A Step Towards Excellence

Abu Dhabi Polytechnic Hidden Threats Finder team won the final round of Expo 2020 Live university innovation program 2018 and received grant cheque during innovator 2018 festival held at The Corniche on Sunday, February 4th, 2018 at 10:00 am
• 280 teams composed of about 1000 UAE students participated
• 19 teams receive grants up to AED 25,000 to bring their ideas to life
• Grants issued by Expo Live’s University Innovation Programme
• Abu Dhabi Polytechnic’s Hidden Threats Finder team won the final round of university innovation program 2018
• Expo Live also recognized Abu Dhabi Polytechnic for having the highest number of participating students.

Nineteen groups of UAE university students have received grants of between AED 10,000 and AED 25,000 to develop their creative solutions for some of the most pressing challenges in the UAE and the region, thanks to Expo 2020 Dubai’s flagship innovation and partnership programme, Expo Live. Total 15 UAE nationals from five teams were selected, and among them, 5 UAE nationals are from Abu Dhabi Polytechnic Hidden Threat Finder team.

About 1,000 students submitted ideas to Expo Live’s University Innovation Programme, addressing at least one of Expo 2020’s subthemes – Opportunity, Mobility, and Sustainability – with the support of 40 universities in the UAE. Thirty-eight project ideas submitted by students from Abu Dhabi Polytechnic.

Twenty-one student groups were shortlisted for the final stage of the competition, which was held on 25 November. During the final stage, the students pitched their solutions to a panel of judges composed of members of the Expo Live team, Expo 2020 official partners, experts, and academics. The size of each grant was based on the maturity, scalability and potential impact of each idea.

The awarded solutions also include Hidden threat Finder device from ABU Dhabi Poly Technic Team that will scan landmines and explosive material by a robotic ball and will protect our civilians and army from hidden threats. The Hidden threat Finder team from Petroleum Engineering Technology Department consisted of fiver UAE nations Abdulrahman Ibrahim Mohamed Alsuwaidi, Ahmed Khalid Ali Aljallaf, Ahmed Fareed Ahmed Alshagga, Fatima Rashed Ibraheem Alhosani And Khalaf Rashid Suhail Al Mukhaini which developed this innovative project idea under the supervision of Head of department Dr. Abdelaziz Khlaifat and professional Technical Lecturer Engr. Khalid Hussain.

The grant will be managed by the Abu Dhabi Polytechnic, which will continue to support the Hidden Threats Finder team to move on from the idea and design stages to develop a prototype. Expo Live will also provide them with exposure and networking opportunities with Expo 2020’s official partners. The students will get the opportunity to showcase their solutions at Expo 2020 Dubai.

Expo Live also recognized Abu Dhabi Polytechnic for having the highest number of participating students as 38 projects were submitted by Abu Dhabi Polytechnic students.

The University Innovation Programme was launched in September 2017 with the support of the Knowledge and Human Development Authority and challenges UAE-based university students to team up and develop solutions to problems relevant to the UAE and linked to Expo 2020 Dubai’s subthemes. The programme will run another three cycles including during the lead-up to Expo 2020 Dubai. The next cycle is scheduled for August 2018.

Abu Dhabi Polytechnic aims to encourage students to develop creative solutions. It is a fantastic experience to be able to witness young UAE local talents worked together for the same purpose finding solutions to UAE most challenging problems. The Hidden Threats Finder team is excited to get the opportunity to develop their ideas further with Expo 2020 grant.

Expo Live is a USD 100 million innovations and partnership programme launched by Expo 2020 Dubai to make a lasting social impact by funding, accelerating, and promoting creative solutions that improve lives while preserving our world. With a firm belief that “innovation can come from anywhere, to everyone”, Expo Live will deploy a combination of grants, challenges, university programmes and knowledge-sharing events focused on the universal drivers of progress: Opportunity, Mobility, and Sustainability.