Latest news with #YoungInventorsPrize2025
GMA Network
30-06-2025
- Business
- GMA Network
Pinoy aeronautical engineer named in Top 10 Young Investors Prize 2025
A Filipino aeronautical engineer has become one of the 10 recipients of the Young Inventors Prize 2025 for his eco-friendly aircraft sealant and adhesive made from pili tree resin. Mark Kennedy Bantugon, 26, has developed the Pili Seal, an aircraft sealant and adhesive made from the agricultural waste of pili tree resin. Pili Seal aims to reduce environmental impact by providing a safer alternative to traditional sealants and adhesives, some of which contain toxic petrochemicals. The two-part sealant and adhesive can withstand fuel exposure, heat, and pressure. It also has the potential to be used in the construction, automotive, marine, and defense industries. According to the European Patent Office, Pili Seal can repurpose the pili tree resin waste generated in the Philippines. It noted that agricultural pili tree resin waste in the country, which primarily comes from the perfume and food industries, yields about 155 million kilograms annually. Awarded last June 18 in Iceland, each of the 10 awardees receives 5,000 euros. During the 2025 Young Investors Prize ceremony on the same day, Bantungon said he chose the pili tree resin because of its sticky characteristics and fragrance. Bantungon also said that before getting the final output, he tried 84 formulas. He also shared that he drew inspiration from his parents, who are farmers and were present during the event. The Young Inventors Prize recognizes inventors under 30 years old who support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDG). Bantugon was selected from 450 candidates all over the world by an independent jury. 'By transforming agricultural waste into a high-performance sealant, Mark Kennedy Bantugon is directly contributing to UN SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation & Infrastructure),' the European Patent Office said. - Mariel Celine Serquiña ### PHOTO: Video (52.42):
Euronews
16-06-2025
- Science
- Euronews
Meet the inventors helping farmers keep fruit fresh longer
Each year, over one billion tonnes of food go to waste while hundreds of millions still face hunger. For Ugandan entrepreneurs Sandra Namboozo and Samuel Muyita, this crisis has a personal dimension. Growing up in farming families, they witnessed first-hand how quickly harvested fruit could spoil before reaching markets – leaving farmers with major losses and little return for their hard work. Motivated by this challenge, the pair developed a solution rooted in both science and sustainability. Their invention, a biodegradable sachet made from plant-based compounds, can extend the shelf life of fruit by up to 30 days. This breakthrough has placed them among the top ten selected innovators – called Tomorrow Shapers – of the Young Inventors Prize 2025, awarded by the European Patent Office (EPO). 'What brought us together was the fact that both of us came from an agricultural background,' says Muyita. 'We had identified and related with a problem that was at hand, so it was easy for us to team up and come up with a solution, which is Karpolax.' Their company, Karpolax, uses volatile organic compounds (VOCs) extracted from plants like cloves, lemongrass, eucalyptus and wintergreen to slow the ripening process and protect fruit from mold and bacteria. Unlike conventional synthetic preservatives, these sachets are natural, safe, and designed to release active ingredients gradually and specifically for different fruit types. In pilot tests conducted with Uganda's National Agricultural Research Organization, mangoes stored with the sachets stayed fresh for 33 days – triple the shelf life of untreated ones. The product has since been tested on bananas, apples, and oranges, and new versions are being developed for pineapples, berries, and capsicum. 'It's basically a sachet that we put in fruit boxes during storage or delivery,' Namboozo explains. 'It releases an active ingredient that helps preserve the fruit for an extra 30 days.' The duo met while studying at Makerere University in Kampala and launched Karpolax in 2020. Their vision was clear from the start: make scientific innovation directly useful to the people who need it most. 'Farmers are one of our biggest customer groups,' says Namboozo. 'We wanted to use our knowledge and technical skills to develop something that would not just end on a paper in a lab but really be used by somebody.' By 2023, their product had reached over 100 farmers, 20 exporters, and 250 market vendors. With plans to expand across East Africa—including Kenya and Rwanda—the team is scaling up production and product lines. Their work directly supports the UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) and SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), by offering a low-cost, eco-friendly way to reduce food loss and increase farmer incomes. 'Starting from zero, you need to source for that funding yourself,' Muyita recalls. 'We had some supervisors from the university who supported us and made us feel confident that we could succeed.' With growing recognition and real-world impact, their ambition is only increasing. 'Our vision is to be the world's leading fruit and vegetable preservation company,' says Namboozo. And for other young innovators, Muyita offers a simple message of encouragement: 'Believe in yourself. When you believe in yourself, believe in the fact that you have what it takes to make it. You will indeed make it.'
