bin Rashid Innovation Fund (MBRIF), the Mohammed Bin Rashid Centre for Government Innovation (MBRCGI) has announced the winners of the sixth edition of the Pitch @ GOV programme, organized in partnership with the UAE University. This special edition was dedicated to university students, focusing on the challenge of 'Renewable Energy for a Better Life.'
According to Emirates News Agency, the first place was awarded to 'Ghaf' from Khalifa University, a digital application aimed at encouraging 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 transforming used car tyres into smart roads capable of generating clean energy using piezoelectric materials, aligning with the UAE's vision for sustainable infrastructure under the UAE Energy Strategy 2050.
The third place was awarded to the 'Sustainable Student Swap' platform from the UAE University, which 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, a system designed to recover oil spills safely and sustainably from marine environments to protect marine ecosystems and reduce the environmental impact of oil pollution.
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 innovative solutions for future generations. She praised the outstanding level demonstrated by participants from universities across the UAE.
Fatima Yousef Al Naqbi, Acting Assistant Undersecretary for Support Services at the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry's representative on the MBRIF, emphasized that the 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.
Professor Dr Ahmed Alraeesi, Vice Chancellor of the UAE University, highlighted the importance of the challenge as a platform to stimulate creativity and channel it into practical solutions supporting the UAE's sustainability journey. The challenge attracted more than 100 innovative ideas, with finalists presenting their projects before a judging panel comprising experts from the MBRCGI, the MBRIF, and the UAE University.
This edition recorded the highest level of financial support since the programme's launch, with four projects receiving a total of AED200,000, alongside the opportunity to join the MBRIF Accelerator Programme. Since its inception, the Pitch @ GOV initiative has attracted over 1,000 participants and hosted more than 100 pitch presentations, showcasing a wide range of innovative solutions evaluated by expert judging panels.