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Prototypes for Humanity 2023, an initiative of 100 groundbreaking inventions aimed at solving environmental and social challenges, concluded on Sunday at COP28 with the announcement of the winner of a $100,000 prize.
Opened by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Executive Council, Sheikh Mohammed bin Salman, Chairman of Dubai Culture and Arts Authority (Dubai Culture) and Member of Dubai Culture and Arts Council ·Latifa bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum attended the opening ceremony. Proposed by the Dubai Council, the initiative brings together university talents in the fields of natural sciences, humanities and technology for a week-long gathering.
The 2023 Human Prototype Awards ultimately recognized five outstanding projects:
- Synthetic yeast enhances sustainable production of food and biofuels
- Drug injection device optimized for emergency disaster scenarios
- Bioplastic made from invasive weeds supports local communities
- Satellite monitoring tools to prevent disasters caused by negligence
- Artificial intelligence detects suspicious activity in public procurement processes.
Monetary awards are designed to support ongoing research in important areas and recognize the dedication of students and professors in pursuing breakthrough solutions. The week-long Prototypes for Humanity 2023 program takes place in the heart of Dubai’s vibrant innovation ecosystem, attracting global experts specializing in venture capital, innovation, research and investment, all dedicated to assisting universities Innovators advance their projects toward real-world applications. Discussions at the event centered around student-developed technologies that address pressing global issues and industries, including energy, construction, healthcare, consumer products, agriculture, soil and water.
Sheikha Latifa highlighted the important role of the Human Archetypes initiative in demonstrating the importance of science and knowledge for the benefit of humanity. She pointed out that hosting this global event in Dubai together with COP28 reflects a strong commitment and responsibility to solve global problems. She added that the initiative reinforces the concept of collective action to address the challenges of climate change.
She said: “In line with Dubai’s vision, the Human Archetype Community is committed to creating a brighter future for all humanity. This year’s winners have used their scientific ingenuity and creative talents to propose practical solutions to solve and mitigate a wide range of challenges, from humanitarian crises to carbon dioxide emissions. The winning solution is an important reminder that young innovators can have a profound impact in redefining and shaping our world. Their achievements remind us that education and innovation can only happen if we prioritize education and innovation in our strategies. Dubai is committed to supporting these young innovators and will actively invest in award-winning projects that address climate change, thereby creating a sustainable and sustainable environment for everyone. A promising future.”
Human Archetypes is organized under the patronage of Sheikha Latifa, who also chairs the 2023 awards jury, which includes key figures in innovation, venture capital and humanitarian support: Founder, CEO and Managing Partner of Nova Global Ventures Dr. Christine Gulbranson; Kristoffer Gandrup-Marino, Head of Product Innovation, UNICEF; Khalfan Belhoul, CEO, Dubai Future Foundation; Chris Drake Drake), founder and CEO of Hodges & Drake. The winning projects were selected from more than 2,800 submissions from more than 200 different research fields and 710 universities around the world.
The 2023 edition reinforces the program’s profile as a leading innovation and talent pool on a global scale. Graduates from world-renowned universities such as Yale, Stanford, Oxford, Princeton, Berkeley, MIT, Harvard and Cambridge contribute to a wide variety of courses. Talent from leading regional universities from more than 100 countries, including Brazil, India, China, South Africa, Italy, Spain, Germany and Switzerland, also presented exciting showcases. The solutions presented in Dubai illustrate the extraordinary potential of academia to solve complex problems and the need for complementary approaches.
2023 Human Prototype Winners
category: Energy, efficiency and waste
winner: Biotechnology Synthetic Yeast, Princeton University
The Biotech Synthetic Yeast Program focuses on creating synthetic versions of Saccharomyces cerevisiae to enable superior chemical production. Engineered microorganisms have the potential to revolutionize renewable energy and sustainable manufacturing, producing next-generation fuels, commodity chemicals, agrichemicals, specialty chemicals and food. Integrated SCRaMble technology accelerates trait evolution, enabling rapid development of desired traits. Combined with genetically encoded biosensors, these strains effectively optimize the production of biofuels and other valuable chemicals.
category: data science, artificial intelligence
winner: Digital Twin 4 Tailings Dam, University of Oxford
Digital Twins 4 Tailings Dams is a satellite-based early warning system used to monitor and prevent environmental disasters at mining facilities, specifically Tailings Storage Facilities (TSF). The World Bank emphasizes that the energy transition will require 3 billion tons of metals, exacerbating the challenges facing the mining industry. It is worth noting that more than 98% of materials (such as copper) end up as waste and are stored in TSF. There are more than 30,000 TSFs worldwide, a quarter of which are abandoned and unmonitored. By integrating geotechnical engineering, satellite remote sensing and machine learning, Digital Twins 4 Tailings Dams aspires to create a digital twin system to monitor these critical infrastructures.
category: health, relief and safety
winner: Golden Capsule: Hongik University, South Korea
The Gold Capsule is a non-powered drug injection device optimized for emergency responders in disaster scenarios. It replaces the gravity-driven system and utilizes elasticity and air pressure to deliver drugs continuously over 30 minutes to an hour without relying on electricity or manpower. With its clear shell enclosing a drug-filled balloon, the device allows for easy adjustment of the injection rate, even up to the full drip rate required in an emergency.
It easily attaches to a stretcher, increasing rescuer efficiency by eliminating the need to manually hold the IV bag.
category: Nature, food and water systems
winner: High Park, Egerton University
HyaPak converts water hyacinth into a biodegradable plastic alternative, reducing waste while helping to eradicate invasive species. Although Nairobi generates 480 tons of plastic waste every day, only 45% of which is recycled, water hyacinth causes havoc in more than 70 countries, blocking waterways and causing significant economic losses. HyaPak’s innovative solution uses this weed to create products such as biodegradable seedling wrappers that break down within six months. This approach addresses both environmental challenges simultaneously.
category: education, equality and community
winner: Capac, University of San Francisco
A software application that uses data science to combat corruption in Ecuador’s public procurement system. This software application uses data science and artificial intelligence to combat corruption in public procurement. This government-independent system extracts data from official e-procurement websites to produce corruption risk indicators. Through a public portal, Kapak flags suspicious processes, evaluates contracting entities and vendors, and raises awareness of corruption risks. Kapak empowers citizens by bringing transparency to areas of government that have historically lacked oversight, aiming to integrate advanced algorithms to improve surveillance.
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