Wireless power for battery-free smart devices

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Wireless Power Servo

2025

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Amit Kumar Baghel

University of Aveiro

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Henrique Chaves

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Helena Ribeiro

AI-powered early weevil detection

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WeevilNet

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Mennat Allah Hassan

Egypt University of Informatics

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Nader Fayed

Aerogel-based FOG capture system

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WasteWise

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Ariel Riofrio

The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

Aaron Wong

Leslie Ann Yasis

Juan Jose Ternero

Drawing on data from 53 economies representing 57% of global GDP, the report ranks the UAE first among high-income nations across eight key indicators: from physical infrastructure and government policy to entrepreneurial education and ease of market entry. 
The UAE also places second globally for entrepreneurial finance and access to funding, underscoring both policy ambition and a maturing ecosystem with real depth and is one of only four countries to have achieved "sufficiency" across every entrepreneurship framework condition, a distinction that separates aspiration from execution. 

On the technology front, the UAE is among just six countries where entrepreneurs unanimously recognise AI as a critical priority over the next three years, and joins Taiwan, Norway, and Sweden in receiving an "excellent" rating for both sustainability priorities and AI awareness. This dual focus on technology and stewardship is mirrored in the country's flagship innovation platforms including Dubai Future Solutions - Prototypes for Humanity; the annual Dubai summit run in partnership with the Dubai Future Foundation that has become one of the clearest expressions of how the UAE channels global academic talent toward tangible, applied solutions. Drawing on a network of more than 20,000 professors across over 1,000 universities on six continents, the programme works hands-on with global university talent to translate scientific research into industry-aligned solutions - a journey that begins with technology validation in real-world environments and evolves towards business set-up, commercial projects and growth. 

Source: UAE Ministry of Economy & Tourism — “UAE Ranks First Globally in the GEM 2025-2026 Global Report for the Fifth Consecutive Year”

UAE Ranks First Globally in Entrepreneurship for Fifth Consecutive Year

**29 April 2026**

For the fifth consecutive year, the UAE has ranked first in the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) 2025/2026 report, the most comprehensive global study of entrepreneurial ecosystems.

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The Prototypes for Humanity Short Papers Platform provides a forum for professors from around the world to share research and engage in interdisciplinary dialogue, fostering collaboration and knowledge exchange, with a focus on academic research driving real world impact. 
 
Prototypes for Humanity and the Investment Corporation of Dubai (ICD) have announced a new strategic partnership for the 2026 edition of the Short Papers Platform, to support research by professors addressing complex challenges, and offering tangible pathways to solutions. The 2026 edition invites academics across all institutions and disciplines to submit research addressing seven strategic themes, designed to reflect international research priorities and that are relevant to the city and to the fund.

2026 Short Papers Platform

Professors are invited to submit abstracts from now up and to including May 22nd 2026.  
Up to 60 professors will be invited to develop their abstracts into short papers, to be presented at a conference in Dubai in November 2026, with fully funded travel and accommodation for lead authors, followed by a formal publication of proceedings. 
As part of the programme’s ongoing commitment to research translation, ICD will award a USD 50,000 prize to one project selected from the papers presented at the conference. 


Call for Abstracts Now Open 

The Investment Corporation of Dubai (ICD) is the principal investment arm of the Government of Dubai. Established in 2006, ICD manages a broad portfolio of assets, both locally and internationally, across a wide spectrum of sectors that support Dubai’s dynamic economy.

About ICD

Key Dates

If you have any questions, please email us at **professors@prototypesforhumanity.com**
 or fill out the contact form below. 

Have a Question?

**26 March 2026** 

The Short Papers Platform provides a forum for professors from around the world to share research and engage in interdisciplinary dialogue, fostering collaboration and knowledge exchange   


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2026 Short Papers Platform - Call for Abstracts

Ready to make an impact? 

Present your project at the 2026 Dubai Future Solutions - Prototypes for Humanity summit in Dubai, 15-19 November 2026 

Apply now and take your place on the global stage

Applications Now Open

What **problem** are you addressing?
How are **existing** solutions failing?
What is your **alternative** solution?
How does it perform **better**?
What **impact** does your solution have?

We’d like you to tell us


We provide 100 selected projects with support to attend the summit in Dubai for both the leading student and supervisor. This includes:
- Hotel accommodation
- Flight subsidy
- Spending allowance
- Transport between the hotel, summit venue, and programme activities
- Curated social events

Travel and Accommodation

**12 March 2026** 

Ready to make an impact? Present your project at the 2026 Dubai Future Solutions - Prototypes for Humanity summit in Dubai, 15-19 November 2026


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2026 Submissions Open 

In 2025, Prototypes for Humanity launched a new Academic Forum, bringing together 115 distinguished international academics to help turn science-backed research into real-world outcomes through active collaboration with industry and public-sector stakeholders.

Designed to empower professors as catalysts of change, the forum enables high-level dialogue, networking, meetings and curated collaborations between academia, government, industry professionals, investors and venture experts. 

New for 2025: Prototypes for Humanity Annual Summit introduces a new Academic Forum

The forum emphasised the vital role academics play in turning breakthrough research into real-world outcomes. Many promising ideas remain in academia because adoption is complex and depends on the right partners, validation environments, and implementation expertise. Connecting professors with decision-makers accelerates progress and creates pathways for scientific insight to translate into pilots, partnerships, and scalable impact.

