The international university competition, organised by Edinburgh-based Heriot-Watt University, trains new student and academic-led companies across sectors with 13 winners receiving a share of £30,000 to progress their businesses and prototype development.

Following a competitive pitch event, Heriot-Watt Online student Annie Mamvura, founder of GreenGraceWear in Nairobi, Kenya, won the Health and Care-led Business award.

Providing reusable incontinence wear for women and girls facing urinary incontinence due to disability, aging or the menopause, Annie’s business is focused on dignity and comfort while contributing to sustainability goals by minimising waste from disposable products.

Receiving the Audience Awards, five engineering graduates behind Dubai-based company SMEFA (Shopping Mode Effortless For All) have developed a smart scan supermarket trolley designed to simplify and support shopping for those with disabilities and allergies such as automatic basket lifting, secure payments, and managing allergy checks.

From the Edinburgh campus, robotic engineers Aswath Ganesan Indra and Adip Ranjan Das received a runner up aware for their semi-autonomous catering service which aimed to address the significant cost disparity between healthy and ultra-processed food.

Powered by their proprietary autonomous technology, GI Healthcare minimises energy, reduces food ware, and increases accessibility to affordable freshly prepared and healthy food.

The annual competition, which is bolstered by a 10-week workshop series, is open to all Heriot-Watt students, staff and alumni across the university’s five global campuses and Heriot-Watt Online, a worldwide education initiative increasing accessibility to world-class skills development. This year has seen participation grow by 140% compared to 2022.

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The Global Innovation Challenge is supported by Santander and match-funded by the Robert M. Buchan Early Stage Business Fund. Igniting passion for entrepreneurship through sessions with internal and industry experts, this year’s guest speakers included Censis, Barclays, Johnston Carmichael, Too Gallus, Converge, Morningside Music School and Steer Energy.

“Heriot-Watt has a long track-record of supporting entrepreneurs along a growth pathway,” Danielle Moran, enterprise manager at Heriot-Watt University said.

“Previous participants of The Global Innovation Challenge have gone on to win key industry awards such as Rosie Bristow of Fantasy Fibre Mill, a winner at this year’s Converge. By connecting creative minds across the globe, we are transforming our international reach into an engine for innovation, tackling some of society’s biggest challenges and effecting positive change across multiple sectors.”

Professor Gillian Murray, deputy principal for business and enterprise added: “The Global Innovation Challenge is a fantastic demonstration of the power of partnerships and collaboration in driving impactful innovation.

“As this year’s COP28 climate summit in Dubai continues, this workshop series highlights how our global campuses and networks can unite to address worldwide challenges, addressing challenges across sectors and disciplines.

“By fostering an international innovation ecosystem, we can make meaningful progress on some of the world’s biggest issues, including sustainability and waste reduction.”