Nine projects to represent Oman at London forum

MUSCAT, JUNE 3

The Research and Innovation Authority (RIA) announced the nine qualifying projects to represent the Sultanate of Oman at the 67th edition of the London International Youth Science Forum (LIYSF) this year, scheduled to take place from July 19 to August 1.

The ceremony was presided over by Brigadier General Ahmed bin Khalfan al Hadidi, Dean of the Military Technological College (MTC), who honoured the nine projects qualified to participate in the London International Youth Science Forum.

The following individuals have qualified: Aya al Kindi with her project "Hares'' – An AI-Powered Anti-Money Laundering System; Al Azhar al Azri with "Hydrogenix"; Aiham al Manthri with a project on converting methane emissions into ectoine through a sustainable biotechnological system; and Amina al Jabri with a project on converting sound energy into electricity using a thermoelectric model.

The selected projects emerged from a highly competitive process involving 738 innovative entries across Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) fields. An initial screening shortlisted 30 projects that met the required scientific criteria, which were then evaluated by a specialised judging panel comprising experts from the Research and Innovation Authority, the University of Nizwa, and the Military Technological College. The panel ultimately selected the top nine projects to represent Oman at the prestigious forum.

Dr Salah al Zadjali, Acting Director-General of Programmes and Capacity Building at RIA, stated that these participations align with ongoing efforts to enhance innovation programmes and outputs in line with Oman Vision 2040, particularly in education, scientific research and national capabilities. He emphasised the Authority’s continued role in preparing a generation of Omani researchers capable of competing globally through specialised training programmes.

He added that Omani participation in the forum has witnessed steady growth since 2016, with a total of 1,167 student projects submitted to date and 48 students having participated, while more than 200 students have competed for selection across different editions. These indicators, he noted, reflect the growing interest in scientific research and innovation among students, as well as the success of national programmes in identifying and nurturing talent. He also highlighted that Oman achieved notable recognition in 2025, with projects ranking among the top 13 globally at the forum.

Innovator Buthaina Bou Jarda, developer of the “Hydrogen Fuel Car” project, noted that her international participation provided an inspiring platform for exchanging expertise with global innovators, emphasising that passion for innovation is key to transforming environmental challenges into development opportunities.

In the field of cybersecurity, Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman al Shuhi, developer of the “Synapse Cyber” project, said, “The project is a device that functions as an integrated firewall for networks, websites and applications using artificial intelligence, based on algorithms developed and innovated by the team.” He added that a prototype has been implemented and tested, demonstrating high efficiency.

Muhanad bin Said al Saqri, a student at the Military Technological College and developer of the “Health and Usage Monitoring System for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles", explained that the project aims to transfer health monitoring systems used in conventional aircraft to drones in order to facilitate maintenance and improve operational efficiency.

“Analysing operational data helps extend the lifespan of UAVs and enables companies to maximise their utilisation,” he said.

In the field of social innovation, Tasneem bint Said al Farsi, developer of the “Smart Cane for the Blind", said that the project focuses on developing a smart cane that alerts users when approaching obstacles and sends emergency text messages to their families along with real-time location data.