A smart water conservation solution has secured top place at the inaugural edition of TCS Sustainathon Saudi Arabia.
The Sustainathon, organised by Tata Consultancy Services, challenged students to use technology to develop solutions to promote eco-friendly practices, enhance resource management, and improve the overall quality of life in urban environments in Saudi Arabia.
The winning team, Team Magic AI, made up of students from King Faisal University, King Khalid University and King Saud University, developed a smart device that attaches to water taps to monitor consumption and detect leaks.
According to Abdulrahman Alhassan, one of the winners from King Saud University, the main objective was to make water conservation accessible and achievable for everyone.
The winning team competed against 65 other submissions and received 20,000 SAR.
Second and third-place teams were awarded 15,000 SAR and 10,000 SAR, respectively.
Alongside the cash prize, participants in the top three winning teams were also awarded the chance to gain industry experience through internships at TCS.
The 12 finalist teams presented their innovative solutions to a panel of judges at the King Khalid Foundation (KKF headquarters, Riyadh, held in the presence of Her Highness Princess Nouf bint Muhammad bin Abdullah, CEO of KKF.
“Saudi Arabia is rapidly urbanizing and TCS is committed to supporting the development of urban environments in the Kingdom where people and nature co-exist harmoniously,” Sumanta Roy, President and Regional Head, Middle East & Africa, TCS, said.
Adding: “We are incredibly inspired by the ingenuity and passion demonstrated by the finalists. The innovative solutions they presented reflect a deep understanding of the challenges facing our modern-day cities and a dedication to creating a sustainable future. TCS is proud to support these young changemakers and provide them with a platform to turn their ideas into reality.”
Her Highness Princess Nouf bint Muhammad bin Abdullah Al Saud, CEO of King Khalid Foundation, commented: “Building a sustainable future begins today through decisions to improve the environment, economy, and society together, Sustainability is a deep commitment to our communities, aligned with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 and its focus on building a sustainable future for future generations.”