The international student competition “Invent for the Planet” was successfully completed, from 7 to 9 February 2025, at the Walk Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation of the KEDEA of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. The competition was held simultaneously at 51 universities around the world, under the central supervision of Texas A&M University, USA

Within 48 hours, students of AUTH created teams, collaborated to find innovative approaches to global challenges, received technological and business guidance from AUTH professors and market professionals, created physical and digital prototypes of their solution and finally presented their proposals for evaluation to a panel of judges.

In total, six teams were created, choosing to solve three of the six challenges identified in the competition. First place was awarded to the Kelpiebloom team, which developed an original idea to use abandoned marine mining platforms to develop Kelp (a type of seaweed) crops, which, by absorbing carbon dioxide, help to enhance biodiversity by promoting scientific research. Their harvest can be used as a food source or biomass, and oil companies have the opportunity to invest in this initiative, helping to reduce their environmental footprint. The members of the team, who will compete for a place in the final to be held in Texas, USA, in early April 2025, are: Antoniou Georgia, Grammenidis Nikitas, Konsoula Yasemi Sophia, Livanos Anestis, Bakouri Athena and Savvidou Isaia.

Second place went to the QuickEye team, which developed a live, uninterrupted information streaming system for the critical first 72 hours following a natural disaster. The system is portable, easy to install, operator-free and capable of running for days, seamlessly collecting information and restoring telecommunications, helping rescuers. The system consists of the base and helium balloon that has a camera and sensors installed.

Third place went to the BioFlow team, which developed an original concept of a biological system for the disinfection of human wastewater in tropical coastal areas of the world, using a collection drum and a basin containing the plant organism “Chlorella vulgaris” to remove nitrogen, phosphorus and heavy metals and providing the possibility of safe disposal or use for biomass production.

In the next phase of the competition, the top five teams from around the world, as determined by the evaluation of all proposals by Texas A&M University, will have the opportunity to compete in the final phase of the competition in the USA.

The Rector of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Professor Haralambos Fidas, in his address noted: “It is with great pleasure and pride that we welcome you to this celebration of innovation, creativity and research excellence. The Invent for the Planet competition is a shining example of international cooperation and solving global challenges, bringing together our talented students with their colleagues from around the world. At Aristotle University we are committed to promoting research, entrepreneurship and sustainability. Through actions such as this, we enable our students, the new generation of scientists, to collaborate and design solutions that will shape a better future for all, using the knowledge they have acquired and the laboratory infrastructure of the institution. Congratulations to all participants for their creativity and dedication – your ideas are the seeds of tomorrow’s innovations.“

Professor of the Department of Mechanical Engineering of AUTh Nikolaos Michaelides said “The lively response of our student community to this global competition is proof of the willingness and eagerness of our students to deepen the acquisition of new skills and to utilize their knowledge and ingenuity. Creativity, noble minds and entrepreneurial spirit were recognised as key elements of the competition. The proposed solutions, all of a high standard, earned the appreciation and recognition of the jury and all teams should feel like winners.”