An Emirati team known as “INNOVISIONARIES” has achieved global recognition by winning the “Most Inspirational Team” award in NASA’s 2024 Space Apps Challenge. This prestigious competition saw participation from 93,000 contestants across 163 countries, resulting in 10,000 innovative project submissions.
Hailing from Sharjah, the “INNOVISIONARIES” team received strategic support from the University of Dubai and technical partnership with “SPACE.TAYAR.” They stood out as the sole winners from the United Arab Emirates by presenting an innovative educational plan for high school students. Their project integrates Sustainable Development Goals into scientific curricula, covering subjects like weather, geology, and soil health.
The award ceremony is scheduled for June 4 at the Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, USA. Dr. Eesa Bastaki, President of the University of Dubai, emphasized the significance of such competitions in fostering a culture of creativity and innovation. He noted that the success of the Sharjah team reflects the UAE’s strategic direction in supporting innovators and enhancing youth skills.
Engineer Tarek Salahuddin, CEO of the International Company for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (GIE), highlighted that the challenge serves as a global platform to promote technological innovation. The fifth edition attracted 202 teams from various Emirates, with “ORBITSPACE” advancing to the global finals.
NASA’s Space Apps Challenge is the world’s largest hackathon, utilizing open data from the agency to develop innovative solutions addressing both terrestrial and space-related challenges. This initiative contributes to enhancing knowledge collaboration among youth worldwide.
