We are proud to announce the the 2024 GIMI Innovation Awards winners. These organizations and individuals are chosen as the “best of the best” within their respective categories by some of the world’s top innovation thought leaders, senior business executives, and academics leaders.

Being recognized with a GIMI Innovation Awards is one of the highest accolades an organization or individual can receive in the name of innovation. The GIMI Innovation Awards honor innovation, creativity, and impact across the public, private, and social sectors.

ORGANIZATIONAL AWARDS

1. Best Innovation - Private Sector

Aker BioMarine

Recognized for their ground-breaking work in BioTech. Aker BioMarine has pioneered an innovative, billion-dollar industry centered around krill through cutting-edge technologies and processes that ensure the highest quality and sustainability in their production. The company has transformed krill harvesting into an innovative force driving advancements in global health and nutrition.

Esenttia

Recognized for their innovative solution called “Advanced Chemical Recycling: 100% Circular Plastic”, a project which addresses Colombia’s significant plastic waste issue, as it transforms difficult-to-recycle plastics into high-quality. By utilizing pyrolysis technology and collaborating with key industry partners, the company aims to revolutionize the plastics industry.

BI Group

Recognized for creating an Innovation platform to improve efficiency in every stage of construction. By using advanced technologies like Building Information Modeling (BIM) and modular construction, they streamline processes, lower costs, and deliver high-quality, energy-efficient buildings.

2. Best Innovation - Public Sector

UAE Ministry of justice

Recognized for creating a virtual litigation platform in the UAE, which allows court cases to be conducted entirely online, enabling judges, litigants, and lawyers to participate remotely via secure video conferencing and digital document exchange. Supported by a strong digital infrastructure and Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s directive, it aims to shift 80% of court sessions to remote hearings, leveraging the UAE’s advanced technology to maintain judicial integrity.

Dubai Police

Recognized for the Ghiath project which was developed to provide advanced mobility solutions for policing, addressing the shortcomings of traditional patrol vehicles by integrating AI, big data analytics, IoT sensors, and drone capabilities. This next-generation patrol vehicle improves operational efficiency, response times, and officer safety while enhancing community trust, and its modular design allows for continuous upgrades and applications across various sectors, including law enforcement and private security.

Governor of the State of Durango

Recognized for Duran-IA a project which seeks to create an innovation ecosystem for Artificial Intelligence in Durango, focusing on areas like autonomous mobility, nutrition, healthcare, construction, and natural language processing. Supported by the State Planning Committee (COPLADE), it combines efforts from academia, businesses, government, and civil society to promote collaboration, retain local talent, and improve social and economic well-being in the region.

3. Best Social Innovation

Atsiri Research Centre

Recognized for revolutionizing Aceh’s patchouli oil industry by introducing sustainable farming practices, advanced extraction technologies, and a collaborative framework that includes farmers, government, and international organizations, significantly enhancing patchouli oil quality and expanding the industry across Aceh. Through high-tech distillation and strategic partnerships, ARC has enabled farmers to meet global demand, increase exports directly from Aceh, and substantially improve local economic conditions in Indonesia.

ILUNION Hotels

Recognized for developing a socially responsible business model by operating 31 hotels in Spain, 12 of which serve as Special Employment Centres (CEEs) with over 70% of the workforce composed of individuals with disabilities. By leveraging advanced technologies like Microsoft Azure, SAP, and Opera PMS, the hotels enhance operational efficiency while prioritizing accessibility and sustainability, driving economic profitability, social inclusion, and environmental responsibility.

Yayasan Inovasi Malaysia

Recognized for developing innovative solutions to improve the lives of underserved communities, including children, women, and rural populations. Its key innovations include programs like the Social Innovation Initiative, which fosters local technology solutions, and Ruang Daya Cipta, which connects grassroots innovators with business opportunities, all aimed at promoting economic growth, enhancing social services, and ensuring environmental sustainability.

4. Best Innovation Framework

Universidad Anáhuac Mayab

Recognized for the development of the “A Hub” ecosystem, a framework unique in the Mexican academic landscape but also serves as a benchmark for innovation frameworks globally. “A Hub” promotes a multidisciplinary approach where students and faculty from diverse fields work together on innovative projects. It features state-of-the-art infrastructure, including advanced labs, co-working spaces, and digital platforms. Emerging technologies like virtual reality (VR) and artificial intelligence (AI) are integrated into the curriculum, equipping students to innovate effectively.

