SQU made a strong showing at the 2026 Innovation Workshop, organised by the Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology in Moscow in September. Student Mohammed Al-Abri from the College of Engineering was part of the team that won first place for Best Innovation, following competition among teams taking part in the programme.

SQU’s international student engagement also extends beyond the workshop, with student Shahd Al-Wahaibi set to participate as a guest speaker at the Skolkovo Women Forum 2026. She will present a project supported by the Fursatak programme of the Innovation and Technology Transfer Centre, which addresses a challenge related to fish health in the aquaculture sector.

Mohammed Al-Abri Wins Best Innovation

Al-Abri’s team received the Best Innovation award at the conclusion of the programme, which brought together students from different scientific and technical disciplines to address real-world challenges.

The team developed its project through a structured process that included identifying the problem, understanding user needs, validating the proposed solution, developing and testing a prototype, and presenting the final concept to experts.

SQU participated with a seven-member delegation comprising three students and four faculty members and specialists involved in project development and mentoring.

Students from Different Disciplines Take Part

Alongside Al-Abri, the student delegation included Al-Hassan Al-Badi from the College of Engineering and Shahd Al-Wahaibi from the College of Agricultural and Marine Sciences.

The students took part in an intensive programme delivered in English, working across disciplines and applying their knowledge to practical challenges. The four other SQU participants, from the College of Engineering and the Innovation and Technology Transfer Centre, supported the teams as mentors and advisers.

From Ideas to Prototypes

Held over a month, the Innovation Workshop is one of the Skolkovo Institute’s key education and innovation programmes. It is based on project-based learning, exploration and experimentation, with an emphasis on solving real-world problems rather than simply developing business plans.

The programme opened with practical sessions introducing participants to a range of technologies and scientific fields, including robotics, flight simulation, DNA analysis, chemical battery manufacturing and the control of a robotic arm using virtual reality.

Participants then applied what they had learned to develop solutions to selected challenges, testing their assumptions and refining their ideas through experimentation and interaction with potential users and experts.

Three Stages of the Innovation Cycle

The programme focused on three main areas: impact and end-user needs; solutions, prototypes and scientific validation; and delivering solutions to users and developing business models.

Activities included mentoring sessions, prototype development, engagement with potential users and experts, a project exhibition and final presentations.

The 2026 edition brought together more than 315 students, along with more than 56 project coordinators, 40 mentors and 20 professors.

Shahd Al-Wahaibi’s Project Targets Early Fish Stress Detection

SQU student Shahd Al-Wahaibi will present her project as a guest speaker at the Skolkovo Women Forum 2026. Supported by the Fursatak programme at SQU’s Innovation and Technology Transfer Centre, the project focuses on the early detection of stress and declining health in farmed fish.

It uses an integrated approach combining physiological, blood, histopathological and microbial indicators to assess fish health, rather than relying on a single measure.

AI is also used to analyse fish behavioural data, with the aim of identifying signs of stress before they develop into severe health problems.

By bringing together scientific research and artificial intelligence, the project seeks to develop a practical solution for the aquaculture sector and support more efficient and sustainable production.

From Academic Cooperation to Practical Application

SQU’s participation forms part of the cooperation agreement between the University and the Skolkovo Institute, which covers innovation, entrepreneurship, academic exchange and training.

The workshop provided SQU students with exposure to an international innovation environment, while the participation of University faculty members and staff as mentors created opportunities to exchange expertise in innovation and entrepreneurship education.

The presentation of SQU-supported projects on international platforms also helps showcase the work of its students and researchers and creates opportunities for further research, technical and commercial collaboration.