Madinah, 2 Ramadan 1447 AH (19 February 2026)

The Islamic University of Madinah has launched the "Ibtakir" (Innovate) competition under the theme "For a Sustainable University City", aimed at enabling participants to develop innovative, applicable solutions that strengthen sustainability on campus, improve quality of life and reduce environmental impact, within a competitive framework that stimulates creativity and innovation.

The university said the competition has four main stages, beginning with applications from 1 to 23 Ramadan 1447 AH (18 February to 12 March 2026), followed by the prototype stage from 12 Shawwal to 10 Dhu al-Qi'dah 1447 AH (31 March to 27 April 2026), then final judging on 13 Dhu al-Qi'dah 1447 AH (30 April 2026), and finally the closing ceremony honoring the winners and outstanding participants.

The competition tracks cover multiple areas of sustainability, including renewable energy and consumption efficiency, resource and water management, zero waste, sustainable and smart transport, the quality of the learning environment and buildings, the circular economy and campus life, digital transformation and responsible consumption, along with other tracks that promote sustainable practices.

The university said judging criteria are based on the level of innovation, feasibility, the scale of environmental impact, economic viability and the quality of the prototype. Cash prizes have been set aside for the winning projects to support promising ideas and encourage their conversion into applied initiatives.

It said the competition supports the Saudi Vision 2030 goals of environmental sustainability and human capacity development, and strengthens the role of universities in producing innovative solutions that serve society and the environment.

At a Glance

  • 4 main stages of the competition
  • Applications from 1 to 23 Ramadan 1447 AH
  • Tracks including energy, water, zero waste and smart transport
  • Cash prizes to support the winning projects