Zayed Sustainability Prize Announces 2025 Finalists Showcasing Innovative Global Solutions

The Zayed Sustainability Prize, a leading initiative in the UAE for addressing global challenges, has revealed its finalists for this year. The winners will be announced during the Zayed Sustainability Prize Awards Ceremony on 14 January 2025, coinciding with Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week. This year, the Prize's Jury selected 33 finalists from 5,980 entries across six categories: Health, Food, Energy, Water, Climate Action, and Global High Schools.

Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and Director-General of the Zayed Sustainability Prize, noted the exceptional innovation and impact demonstrated by the finalists. He stated that these changemakers are tackling urgent environmental challenges while advancing economic progress through innovative solutions. "The Zayed Sustainability Prize continues to honour the enduring legacy of Sheikh Zayed," he said.

This year's Health category finalists concentrated on providing quality healthcare to underserved communities. Periwinkle Technologies from India offers an AI-enabled cervical cancer screening device delivering results in 30 seconds. Rology from Egypt has developed a 24/7 AI-assisted teleradiology platform that integrates with hospital systems for prompt diagnoses. Telemedan from Chad uses solar-powered medical kiosks to provide affordable healthcare in remote areas.

In the Food category, finalists aimed to empower small-scale producers and promote sustainable food practices. ABALOBI from South Africa created a mobile app for fishers to log catches and sell directly to consumers. Nafarm Foods from Nigeria develops hybrid solar food dryers that preserve food while reducing CO2 emissions. Xinjiang Shawan Oasis Sustainable Development Institute from China specialises in solar-powered greenhouses transforming desert land into farms.

The Energy category finalists are enhancing energy efficiency and access to clean energy. D-Olivette Global Enterprise from Nigeria offers an IoT and AI-assisted smart waste management solution improving collection efficiency by 40%. Palki Motors Limited from Bangladesh manufactures low-cost electric cars with solar-powered battery swap stations. Turbulent from Belgium develops eco-friendly vortex hydropower turbines with 60% efficiency.

Water category finalists focus on optimising water use and improving access to clean drinking water. Elman Teknoloji Ltd from Türkiye uses sensors to optimise irrigation, reducing labour costs by 80%. High Atlas Foundation from Morocco provides solar-powered water pumping systems for groundwater extraction. SkyJuice Foundation Inc. from Australia creates low-cost water filters offering clean drinking water without chemicals or external energy sources.

Climate Action Initiatives

The Climate Action category highlights efforts in carbon capture and ecosystem restoration. Distant Imagery from the UAE develops AI-powered drones for environmental monitoring and habitat restoration. Hyera Inc. from the USA has created a carbon capture process converting agricultural waste into activated carbon for pollutant removal. OpenMap Development Tanzania combines indigenous knowledge with geospatial data for flood management solutions.

Global High Schools' Contributions

The Global High Schools category showcases student-led sustainability projects across six regions: The Americas, Sub-Saharan Africa, Middle East & North Africa, Europe & Central Asia, South Asia, and East Asia & the Pacific. Each winning school receives up to US$150,000 to support their initiatives.

Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson, Chair of the Prize Jury, remarked on the creativity and determination shown by this year's finalists: "This year's Prize finalists showcase the remarkable steps being taken around the world to address urgent needs with creativity and determination – offering a vision of a more sustainable future."

Since its inception, the Zayed Sustainability Prize has impacted millions globally through its winners' projects: providing safe drinking water to over 11 million people, reliable energy access to 54 million homes, nutritious food access to 3.6 million people, and affordable healthcare access to over 744,600 individuals.

With inputs from WAM