Euronews
16-06-2025
- Health
- Euronews
The Colombian innovator turning air pollution into raw materials
Colombia faces one of the most severe air pollution challenges in Latin America, with 99.3% of its population living in areas that exceed World Health Organization guidelines. Against this backdrop, Colombian entrepreneur Mariana Pérez has developed a solution that tackles both environmental and health crises – earning her a place among the top ten innovators in the Young Inventors Prize 2025, awarded by the European Patent Office (EPO). At just 27, Pérez is the founder of Ecol-Air, a startup behind a technology that captures not only carbon dioxide but also nitrogen dioxide and sulphur dioxide – gases linked to respiratory illness. Unlike traditional carbon-capture devices, her system mimics the human respiratory system, using artificial 'bronchioles' and 'alveoli' to absorb pollutants from the air. 'My invention is just like a giant vacuum that captures a volume of air and puts it through this system and breaks down all the contaminants into a tank,' she explains. Installed on chimneys or as free-standing air purification stations, the machine treats polluted air and processes the toxins into biodegradable polymers – materials that can be repurposed into sustainable packaging or industrial components like tiles and bags. 'We can transform the pollutants and contaminants into raw materials that can be used,' says Pérez, 'I decided to create this machine because people ignore that air is as important as water.' Pérez's interest in air quality began when she was just eight years old. 'I remember watching rain wash residue off my dad's car and wondering where all that black dust went,' she recalls. That childhood curiosity grew into a passion for science, leading her to participate in school science fairs and eventually develop early prototypes of the machine that would inspire Ecol-Air. 'There were moments in my journey when I doubted myself,' she admits. 'But I believe all scientists need to realise that, while we can create incredible solutions for the planet, health and people, scaling our projects and turning them into businesses is what gives our inventions a real future. We can't stop at just having an idea; we need to develop it further.' After facing initial scepticism from manufacturers, Pérez offered to install her units for free in large factories to demonstrate their effectiveness. Sumicol was the first to adopt the system commercially, followed by Incolmotos Yamaha. In 2021, the first air treatment plant using her technology opened in Girardota, processing 70 tonnes of air daily with an 82% efficiency rate, according to company data. Now living in New York, Pérez is preparing for global expansion. 'Right now I'm focused on a global expansion because all the world needs to purify air,' she says. 'We are focused on trying to put our machine in large industries. Our invention is in the Commercial Readiness Level9 stage, meaning that it is fully functional, fully operative and, of course, tested, and ready to be adopted by the market.' With her innovation, Pérez is directly addressing multiple UN Sustainable Development Goals, including SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), and SDG 13 (Climate Action). As one of the EPO's 2025 Tomorrow Shapers, she's helping reshape how we think about pollution: not just as a problem to contain, but as a resource to transform.
Euronews
13-06-2025
- Business
- Euronews
How the Mashouf sisters are turning CO₂ into textiles
Every year, the global textile industry contributes billions of tonnes of CO₂ to the atmosphere. In response, twin sisters Neeka and Leila Mashouf, 28, have developed an innovative process that transforms carbon emissions into biodegradable fibres, creating a sustainable alternative to traditional manufacturing. Their startup, Rubi, is built around a proprietary enzymatic system that mimics how trees absorb CO₂ and turn it into cellulose – only here, the process happens in a chemical reactor. Their breakthrough has won them a place among the Tomorrow Shapers of the Young Inventors Prize 2025, awarded by the European Patent Office. 'Our invention uses a special sequence of enzymes, which are like nature's chemical engineers, to transform CO₂ into stringy polymers like cellulose, which we use to make fibres, yarns and fabrics,' says Neeka. 'We developed this technology to solve what we saw as the most important global problem.' Unlike conventional carbon conversion technologies that rely on fermentation or thermochemical systems – both of which are energy intensive and costly – Rubi's method is scalable and low-impact. The enzymes operate under ambient conditions and require ten times less energy, enabling CO₂ to be converted into material inputs with minimal environmental strain. These inputs can then be integrated into existing textile supply chains, helping brands lower their carbon footprints without overhauling their infrastructure. The company is already piloting its materials with Walmart, Patagonia, and H&M, demonstrating a market-ready application that could transform not just fashion, but multiple industries reliant on cellulose-derived products. Raised in California's San Francisco Bay Area, the sisters grew up surrounded by nature – and entrepreneurship. Their early exposure to the fashion industry, combined with a deep passion for science, laid the foundation for Rubi. By the age of 15, they were already publishing scientific research and working in university labs. Neeka pursued materials science and business, while Leila earned a medical degree from Harvard, focusing on bioengineering and enzymatic systems. In 2021, they brought their disciplines together to found Rubi, with the mission of making manufacturing compatible with the planet. 'Rubi is creating a new paradigm where manufacturing can thrive while preserving natural resources and advancing climate goals,' Leila explains, adding that, at a basic level the enzymes are 'like a little Pacman'. 