A smart wheelchair system, devised by a group of young female engineers from Tunisia, has advanced to the finals of a prestigious European inventors’ award. The Young Inventors Prize — which rewards “exceptional inventors under the age of 30” — awards a first prize of $21,600.
Called Moovobrain, their innovative project enables wheelchair users to navigate using a variety of methods, including touchpad, voice commands, facial gestures, and an advanced headset that interprets brain signals.
Selected from a pool of over 550 contenders, Moovobrain has secured a coveted spot in the final round of the Young Inventors Prize, initiated by the European Patent Office in 2021. This milestone marks the first occasion a Tunisian and Arab team has reached this stage of the international competition, as highlighted by the EPO in a recent statement.
Competing against two other finalists from the Netherlands and Ukraine, the all-female Tunisian team will vie for the top honor on July 9 in Malta.
The inception of the Moovobrain concept stemmed from the personal experience of co-founder Souleima Ben Temime, 28, whose uncle’s paralysis spurred her into action. Recognizing a pressing need, she rallied her friends to leverage digital health technologies and develop a solution that could benefit a wide spectrum of users.
Pooling their talents at the Higher Institute of Medical Sciences in Tunis, the team embarked on the creation of the Moovobrain prototype in 2017, eventually establishing the health-tech startup Gewinner two years later.
Their journey to international recognition unfolds against the backdrop of Tunisia’s socioeconomic and political upheavals, which have prompted a significant exodus of its citizens to seek refuge in Europe. Despite the prevailing challenges, co-founder Khaoula Ben Ahmed, 28, is optimistic that their presence in the Young Inventors finals will boost their standings.
Navigating the skepticism of investors and wheelchair manufacturers, the team champions the inclusivity and transformative potential of their innovation, recognizing the psychological toll of diminished autonomy faced by individuals with reduced mobility.
Comprising Ben Ahmed and Ben Temime, alongside team members Sirine Ayari, 28, and Ghofrane Ayari, 27, the quartet represents a burgeoning cohort of female engineers in Tunisia, where women constitute over 44 percent of the engineering workforce.
Driven by a commitment to accessibility, Gewinner is poised to deliver its inaugural batch of smart wheelchairs to a disability organization in Sousse, eastern Tunisia. With an eye on broader horizons, the startup has forged partnerships in Europe, aiming to expand the reach of its transformative technology.
Despite the current cost of approximately 2,000 euros per unit, the inventors remain steadfast in their mission to democratize access to their innovation, envisioning a future where individuals worldwide, regardless of economic means, can benefit from their life-enhancing invention.
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