Renault Nissan Technology & Business Centre India

Recognized for empowering employees and fostering collaboration, utilizing structured innovation events and dedicated spaces like the Creative Lab and Fab Lab to encourage idea generation and experimentation resulting in over 50 prototypes developed, 80+ partnerships with startups, and a 300% increase in patent filings, demonstrating its effectiveness and adaptability across sectors and regions

Expedition Engineering Limited

Recognized for the Soar innovation framework is designed to help innovators and portfolio managers effectively develop and scale innovations in the infrastructure sector, addressing productivity and decarbonization goals by guiding projects from successful pilot phases to full adoption in business operations.

5. Best Innovative Education Program

Universidad de las Americas (UDLA) – Ecuador

Recognized “SabidurIA” a pioneering project at UDLA that transforms the educational experience by integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into all aspects of learning and university administration. The program is designed for students, faculty, and staff who are committed to educational excellence and innovation. SabidurIA is structured around three fundamental pillars: Aprende (Learn), Difunde (Disseminate), and Acceso (Access), offering a personalized and accessible learning experience for more than 16,000 students and 2,000 faculty members, preparing the university community to face future challenges.

Smart Waterloo Region Innovation Lab

Recognized for a project integrating artificial intelligence into all aspects of education and administration, providing a personalized and accessible learning experience for over 16,000 students and 2,000 faculty members. Through its three pillars— (Learn), (Disseminate), and (Access)—the program addresses contemporary educational challenges, democratizes knowledge access, and prepares the university community for future demands.

Universidad Anáhuac Mayab

Recognized for an innovative entrepreneurial training model called “The Entrepreneurial Path,” which combines core courses and elective sub-specializations with extracurricular activities to foster a culture of entrepreneurship among its 8,000 students ensuring students not only acquire essential entrepreneurial skills but also build valuable connections within the entrepreneurial ecosystem.

6. Best Startup Ecosystem Support Organization

Parque Científico e Tecnológico da Unicamp

Recognized for the creation of “Incamp”, an incubator technology-based companies. Incamp focuses on providing extensive and specialized support to its startups at different stages of development, from the ideation stage to the traction and growth stages. The incubator offers an innovation environment that includes specialized mentoring, state-of-the-art infrastructure, access to the Unicamp’s laboratories, technical support, and consulting, as well as an extensive network of contacts with investors, researchers, professors, and market professionals.

UAE Cybersecurity Council

Recognized for empowering young Emirati entrepreneurs, fostering a culture of innovation in the cybersecurity sector, strengthening university-industry collaboration positioned to deliver significant financial and social impacts while exploring environmentally sustainable solutions.

University of Charleston

Recognized for diversifying the West Virginia economy and strengthening the entrepreneurial ecosystem in underserved rural communities by providing small businesses with access to coworking spaces, mentorship, and entrepreneurial programming at no cost, resulting in significant economic impact, job creation, and a collaborative community among local entrepreneurs.

7. Best Science Park/Innovation Hub

Dubai Police

Recognized for creating the Dubai Police Innovation Park (DPIP), dedicated to fostering cutting-edge technological advancements that address public safety and security challenges. DPIP focuses primarily on technology startups and large tech firms, particularly those that specialize in cybersecurity, crime prevention, predictive policing, surveillance, forensic science technology, and autonomous technologies. It also actively collaborates with academic institutions like MIT, universities, and research centers to promote knowledge sharing and foster innovation.

LaSalle Technova Barcelona

Recognized for successfully supporting the growth of numerous tech-driven startups through tailored programs like T-Start, T-Launch, and T-Growth, helping them validate business models, secure investment, and access market opportunities. Its strong academic-industry collaboration has led to startups gaining mentorship, funding, and strategic partnerships, accelerating their path to commercialization and market success.

INDIVIDUAL AWARDS

1.Best Innovator – Private Sector

Winner: Peter Toxopeus – Fleet Development Manager at Fugro
2nd Runner-Up: Shidah Ahmad – Vice President of Order Fulfillment and General Manager of Keysight Technologies
3rd Runner-Up: Ali Bin Zayed – Senior Vice President At Emirates Petroleum Company PJSC

2. Best Innovator – Public Sector

Winner: Mohamed Zainal – Head of Future Mobility Sciences Section at Dubai Police
2nd Runner-Up: Askar Sinchev – Head of Office on International Relations at JSC National Information Technologies
3rd Runner-Up: jeewan chanicka – Director of Education at Waterloo Region District School Board

3. Best Social Innovator

Winner: Jahmeeks Beckford – Play Lead at Smart Waterloo Region Innovation Lab
2nd Runner-Up: Truls Berg – Founder & CEO at Open Innovation Lab of Norway

4. Best Innovative Entrepreneur