Huawei Technologies, a leading Information and Communication Technology (ICT) solutions company, held the first in-person pan-European edition of the "Seeds for the Future" programme in Rome from 1st to 5th July, 2024. The programme selected 145 students from across Europe, including 24 Italian students, with the aim to promote merit and excellence among young people in the ICT sector, emphasising not only educational aspects but also the practical application of IT skills in the industrial world.
The programme targeted students with diverse study backgrounds, including those indirectly related to technology and innovation, such as students of Marketing and Communication or Economics. Particular attention was given to sustainability aspects, to help the students acquire the skills required for future professions. During the training week, students had the opportunity to complete fast-paced ICT courses, hear from industry leaders, exchange their countries’ culture and be mentored by experts in the field.
In an interview with The Parliament, Salam Al-Nukta, Seeds for the Future Mentor and Venture-Building Consultant, explained how the experience has been immensely rewarding and how the students, with their ideas, have been able to go beyond economic gains. According to the mentor, students have always been guided by social values and strong creativity, increasing their tolerance towards obstacles and difficulties encountered during project development, and refining a strong readiness to find innovative solutions.
I encouraged them to brainstorm freely, considering all ideas without limiting themselves by social, political, or economic boundaries. It was important for me that everyone left the room inspired before they became critical - Salam Al-Nukta, Seeds for the Future Mentor and Venture-Building Consultant
The Parliament had the opportunity to follow the last two days of the competition and preview the first episode of a Discovery docu-series, "Being Digi-Sapiens," created in partnership with Huawei. The episode, "Connecting Ourselves," is the first of three episodes, which include "Connecting with Others" and "Connecting with Nature." Movie Director Dalton Lai, featuring Swedish inventor, roboticist, and YouTuber Simone Giertz, managed to create a fun, engaging, and interactive collaboration. The series follows Simone as she travels across Europe to see how technology is transforming our daily lives. Cities visited include Bonn, Malaga, Helsinki, Amsterdam, Athens, and Barcelona, where Simone visits the historical Hospital de la Santa Creu I Sant Pau. Here, she visited the Dimension Lab, where doctors showed her how they can create a life size, one-to-one 3D print of a patient heart from a CT scan. With the help of a headset, Simone was able to make a VR journey and "enter" inside a virtual reproduction of the heart, reaching the left atrial appendage and engagingly commenting, "when I tell you have a nice place in my heart, this is what I mean”.
On the final day of the competition, the semifinals took place, where 10 out of 23 groups were selected to present their projects in front of the media and judges. The originality, brilliance, and innovation of the proposals made it very difficult for the judges, all experts in entrepreneurship, artificial intelligence, and STEM disciplines, to choose two team winners. After each presentation, the judges asked more specific questions about the projects, such as competitor evaluation or clarifications on the business plan, and then gathered to select two European regional champions who will compete in the Global Competition in China in 2025. Katja Mohar Bastar, Judge and Director of Digital Innovation Hub Slovenia, noted in an interview with The Parliament that the most notable aspect was the showcase of top-tier knowledge from across Europe and the students' keen awareness of the importance of sustainability. According to the judge, the efforts the students made to include it in their projects, whether in environmental, social, or governance components, were commendable.
It was also impressive to see many talented female students taking leading roles within the teams. Such peer-to-peer role models are very important and contribute to the success of women not only in STEM but also in society as a whole - Katja Mohar Bastar, Director of Digital Innovation Hub Slovenia
During the Gala ceremony, held at the beautiful location of Acquario Romano, the winners were announced: team Ireland – which presented Anaphero, a project that leveraged Huawei’s existing technology to innovate a unique non-invasive wearable device that instantly alerts to early signs of anaphylactic shock – and team Benelux – that presented BioBuddy, who dares to be ambitious by taking a proven concept, transforming cow waste into electricity and planning to implement it in India, bringing electricity to remote villages.
We hope our project will significantly reduce methane emissions in the agricultural sector, contributing to the fight against climate change. By providing an innovative solution that enhances waste management practices, we aim to improve the sustainability of dairy farms and other agricultural operations - BioBuddy
In an interview with The Parliament, BioBuddy shared some advice for future participants. According to BioBuddy, “innovation flourishes in a multidisciplinary environment”. Therefore, future students should embrace collaboration and leverage diverse perspectives from their teammates. The winning team emphasized the importance of global cooperation in the tech sector, as it helps establish international standards and promotes the sharing of best practices. They also highlighted the value of being a European team, appreciating the opportunity to collaborate with peers worldwide and contribute to building a more connected and technologically advanced global community.
In Partnership with:
