For 2025-26, 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 2025-26 was:

‘Responsible Science’

CHALLENGE: Can you form an interdisciplinary team to come together to address one (or more) of the United Nation’s 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 noted that this year’s entries were of an incredibly high standard.

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 November.

The Winners

We are delighted to announce our 2026 winner is Team ‘Nepal Hydroelectric Turbine‘ from Atlantic Technological University, Ireland.

Students: Ben Clarke, Precision Engineering and Bryan McAleenan, Mechanical Engineering.

‘Our proposal focuses on designing a low-cost hydroelectric turbine for rural Nepal, aimed at tackling the lack of reliable electricity in remote communities. Many areas in Nepal have little or no access to the national grid, despite rivers and streams that are ideal for small-scale hydropower. This energy gap affects lighting, phone charging, education, healthcare, and small local businesses.

To address this, we developed a practical micro-hydropower solution that uses river flow to generate electricity. Water spins a simple turbine blade system, which transfers motion to a generator through a bicycle chain, producing usable electrical power. The design is built around the real needs of rural communities. It is simple, durable, affordable, and easy to maintain, so it can be built, used, and repaired locally with minimal training.

Materials were chosen for availability and cost-effectiveness, including PVC, sheet metal, and bicycle components, enabling local manufacturing and maintenance using basic tools and skills.’

SDG 7-Affordable and Clean Energy, SDG 11-Sustainable Communities, and SDG 13-Climate Action

In second place is Team ‘TRUEGREEN’ from Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil.

Students: Letícia Galvão Vieira, Law; Maria Fernanda Magalhães Freitas, Computer Science and Maria Otávia Barateiro de Melo, Law.

‘TrueGreen is a mobile app designed to change reality by putting power back into the hands of local communities. The problem we face is both local and global. In countries like Brazil and Malaysia, groups are living with the daily consequences of wind farms solar parks and dams built in the name of clean energy. These residents rarely have a meaningful voice in the decisions that transform their lands. They deal with constant noise declining health and new restrictions on their own territory yet they often lack the tools to document their experiences or understand their legal rights.’

In third place is Team Skin Smart from National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Taiwan

Students:Hsu Hao Yu (徐豪堉), Department of Applied Foreign Language; Chen Yu Jie (陳瑀潔), Department of Applied Foreign Language and Chen Chieh I (陳婕宜), Department of Design.

“Skin Smart, is a complete data-driven system that will not only help customers purchase the cosmetics that are appropriate for them for minimizing waste generation but also assist cosmetics and skincare enterprises in optimizing production volumes and achieving cost efficiency in manufacturing. In a time when social media trends and influencer marketing are so popular, people often purchase skin care products based on influencer hype instead of whether they are good for their skin, which wastes a lot of money and harms the environment. Skin Smart steps in by creating a transparent partnership with two main parts: a standardized certification label for manufacturers and a Skin Smart analysis system for the public.”

SDG 4-, SDG 12-Responsible Consumption and Production;

Congratulations to the 28 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.