The semifinals of the Henkel Innovation Challenge were held in Dubai on Feb. 19. Team Eco-Gent was declared the winner for its concept. It enters the international finals, which is scheduled from April 8 to 11 in Vienna.

The concept of Henkel’s Innovation Challenge is simple. Build a team of two students, create an innovative concept, be coached by Henkel mentors, compete with students around the world, learn about sustainability, and bring your creative and strategic management skills to the next level.

In the GCC semifinals, hosted in Le Meridian JBR in Dubai on Feb. 19, attended by Henkel President in GCC Erdem Kocak, students came up with ideas such as GLISS ID (1st runner) the first hair care customization machine, ReVhy (2nd runner) a customizable spray that cleans the body empowered by a smart phone app and QHQ, an adhesives pen that closes and heals the wounds.

The winners were Team Persil Eco-Gent — Ohoud Al-Arifi and Maha Aba Al-Khail — from Al-Yamamah University for their concept: A detergent that cleans both water and clothes, where water is recycled and can be reused. “It is a privilege to be able to participate in a prestigious competition like this and present our ideas in front of a jury of this caliber. Winning was just the icing on the cake,” said Ohoud Al-Arifi from team Persil Eco-gent.

Now in its eighth year, the challenge attracts participants from 30 countries. In the GCC semi-finals, the eight participating teams represented various institutions of higher education in GCC, including Al-Yamamah University of KSA, the American University of Sharjah and the Carnegie Mellon University of Qatar.

“The Henkel Innovation Challenge is one of several Henkel initiatives designed to celebrate innovation,” says Derya Ersin, head of Human Resources GCC.