Dr. Islam ElShaarawy Wins UNDP Award in Global Open Innovation Challenge

Dr. Islam ElShaarawy has achieved an outstanding international recognition after winning the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Global Open Innovation Challenge for his innovative proposal, “Sentinels,” designed to detect and map underwater explosive ordnance.

Launched by UNDP in December 2025, the global challenge invited scientists, engineers, and entrepreneurs to develop simple, innovative, and low-cost solutions for detecting explosive ordnance in freshwater and saltwater and accurately mapping its location. The challenge attracted 471 registrations from nearly 100 countries and resulted in 263 proposed systems.

Following a rigorous six-month judging process involving three successive stages of evaluation and elimination, Dr. ElShaarawy’s Egyptian proposal, “Sentinels,” was selected as the winning solution. The international judging panel praised the proposal as a remarkable achievement in addressing one of the most complex human security challenges, particularly highlighting its practical integration of multiple technologies and its focus on accurate underwater positioning.

The proposed system combines technology and intelligent data analysis to support the detection and accurate identification of underwater explosive ordnance, offering a practical approach to addressing a major humanitarian and security challenge.

As part of his contribution to international mine-action efforts, Dr. ElShaarawy granted UNDP a non-exclusive right to use the proposed system, together with a license allowing non-profit organizations to use it free of charge.

The achievement also reflects Dr. ElShaarawy’s long-standing commitment to technology, innovation, and Artificial Intelligence, highlighting the potential of Egyptian expertise to develop technological solutions with global impact.

Dr. ElShaarawy dedicates this achievement to Dr. Nawal El-Degwi, Head of the Board of Trustees of MSA University, in appreciation of her continued support and encouragement throughout nearly a decade since he joined the University.

This international recognition represents a remarkable achievement for Dr. Islam ElShaarawy and a source of pride for the MSA University community, highlighting the impact of education, innovation, and advanced technology in addressing real-world challenges.