THE winners of the Appropriate Technology Competition (ATC) 2025 were celebrated by Minister of Legal Affairs and Minister in the Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries Saddam Hosein.
Hosein on Saturday celebrated the achievements of the winners, highlighting their significant contributions to innovative solutions for pressing global issues, a media release stated.
Appropriate Technology (AT) is technology that can provide solutions which are not usually patentable to the problems that arise in everyday life, taking into account the particular environmental, social or economic conditions of the community or industry that faces such problems.
The closing ceremony of the ATC 2025, hosted by the Trinidad and Tobago Intellectual Property Office (TTIPO), a division of the Ministry of Legal Affairs (MLA), took place on June 18.
The event was a collaborative effort with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), the Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO) and The University of the West Indies, St Augustine Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (UWI STACIE).
Hosein expressed his admiration for the ingenuity and dedication demonstrated by the participants, emphasising the critical role of appropriate technology in driving sustainable development and improving the lives of citizens.
The winners of the Appropriate Technology Competition 2025 are:
• 1st Place: Farrah Mathura, for her project, “Waterproof cutin-chitosan coated paper packaging from decellularized leaves.” This innovative project focuses on isolating cellulose from waste foliage using decellularization to produce biodegradable paper materials for food packaging, with waterproofing achieved through cutin extraction.
• 2nd Place: Nyaka Seale Loreilhe, for her presentation of “Herbal Tech for Her Dignity.” This project introduces a unique herbal-based facial serum, utilising locally sourced Caribbean, Indian, and African herbs and oils, for the treatment and removal of unwanted facial hair.
• 3rd Place: Shania Gajadhar, Namrata Jaganath, and Justin Khan, for their presentation of “FuturoPath.” FuturoPath is a transformative, AI-powered career development platform designed to empower marginalized and underserved populations, including youth and women, with the skills and pathways needed for future-proof employment.
MLA stated, “Appropriate Technologies Competition 2025 serves as a testament to the power of innovation in shaping a sustainable and prosperous future for Trinidad and Tobago. The Trinidad and Tobago Intellectual Property Office (TTIPO), Ministry of Legal Affairs, remains committed to promoting inventiveness and protecting intellectual property.”
