DUBAI: The Mohammed Bin Rashid Centre for Government Innovation (MBRCGI) and Mohammed Bin Rashid Innovation Fund (MBRIF) have unveiled the winners of the Pitch@GOV challenge in collaboration with the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment.
The announcement took place at an event hosted in the Green Zone at Expo City Dubai, the venue for COP28.
Launched by MBRCGI in partnership with MBRIF, the competition aims to strengthen collaborative efforts between government entities, private organisations, entrepreneurs, and innovators. Its primary objective is to instil a culture of innovation in the country. Aligned with the environmental objectives of COP28, the competition spotlighted two key challenges identified by the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment: energy transition and decarbonisation, and waste trading.
In the Energy Transition and Decarbonisation category, Dr. Arshi Zaveri clinched victory with an innovative project centred around Oxygenate Bamboo Parks. Simultaneously, in the Waste Trading
category, Rana Hajirasouli secured the top spot with ground-breaking solutions in The Surpluss. The two winners were awarded financial support to implement their projects, and gained the opportunity to participate in the upcoming MBRIF “Mini-Accelerator” programme, which is scheduled for launch in February during the UAE Innovates. This programme offers a unique platform for the winners to develop and advance their innovative solutions.
Huda AlHashimi, Deputy Minister of Cabinet Affairs for Strategic Affairs, emphasised the UAE government’s commitment to attracting individuals with innovative ideas, enabling them to transform their concepts into impactful projects across various sectors.
She described Pitch@GOV, initiated by MBRCGI, as an innovative mechanism to proactively identify key challenges and convert them into opportunities for societal benefit.
Huda AlHashimi highlighted the competition’s role in supporting national initiatives and COP28’s ambitious agenda, motivating innovators to address challe
nges in the energy transition and waste trading sectors. This, she noted, contributes to transforming ideas into actionable solutions that align with global sustainable development goals, accelerating efforts to realise these goals on a global scale.
Younis Haji Al Khoori, Undersecretary of Ministry of Finance said: “We congratulate the winners for their exceptional contributions to advancing sustainability and innovation in the UAE. These solutions exemplify the creativity and commitment needed to address critical challenges in energy transition and waste management. The unique opportunity to join the MBRIF mini-accelerator provides the winners with a fertile ground to cultivate and amplify their innovative solutions on a global scale. MBRIF is delighted to be supporting the acceleration of UAE’s sustainability initiatives through Pitch@Gov challenge as we continue to nurture innovative solutions for the betterment of society.”
The challenge attracted over 150 innovative ideas and projects, showcasing a di
verse array of solutions. Finalists presented their projects during COP28 to a jury comprising experts from MBRCGI, the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, and MBRIF.
Source: Emirates News Agency