Bridging research with real-world application 

Participating professors engaged in an intensive schedule designed to spark interdisciplinary collaboration and accelerate knowledge exchange, through:

- Workshops and dialogues with industry and venture experts
- Industry-led innovation sandpits, shaped around real-world challenges  and needs
- Interdisciplinary exchanges spanning sectors and scientific domains
- Peer-to-peer sessions supporting collaboration and insight-sharing
- Discussions focused on urgent challenges across health, climate, energy, and AI, reinforcing the emphasis on applied, high-impact research that can respond to real-world demands.
 

An Agenda Designed for Action

The breadth of research represented in the Forum was reflected in two days of short paper presentations, showcasing work across critical scientific and societal themes, alongside PechaKucha sessions, a fast-paced format for professors to present ideas, share knowledge and spark conversation.


Showcasing Global Research

# The Academic Forum concluded with Best Paper Awards, recognising outstanding academic contributions across seven categories. The winners were:



Awards and People’s Choice Winners 

The People’s Choice Awards were selected by attendees, recognising research that strongly resonated with the community. The winners were: 



Tadeu Baldani Caravieri, Director of Prototypes for Humanity, said: “Professors are central to shaping solutions to real-world problems, yet often groundbreaking research doesn’t reach where it is needed most. By uniting global academic excellence with Dubai’s future-driven ecosystem, we create structured pathways for research to accelerate into real-world impact. 


Leadership perspective 

Building on this momentum, Prototypes for Humanity will launch a formal publication platform in 2026, strengthening cross-border knowledge exchange and creating new opportunities for academics whose work demonstrates measurable social or environmental impact. 

 

What’s next: a new publication platform in 2026 

**10 February 2026** 

In 2025, Prototypes for Humanity launched a new Academic Forum, bringing together 115 distinguished international academics to help turn science-backed research into real-world outcomes through active collaboration with industry and public-sector stakeholders.


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New Academic Forum

The Prototypes for Humanity Award presented to Dr Maral Bayaraa has been formally added to the University of Oxford’s History of Science Museum collection, alongside some of the world’s most significant scientific innovations that tell stories of human ingenuity. 

 

The ceremony at the museum, during which Dr Bayaraa donated her award certificate to the museum’s archive, was attended by representatives from the 1851 Royal Commission, the University of Oxford, the Mongolian Embassy, the Dubai Future Foundation and Prototypes for Humanity. 

 

The award was presented to Dr Bayaraa during the 2023 edition of Prototypes for Humanity, recognising her innovation Digital Twins 4 Tailings Dams. The solution combines satellite Earth observation with AI-driven analysis to help monitor the stability of tailings storage facilities, strengthening early-warning capabilities, improving risk oversight, and supporting safe, more sustainable mining practices. 
 

For Prototypes for Humanity, the donation is more than symbolic. Museum accessioning now gives the award a permanent institutional home, preserving the story of a science-backed innovation designed to prevent environmental harm and protect communities. 

 

Dr Bayaraa, originally from Mongolia and now based in the UK, is a PhD researcher at the University of Oxford and a Senior Specialist in Earth Observation at the Satellite Applications Catapult. She initially planned to study the arts and philosophy before choosing geology, a pivot that ultimately led her to study the planet at scale from space.

Prototypes for Humanity award enters a world-class museum collection

Tailings storage facilities are essential to modern mining, but failures can be catastrophic, causing environmental damage, threatening waterways, and placing surrounding communities at risk. Dr Bayaraa’s approach uses satellite-based Earth observation and AI to monitor these facilities and detect indicators of instability earlier, supporting better decision-making, improved oversight, and more proactive risk management. 

Why this innovation matters 

**18 December 2025**

The Prototypes for Humanity Award presented to Dr Maral Bayaraa has been formally added to the University of Oxford’s History of Science Museum collection, alongside some of the world’s most significant scientific innovations that tell stories of human ingenuity.

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Congratulations to our 2025 winners

Our annual programme celebrates outstanding innovations that demonstrate scientific excellence, deliver measurable impact on today’s most urgent social and environmental challenges, and show strong potential for commercial implementation.

Awards Overview

In 2025, USD 100,000 in prizes was awarded to the teams behind the most promising solutions across five categories.

Chaired by Her Highness Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairperson of Dubai Culture & Arts Authority, and member of the Dubai Council, the jury for the 2025 Awards includes global industry leaders, innovators, and visionaries – whose insight, experience, and integrity guide our evaluation process.

Jury Members

**5 January 2026**
Meet previous winning teams and explore projects recognised for excellence, impact, and real-world potential. These initiatives demonstrate how academic research can translate into practical solutions addressing global challenges across sectors.

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Past Winners

Present your project at the 2026 Dubai Future Solutions – Prototypes for Humanity summit in Dubai, 15–19 November 2026

**Key dates**
18 May:       Priority Application Deadline 
1 August:      Applications Close

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2026 Submissions Are Now Open

Showcasing breakthrough university innovations on a global stage, celebrating academic excellence and tangible impact

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Annual Summit

Building ventures with industry leaders to transform university research into scalable commercial solutions

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Venture Building 

Disseminating pioneering knowledge and research through presentations and academic publications

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Research & Publications

Aligning our community with industry agendas while mobilising academic experts to decode and solve complex challenges

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Innovation Services

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