du, from Emirates Integrated Telecommunications Company (EITC), has played an inspirational role towards empowering the next generation of technology innovators, following the completion of the IoT & AI Pioneers Competition.

Driven by UAE 5G Innovation Gate (U5GIG) – which is powered by Dubai Silicon Oasis (DSO) – and Dubai Technology Entrepreneur Campus (Dtec), to lead innovation initiatives established by HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE, and Ruler of Dubai, du’s IoT & AI Pioneers Competition had 43 initial project applications all vying to play an active role in leading the UAE’s smart future. From this, 10 teams were selected for shortlisted interviews, with six emerging successful after the interview and evaluation of the project idea that was held in May at Dtec Centre.

The six projects shortlisted by the judging panel that progressed to the next round were:

• Project 1: Health Care Assistant using Artificial Intelligence
• Project 2: Smart Arm
• Project 3: Vitamin Deficiency Detection Using Image Processing and Artificial Intelligence
• Project 4: Clever Garbage Bin
• Project 5: Interactive Classroom
• Project 6: Organic Chain

The committee of Final Panelist included:

• Saleem Alblooshi, Chief Technology Officer, du
• Anthony Shiner, Chief Digital Transformation and Innovation Officer, du
• Muammar Al Katheeri – Executive Vice President- Engineering & Smart City, DSOA
• Essa Bastaki, President of University of Dubai (UD)
• Tariq Al Awadhi, Executive Director Spectrum Affairs, TRA    

At the end of the competition, the top three winners were:

• Nadia Al Shizawi (Smart Waste Management): 30,000 AED
• Ahmed Saif Aldeen ( Vitacam: Vitamin Deficiency Detection): 20,000 AED
• Dina AbdelRehman (AI Healthcare Assistant): 10,000 AED