'They eat molecules and spit them out into something a little bit different,' she describes. The impact of Rubi doesn't stop with the fashion industry. The potential for CO₂-derived cellulose reaches across sectors – packaging, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, food applications, and even building materials – where carbon-intensive methods dominate. By licensing their technology, the Mashouf sisters aim to scale rapidly and empower other manufacturers to shift toward sustainable production. 'We've proven that CO₂ can be a valuable resource rather than a harmful waste product,' says Neeka. 'I'm honoured to work together with my sister as we pioneer the next era of abundance with reinvented manufacturing systems.' In the hands of the Mashouf sisters, carbon is no longer just a challenge, but a raw material for change. In 2022, the world made the groundbreaking commitment to protect at least 30 per cent of all land and sea by 2030. But, as the vital role of oceans in fighting climate change becomes clearer, a pressing question remains - how much of our marine environment still needs safeguarding to reach that goal? According to new research from Dynamic Planet and National Geographic Pristine Seas, far more than governments are currently prepared to commit. For the first time, experts have quantified the vast gap between the roughly 8 per cent of global oceans currently under some kind of protection and the 30 per cent target. To close this gap, they say 85 new coastal marine protected areas (MPAs) would need to be established every day until 2030. The study estimates the world needs around 190,000 small MPAs in coastal areas, plus 300 large MPAs in remote offshore waters to meet the 30x30 target. 'Our analysis, which covers over 13,000 MPAs worldwide, quickly revealed how far behind the world really is,' says Juan Mayorga, a co-author of the study and marine data scientist at National Geographic Pristine Seas. 'The exact number of additional MPAs needed depends on their size and the standards for what counts as truly protected, but the scale of the challenge is undeniable.' Marine Protected Areas, or MPAs, are sections of the ocean where human activity is more strictly managed to protect natural or cultural resources. Similar to national parks on land, they aim to conserve marine ecosystems, biodiversity, and cultural heritage, while sometimes also supporting the sustainable use of marine resources within their bounds. MPAs vary in purpose and level of protection. Some are fully protected, prohibiting fishing, drilling, or other extractive activities, allowing marine life to thrive without human interference. Others may allow limited, sustainable use of resources such as small-scale fishing or tourism under regulation. But the primary goal is to preserve important habitats and fragile ecosystems like coral reefs, seagrass beds, and breeding grounds for fish, turtles, and other species. According to the study's authors, coastal MPAs are especially crucial, as most biodiversity and human activity concentrate near the shore. Reaching the target, they say, will require massive commitments from countries with extensive coastlines and marine territories such as Indonesia, Canada, Russia and the United States. The highest need is in East Asia and the Pacific, where 102 large and 75,000 small MPAs are required. A total of 65 large and 33,000 small MPAs are needed across Europe, South Asia, and the Coral Triangle - a biodiverse region encompassing Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, and others. On paper, it appears that some countries have already met the target, but far more action is needed to ensure these areas are truly protected. Nations like Australia, Chile, France and the UK have already surpassed the 30 per cent protection threshold for their waters. But France and the UK accomplished this with a heavy reliance on creating MPAs in their overseas territories. This raises concerns over effective enforcement and impacts on local communities. Many existing protected areas aren't effective either. In the EU, 80 per cent of MPAs lack proper management and offer minimal protection from damaging human activities. So widespread is the problem that many individual country governments and even the EU itself are facing legal action for allowing damaging fishing practices like bottom trawling in these areas. The creation of protected areas has accelerated as concern over ocean health grows. A slew of commitments have been made at the UN Ocean Conference this week, with many governments using the opportunity to unveil new MPAs on the international stage. Colombia, another country that has already surpassed the 30 per cent target, announced the protection of two of the most remote coral reefs in the Caribbean Sea. Together, the new Serranilla and Bajo Nuevo MPAs encompass 3,800 square kilometres, home to a dazzling array of sealife. The Government of Tanzania announced the designation of two new MPAs in highly biodiverse waters off Pemba Island. The North-East Pemba Conservation Area and the South-East Pemba Conservation Area together span over 1,300 square kilometres and protect vital coral reefs, seagrasses, mangroves, and the habitat of threatened sharks and rays. And President Moetai Brotherson of French Polynesia announced the creation of the world's largest MPA, covering almost 5 million square kilometres. Once implemented, the designation will safeguard 220,000 square kilometres near the Society Islands and 680,000 square kilometres near the Gambier Islands. In addition to these fully protected areas where all activity is prohibited, additional artisanal fishing zones will expand the overall protection to 1,086,000 square kilometres, an area around twice the size of continental France. While these are landmark commitments, experts warn that progress remains far too slow. Most countries have not even outlined how they plan to meet the 30x30 target. 'The pace of implementation of marine protected areas is totally inadequate for what the world needs,' says Enric Sala, co-author of the study and founder of National Geographic Pristine Seas. 'We've had too many conferences full of speeches and good intentions; now we need leadership and real action. Without more effective protection now, the ocean won't be able to continue providing for us, especially for coastal communities in the Global South who are already suffering from overfishing and global warming.'
