Loading...
Loading...
Organised annually by Sheraa, ASC is a corporate innovation programme that witnesses growth-stage startups tackle themed challenges. The 2024 edition’s themes were agritech and livestock health.
With collaboration being integral to the initiative’s year-on-year success, key partners for the 6th edition of ASC included the Department of Agriculture and Livestock (DAL) as the challenge partner; endorsement from the UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE), and financial contribution from the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI), Sultan bin Ali Al Owais Real Estate, and Ghanim Al Suwaidi Holdings to support the implementation of the solutions.
Celebrating its 6th edition, the annual challenge witnessed an overwhelming response, with 2,207 applications from 24 countries, including the USA, Canada, Egypt, France, Argentina, New Zealand, India, UK, Italy, Turkey Oman, Germany, Netherlands, Qatar, Brazil, and Palestine. From this impressive pool, 11 startups were shortlisted with two standout winners securing the top prize.
Commenting on the announcement of the winners, H.E. Sara Abdelaziz Al Nuaimi, CEO of Sheraa, stated: “The Access Sharjah Challenge serves to address current challenges but also reimagines possibilities in the future. By empowering innovators to tackle water scarcity and livestock health for this past edition, we’re enhancing an innovation ecosystem that aligns with Sharjah’s vision for a sustainable, food-secure future.”
“Our partnership in the Access Sharjah Challenge reflects our commitment to positioning innovation as a central pillar in advancing the agriculture and livestock sectors, by supporting practical solutions grounded in a deep understanding of real-world challenges,” H.E. Salem Abdullah Al Kaabi, Director of the Department of Agriculture and Livestock said.
“The winning solutions have proven the potential of modern technologies to create a step-change in resource management, enhance livestock productivity, and strengthen sustainable food security. Working alongside our strategic partners to activate these solutions will help shape a smart and resilient agricultural model that aligns with the UAE’s aspirations for a more innovative and sustainable economy,” added.
Al Kaabi further explained that the department continues to implement its strategy to support small and medium-sized farms with modern technologies, guided by long-term planning frameworks aimed at boosting sector sustainability and productivity, contributing to Sharjah’s vision of building a competitive and future-ready economy.
Within the agritech track, Sheraa welcomed startups to address challenges related to sustainable irrigation amid water scarcity with the statement: “How might we source water affordably and scalably without burdening farmers?”. For the livestock health track, startups were invited to focus on innovations in monitoring, predictive care, and medicine delivery, with the statement: “How might we maintain the health of livestock?”.
NoorNation emerged as the winner in the AgriTech track with their revolutionary solution - LifeBox, a solar-powered, self-contained water desalination and pumping system designed to provide clean water for irrigation, drinking, and livestock support, ensuring sustainable and cost-effective water solutions for farmers and rural communities.
LifeBox is equipped with advanced remote monitoring and control technology, enabling real-time water management. With plans to deploy the solution across the MENA region, NoorNation aims to tackle water scarcity and high energy costs while reducing CO2 emissions by eliminating reliance on diesel-powered irrigation systems. Their innovation will allow farmers to diversify their crops and improve agricultural productivity in arid regions.
On the news of their success, Ragy Ramadan, Founder & CEO NoorNation said, “We’re incredibly grateful and proud to have won the Access Sharjah Challenge 2024. The journey wasn’t always easy, but the growth was exponential. Sharjah welcomed us with energy and opportunity, and working with Sheraa and DAL pushed us to evolve as a team and a company. We’re now more excited than ever to see the real-world impact LifeBox can create bringing fresh water, food security, and resilience to farms, communities, and industries in Sharjah and beyond. This milestone is not the end but a solid launchpad for NoorNation’s regional growth, from product development and local partnerships to international sales and fundraising.”
Faunatech, the Livestock Health track winner, introduced a smartphone-based handheld diagnostics platform that ensures early detection of critical livestock diseases, particularly mastitis, which affects nearly 30% of milking cows and buffaloes worldwide. Their Fauna SCC Test, connected to a smartphone, quantifies Somatic Cell Count (SCC) in raw cow milk, allowing on-farm diagnosis, improved milk quality, and reduced antibiotic residues.
By improving animal health, increasing dairy productivity, and enhancing milk traceability, Faunatech is set to make a great impact in the UAE’s agricultural sector and beyond. The company’s long-term vision includes expanding into new markets across Southeast Asia, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America.
Commenting on their achievement, Rajat Pandya, Co-founder & CEO of Faunatech said, “Winning the Access Sharjah Challenge has been an incredible milestone for FaunaTech. This programme provides us with a fantastic platform to launch our innovative animal health diagnostics across the UAE and the expansive Middle East dairy market. We're excited to bring our early mastitis detection technology to this vital region. Our vision is to establish our central hub for the Middle East here in Sharjah, and using our success as a springboard, we will hopefully expand into markets across the region.
The Access Sharjah Challenge is an annual competition that invites international growth-stage startups to solve industry-specific challenges determined by a chosen theme in collaboration with the challenge partner. In past iterations, ASC focused on sectors such as publishing and digital content; healthtech and foodtech; creative economy; F&B and retail; and sustainability. As a launchpad within the emirate’s market, the challenge empowers startups to test and scale their solutions in Sharjah. Since its inception in 2019, ASC has provided over AED 3 million in total funding to support visionary entrepreneurs.
For an optimal experience, please
rotate your device to portrait mode.
