Saudi Arabian students have achieved remarkable success at the 49th International Exhibition of Inventions Geneva (IEIG), held from April 17 to 21, 2024, securing multiple medals and awards.
With over a thousand inventions on display from more than 50 countries, the recently concluded exhibition provided Saudi Arabia with an ideal platform to showcase its innovative prowess and establish itself as a global scientific hub.
The Saudi Deputy Minister of Education for universities, research, and innovation, Mohammed Al-Sudairi, inaugurated the Kingdom’s pavilion at the exhibition, which saw the participation of 26 Saudi universities. Collectively, they presented 113 inventions spanning various fields, including science, biology, theater, medicine, and artificial intelligence.
One notable invention came from Qassim University, which showcased a patented method for desalinating saltwater using a halophyte plant, registered with the Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property. Abdulaziz bin Bani Alharbi, a faculty member at Qassim’s College of Agriculture and Food, explained that their invention involved a closed system where water and the plant work together to collect water through the transpiration process.
Fahad Alminderej, a faculty member at the College of Science, presented an innovative method for extracting materials from date waste and utilizing them in pharmaceutical manufacturing, also registered with the Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property.
The successful participation of Saudi universities and research centers highlights their commitment to enhancing their international presence and fostering collaboration with scientific institutions worldwide. The Saudi Electronic University (SEU) demonstrated this commitment by presenting three inventions, opening new avenues for cooperation.
The exhibition, which concluded on April 21, announced the winners of awards and medals, with Saudi Arabia securing a significant number of accolades. Umm Al-Qura University received six medals, including one silver and five bronze.
Dr. Raed Abdulrahman Shalwalah from the College of Engineering and Architecture was awarded the silver medal for his invention, “Concrete barrier producing electrical energy from air currents of traffic on public roads.”
The bronze medals were awarded for inventions such as the “Smart scoliosis spine brace” by Dr. Ahmad Ali Basalah, the “Non-contact sanitizer dispenser glove” by Dr. Rami Al-Fatni, the “Scheduling techniques for spatio-temporal environments” by Dr. Emad Felemban, the “Smart eyewear to aid visually impaired and blind in communicating with deaf people” by Dr. Ghada Al-Fatni, and the “Mobile sanitary device for individuals with special needs and the elderly with limited mobility” by Dr. Budour Hamed Al-Sayegh.
The University of Jeddah received two bronze medals for their inventions: “Smart building health inspection using computer vision” and “Tool to detect and prevent distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks.”
Shaqra University was honored with three medals, including one gold and two silver. Dr. Mohammad Tabish and his team from the College of Medicine received the gold medal for their invention, “Electroconvulsiometer for anti-convulsant activity.” The silver medals were awarded for the inventions “Detecting cyberattacks targeting Internet of Things environments” by Dr. Bandar Alotaibi and Dr. Munif Alotaibi from the College of Computer Science and Information Technology and a “Herbal formulation for the prevention and management of atherosclerosis” by Dr. Tabish and his team.
The latter invention was additionally recognized with the prestigious Thailand Award for Best International Invention and Innovation, presented by the National Research Council of Thailand (NRCT).
Jazan University secured two gold medals. Asim Najmi from the College of Pharmacy was awarded for his innovation on derivatives of benzylidene 4,2 thiazolidinones and their use in diabetes treatment, while Mohammed Mashiki from the College of Dentistry received recognition for his modification of a dental crown used in endodontic retreatment.
King Abdulaziz University excelled with an impressive total of 17 awards and medals. The university received prizes from the National Research Society of Thailand for their date classification application and the Malaysian Organization for Research Scientists for a continuous monitoring invention.
Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz University secured four bronze medals for their innovative creations, which included a breast cancer detection device, an AI-enabled road vehicle, a spectral domain monitoring antenna, and a 200-watt power amplifier.
The achievements of Saudi universities at the Geneva Exhibition of Inventions demonstrate their commitment to innovation and their significant contributions to the global scientific community.
