For 2025, undergraduate and postgraduate students from WTUN member institutions were invited to form a multidisciplinary team of up to four members and submit their team idea and/or project to the annual WTUN Student Competition.
The theme for 2025 was:
‘Sustainable Innovation for Planetary Health – Local Solutions for Global Problems’
CHALLENGE: Can you form an interdisciplinary team to come together to address one (or more) of the following United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals?
#3 Good Health and Wellbeing #4 Quality Education #5 Gender Equality #8 Decent Work and Economic Growth #9 Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure #11 Sustainable Cities and Communities #12 Responsible Consumption and Production #13 Climate Action #15 Life on Land
All you have to do is produce and present an idea (via a video) to address one of the chosen United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
The WTUN sought new and innovative solutions to address the goals, and invited project proposals from student teams (undergraduate, postgraduate or a combination and preferably multi-disciplinary).
The assessment panel was thoroughly impressed by the student proposals and videos and the final results were very close.
In addition to cash prizes awarded to the top three teams, first place also includes an invitation to deliver their winning idea online as part of the World Technology Universities Network’s Annual Congress programme in October.
The Winners
We are delighted to announce our 2025 winner is Team ‘ATU CropConnect‘ from Atlantic Technological University, Ireland.
Students: Chethaka Gamage and Dhanushi Rodrigo both studying for their PhD, Business
‘CropConnect’ is “designed to bridge generational gaps in sustainable agriculture, with a focus on preserving traditional Irish farming knowledge and supporting rural resilience. The project involves engaging with elder farmers and their knowledge built over decades, an AI mentor trained on this content, and a gamified learning experience for young and new farmers.
We believe this approach offers a scalable, locally adaptable model with global relevance to other WTUN member regions. This proposal has been developed by a 2-member team of PhD researchers from Atlantic
Technological University (ATU).”
#4 Quality Education;#8 Decent Work and Economic Growth;#9 Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure;#13 Climate Action;#15 Life on Land
In second place was Team ‘UrbChain’ from Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil.
Students: Alisson da Silva Queiroz and Laryssa Lewy Palhares Silva, both studying PHYSICS/DFTE.
‘UrbChain – Urban Solution to Transform Waste into Social Value’
#3 Good Health and Wellbeing;#9 Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure;#11 Sustainable Cities and Communities;#12 Responsible Consumption and Production;#13 Climate Action;#15 Life on Land
In third place was Team Cococlean from King Mongkut’s University of Technology, Thonburi, Thailand.
Students: Iffarn Akrameen (Business Strategy Lead – Market Readiness & Scaling Model), Sippanon Sornkunkaew (Technical Lead – Bio Systems & Thermal Design), Siriprapha Uppapark, (Marketing Lead – Community & Adoption), Kasidit Rangsivijitprapa, (Prototyping Design Lead – Usability & Human-Centric Innovation)
all from Faculty of Robotic and Automation, KMUTT.
‘CocoClean is more than just clean fuel — it’s a circular solution from waste into healthier air, safer food, and stronger livelihoods, starting at the street’.
#3 Good Health and Wellbeing;#12 Responsible Consumption and Production;#13 Climate Action;#15 Life on Land
Congratulations to the 20 teams who took part this year!
We wish you all the best and hope to see you taking part in future WTUN competitions and activities.