Celebrating innovation and cross-border collaboration, NUST’s flagship initiative, Finding Innovative & Creative Solutions (FICS) 2024, concluded with a grand finale that brought together young innovators from Pakistan, Azerbaijan, and Turkiye.
The 11th grand finale of FICS 2024, held at the National University of Sciences & Technology (NUST) in Islamabad, highlighted groundbreaking projects that not only showcased the ingenuity of students but also strengthened ties between these nations, reflecting NUST’s commitment to fostering global partnerships in social entrepreneurship and technological advancement.
The event, held at NUST’s main campus, saw participation from over 800 project submissions, including entries from Turkiye and Azerbaijan.
This year, FICS expanded its global reach by partnering with Azerbaijan Technical University in Baku and Altinbas University in Istanbul, Turkiye, underscoring NUST’s commitment to fostering innovation across borders.
Celebrating Innovation and Social Impact
The event celebrated outstanding projects that addressed key societal challenges. The top winners were:
- National Winner: Team Harassment Defender – A female-led initiative from Pakistan, integrating hardware and app capabilities to enhance women’s safety. Awarded a cash prize of PKR 500,000.
- Global Champion Award: Team ABC (Amyotrophic Brain Cube) – From Azerbaijan State Oil & Industry University, recognized for their exceptional project with a prize of USD 5000.
- 1st Runner-Up: Received a cash prize of PKR 300,000.
- 2nd Runner-Up: Awarded PKR 150,000.
- Special Award: Team Plastigate from NUST School of Civil & Environmental Engineering, for their contribution to Sustainable Development Goal 11 (Sustainable Cities & Communities).
- Social Impact Award: Team Visionary from Azerbaijan Technical University (AzTU), Azerbaijan.
The event was attended by prominent figures, including Mohyuddin Ahmed Wani, Secretary of the Ministry of Federal Education & Professional Training, who praised the participants for their innovative solutions to pressing societal issues. He emphasized the importance of addressing real-world challenges such as poverty alleviation, disaster risk reduction, and literacy improvement, particularly in underserved areas.
FICS – a Platform for Global Collaboration
FICS 2024 was more than just a competition; it was a platform for fostering global collaboration. Rector NUST Lt Gen (Retd) Engr Javed Mahmood Bukhari highlighted the significance of FICS in leveraging the university’s startup ecosystem to develop sustainable businesses. “Our faculty, in collaboration with our industrial partners, mentor the participants in refining their ideas while creating prototypes, systems, products and devices,” he said.
He emphasized that the event marks a historic moment in the relationship between Pakistan, Turkiye, and Azerbaijan, paving the way for enhanced cooperation in youth entrepreneurship and innovation.
Bukhari also highlighted that after a rigorous three-stage competition, successful entrepreneurial ventures are offered free incubation services at the National Science & Technology Park (NSTP) based at NUST.