AI-guided agriculture, biodegradable packaging, technical training for Peruvian women, and a modular e-waste recycling system are among the 10 innovations selected for this year’s STI Forum Innovation Showcase. The showcase launched with a Call for Innovations, a global search for solutions to challenges in sustainable development in low-resource settings. It culminated in the showcase at the 2025 United Nations Multi-stakeholder Forum on Science, Technology and Innovation for the SDGs (STI Forum), held in New York earlier this month.
Engineering for Change played a key role in organizing the event.
“It was a rare opportunity to probe our diverse communities and identify leading innovations at the intersection of multiple SDGs. The innovations here were chosen for their exceptional understanding of the communities they serve and unique approaches to complex challenges,” Iana Aranda, President of Engineering for Change and head of sustainability strategy at the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, said in her introduction of the showcase.
“While technology alone can’t solve all issues, social entrepreneurs – especially the youth – inspire us by challenging the status quo to enhance the quality of life for people and the planet,” Ms. Aranda said.
This year’s call focused on five key Sustainable Development Goals—health and well-being (SDG 3), gender equality (SDG 5), inclusive economic growth and decent work (SDG 8), ocean conservation (SDG 14), and strengthening global partnerships (SDG 17). Worldwide, 338 innovators submitted their work, demonstrating a vibrant global commitment to leveraging science and technology for sustainable development. After a rigorous review, 28 innovations were shortlisted for their creativity, scalability, and impact, and the UN’s 10-Member Group of High-level Representatives selected 10 for the showcase. These innovations highlight the power of inclusive, locally relevant technology to accelerate progress toward the SDGs.
Slide by Carolina Rojas
Meet the Innovators
Mariana Costa, Co-founder & President of Laboratoria | Peru
Mariana Costa Checa, Peruvian social entrepreneur and founder of Laboratoria, is advancing gender equality and digital inclusion across Latin America. Through tech training in web development and UX design, Laboratoria equips women from underserved communities with skills to access quality jobs in the digital economy—transforming thousands of lives and promoting inclusive development.
Jin Dawod, Founder of PeaceTherapist.com | Turkey
Jin Dawod, Syrian human rights advocate and founder of PeaceTherapist.com in Turkey, provides trauma-informed mental health support to displaced and marginalized communities. Her multilingual platform connects users with licensed therapists in Arabic, Turkish, and English—offering free care to those in need. Jin is a refugee herself. Her experience informs her work as she fosters healing, integration, and resilience in conflict-affected populations.
Lilan Dayananda, Managing Director and CEO at Elzian Agro | Sri Lanka
Lilan Dayananda, Managing Director and CEO of Elzian Agro, is a Sri Lankan social-tech entrepreneur advancing climate-smart agriculture through AI and digital tools. Under his leadership, Elzian Agro delivers IoT-powered solutions to help farmers boost productivity and conserve resources—impacting over 200,000 hectares and supporting 17,000+ farmers across Sri Lanka, India, and the Philippines. A global advocate, Lilan contributes to UN climate forums and champions youth leadership in sustainable innovation.
Oghenetejiri J. Edaferiemu, SGBV Lead at Sentinel Forensics Sexual Assault Kit | Nigeria
Oghenetejiri J. Edaferiemu, forensic scientist and gender advocate, leads the development of the Sentinel Forensics Sexual Assault (SFSA) Kit—a standardized, victim-centered tool for collecting evidence in sexual and gender-based violence cases. Her innovation improves forensic integrity, upholds survivor dignity, and strengthens legal outcomes. By training first responders and health workers, her work is helping transform Nigeria’s response to SGBV and sets a model for regional adoption.
Addisu Fekadu Andeta, Enset Starter Culture | Ethiopia
Addisu Hailu, Ethiopian entrepreneur, is transforming indigenous food systems through science-driven innovation. His Enset Starter Culture—a lyophilized fermenting agent paired with improved processing tools—dramatically reduces post-harvest loss of enset, a drought-resistant staple, from 45% to 2%. Reaching over 32,000 people, the technology boosts food security, shortens fermentation time, and connects traditional knowledge with modern science to build resilient, scalable food systems.
Lutendo Ndhlovu, Control Environmental officer at Training of Informal Refrigeration and Air-conditioning | South Africa
Lutendo Ndhlovu, public sector innovator in South Africa, is advancing sustainable cooling and inclusive workforce development in the refrigeration and air conditioning (RAC) sector. She leads a national program that trains and certifies informal technicians—aligning with global climate commitments. With over 1,000 certified, including women and youth from underserved communities, her work supports climate resilience, public health, and a just transition to a green economy.
Joseph Nguthiru, Founder of HyaPak | Kenya
Joseph Nguthiru, Kenyan environmental innovator, is combating plastic pollution and waterway degradation through circular economy solutions. His venture, HyaPak Ecotech, transforms invasive water hyacinth into biodegradable packaging—reducing plastic waste and creating green jobs in riparian communities. A youth leader and educator, he also spearheads the Adopt a River program, driving grassroots action for river conservation and sustainable urban development.
Willie Ng, Managing Director at Global Cerah | Malaysia
Willie Ng, Malaysian sustainability entrepreneur, leads Global Cerah, a circular economy enterprise turning over 20,000 tons of agricultural waste into animal feed, organic fertilizer, and biomass. His work reduces emissions, supports biodiversity, and creates jobs for 600+ people—including smallholder farmers and youth. By revitalizing local agriculture, Willie advances environmental stewardship and resilient, inclusive food systems across Malaysia.
Lennox Omondi, Founder & CEO at ECOBANA | Kenya
Lennox Omondi, a Kenyan social entrepreneur and founder of ECOBANA Ltd, leads the production of affordable, biodegradable sanitary pads made from locally sourced banana fibers. His innovation has empowered over two million girls and women in East Africa to manage menstruation with dignity, enabling them to stay in school and at work. Beyond product innovation, ECOBANA creates jobs for young people and promotes menstrual health education within communities. Lennox’s work exemplifies the impact of sustainable, local solutions in addressing systemic inequalities and advancing the Sustainable Development Goals.
AilÃn Svagzdys, Chief Research Officer at Alkemio-Bio
AllÃn Svagzdys, a biotechnologist and co-founder of Alkemio, serves as Chief Research Officer, leading the development of modular, on-site systems that recover rare earth elements and critical metals from e-waste and industrial residues using organic acid leaching and custom adsorption technologies. Alkemio’s innovation reduces reliance on harmful mining and shortens supply chains, promoting cleaner manufacturing and circular resource use. Under AllÃn’s leadership, the startup drives sustainable industrial transformation and climate-aligned innovation in emerging economies.
Lutendo Ndhlovu, Control Environmental officer who works at Training of Informal Refrigeration and Air-conditioning in South Africa, speaks at the UN STI Forum Innovation Showcase. Photo courtesy of Carolina Rojas
