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Since 2023, 91�鶹������Ʒ���� recognized outstanding student-led projects through the International Innovation Design Awards (IIDA). These awards celebrate the creativity of young people in applying science and technology to address urgent global challenges—from pollution to biodiversity loss and beyond.

The winners of the 2024 edition include three creative student-led projects that tackle real-world problems. “Get in Touch,” by students from the Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences in Pakistan, helps doctors and patients understand each other better by using AI to translate medical information into different languages and images, supporting universal access to healthcare.

“3D-Printed Reef Tiles,” by students from the University of Hong Kong (SAR), People's Republic of China, and Archireef Ltd, uses special tiles made from natural materials to help coral reefs grow back, protecting ocean life and restoring ecosystems threatened by climate change.

“EcoWeave Ball,” by students from the Beijing Institute of Technology in China, turns old tires into kits that let children in Africa make their own footballs, reducing waste and promoting hands-on education and creativity in underserved communities.

UNESCO received more than 2000 submissions from over 60 countries, underscoring a vibrant global ecosystem of youth-led innovation. A total of 50 projects were shortlisted, including 5 gold, 8 silver, 12 bronze, and 25 nomination awards granted for their innovative approaches to pressing global challenges. Winning entries came from across the globe—including China, Pakistan, Ukraine, Turkey, and single entries from Hungary, India, the Philippines, Egypt, and Brazil. The judging panel included nine experts from UNESCO’s six electoral groups, bringing diverse expertise in science, engineering, arts, communication, and indigenous knowledge.

In line with UNESCO’s long-standing efforts to promote gender equality in science, the 2024 edition of the DIIDA required that all teams of two or more include at least one female participant. As a result, 66% of the participants of this edition were women, reflecting substantial engagement across genders in the competition.

UNESCO launched these design awards in September 2022 in the context of UNESCO – UNITRAIN Youth Competence Development Project.

The awards are open to undergraduate and postgraduate students worldwide. The aim is to solicit innovative, creative work from young people around the world to raise awareness of the important role that science, technology, engineering and mathematics will play in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

As we celebrate our winners, we also look forward to the ripple effects that their designs will make. These designs exemplify the power of scientific and artistic collaboration to produce new products and processes capable of fostering more sustainable production and consumption patterns. They are also examples of concrete actions promoted by the International Decade of Sciences for Sustainable Development led by UNESCO.