Euronews
12-06-2025
- Science
- Euronews
Spanish innovators tackle food waste and safety with smart labels
Food waste is a critical global problem, costing billions annually and contributing significantly to environmental damage. In the European Union alone, over 59 million tonnes of food are discarded every year – a staggering 132 kilograms per person – while millions suffer from foodborne illnesses. Addressing these challenges, three young Spanish entrepreneurs, Pilar Granado, Pablo Sosa Domínguez, and Luis Chimeno, have developed smart biodegradable labels that detect bacterial growth on food and signal freshness in real time. This breakthrough has earned them a place among the top 10 selected innovators in the Young Inventors Prize 2025. Their company, Oscillum, embeds intelligent biosensors into a biodegradable polymer matrix that reacts to bacterial compounds released as food spoils, triggering a visible colour change. 'We place the biosensor in contact with the food, and with a simple colour change it indicates whether it is safe to eat or should be thrown away,' Granado explains. This innovation gives consumers and retailers accurate, real-time information about food safety, unlike traditional expiry dates or time-temperature indicators that can be unreliable. By directly detecting bacterial activity, Oscillum's labels help reduce unnecessary food waste and lower the risk of food poisoning. The idea originated from a memorable experience in their university days at Universidad Miguel Hernández de Elche. Chimeno recalls: 'The idea started because Pablo had a piece of meat in the fridge that had a very strange look and smell. He decided to eat it against our advice. Nothing happened, and that's when the spark came. We thought: how many people would have thrown this away?' This moment inspired the team to design a solution that provides clear, easy-to-understand information about the product's freshness, helping consumers make safer decisions. Oscillum's smart labels work across a variety of foods, from fresh produce to meat and fish, and even packaged goods. The labels also indicate ripeness on fruits and vegetables, preventing premature disposal of perfectly edible products. For retailers, the technology offers a way to optimize stock management and cut losses, while consumers gain confidence in the food they buy. Since officially launching in 2019, Oscillum has grown through partnerships, accelerator programmes, and funding from innovation centres. The company is now expanding into active packaging solutions that interact with food to extend shelf life. Early intellectual property protection has been crucial to securing their place in the competitive food-tech sector. Their work advances several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, including Zero Hunger, Good Health and Well-being, Responsible Consumption, and Climate Action. 'We understand sustainability as a balance between environmental, economic and social factors,' says Sosa Domínguez, underlining the trio's holistic approach. Chimeno highlights the particular potential benefits for vulnerable communities, explaining that the 'technology can reduce food waste and its environmental impact while also preventing food poisoning, especially in regions with limited food safety infrastructure.' Oscillum's smart labels offer a practical, scalable response to the global challenge of food waste and safety – offering a tool that benefits both consumers and the planet. 'If you know a young person who you think is taking opioids, you need to take action'. That's the key message Denmark wants parents to keep in mind as part of its new campaign to get them to talk with their teenage children about the risk of opioids, a small but growing public health threat in the Nordic country. The Danish health authority and the city of Copenhagen launched the campaign this week after discovering in a February survey that 47 per cent of parents do not know enough about opioids to talk to their children about them. The campaign offers advice from teenagers and experts on how to talk to young people about opioids, which include some types of prescription painkillers as well as heroin and fentanyl, an ultra-potent synthetic opioid. It says parents should broach the subject in a casual way, set clear expectations, and avoid becoming preachy or upset. 'With the new campaign, we will better equip parents and other adults around young people to talk about opioids – and show them how important a role they play for young people,' Jonas Egebart, director of the Danish health authority, said in a statement. Parental outreach is one plank of a government plan announced last year to prevent young people from abusing opioids, which has been a growing public health problem in Denmark in recent years. While some people take opioids legally – for example, cancer patients who are prescribed painkillers – they can quickly lead to addiction, which in turn can have deadly consequences. From 2018 to 2023, the number of Danes aged 25 or younger who were hospitalised because of an opioid overdose rose from 142 to 239 – a 68 per cent increase. In 2023, the country reported 116 opioid-related deaths, mostly tied to methadone and heroin, government data shows. Denmark's new approach to opioids includes a range of measures. People caught in possession of or selling the drugs were previously slapped with a fine, but under the government plan they could be sent to jail. The country is also boosting its drug surveillance and will take steps to improve treatment options for people struggling with addiction.
