Zayed Sustainability Prize names 2027 finalists after record 10,233 entries

The Zayed Sustainability Prize has unveiled its 2027 finalists following a record-breaking 10,233 submissions from 177 countries. This represents a 32% increase compared to last year and marks the most competitive cycle in the award's history. Among the distinguished innovators are those developing solutions in health, food, energy, water, climate action, and global high schools.

The finalists, spread across these categories, include AI that predicts pregnancy complications six to eight months prior, robots for inspecting water pipes, and heat-resilient corals designed to restore reefs. They are showcased in categories such as health, food, energy, water, climate action, and global high schools.

Dr Sultan Al Jaber, the UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and director general of the Zayed Sustainability Prize, emphasized that the finalists' work showcases the power of solutions rooted in real-world needs, breaking down barriers and delivering impactful change. Each finalist is assured funding, providing ongoing support beyond the ultimate winner.

Organizational finalists in health, food, energy, water, and climate action will receive $100,000 each, while global high school finalists will receive $25,000.

The increased funding acknowledges the significant impact and potential of solutions that reach the Prize's final evaluation stage. Dr. Al Jaber also highlighted that the work of the finalists demonstrates that meaningful progress is achieved through determination, local knowledge, and the ability of communities to adapt and thrive.

Notable entries include Elythea from the US, which utilizes AI to anticipate pregnancy complications; Goal 3 from the Netherlands, pairing vital-sign monitors with tablet records to detect deterioration early in children and newborns; and Marsi Bionics from Spain, which has assisted over 3,000 children in walking using a robotic exoskeleton.

In the food category, Adaptive Symbiotic Technologies from the US employs soil microbes to enhance crop resilience under drought, heat, and salinity conditions. In energy, Energy Assured from Nigeria offers pay-as-you-go solar systems, stoves, and solar irrigation pumps to over 4.6 million people. Water purifiers are provided by Aguatuya Foundation from Bolivia, Rupantar from Bangladesh, and Solinas from India, using wastewater, women-owned enterprises, and AI-equipped robots respectively.

Climate action is represented by Aquafondo from Peru, Coral Gardeners from French Polynesia, and String Bio from India, all making strides in preserving water systems and coral reefs. The global high school finalists comprise schools from the UAE, Canada, Colombia, and Argentina, among others.