NEWS
University of Bahrain Wins Three Awards at “INJAZ Bahrain” Young Entrepreneurs Competition 2026
The University of Bahrain secured three distinguished awards at the 18th edition of the annual Young Entrepreneurs Competition 2026, organized by INJAZ Bahrain under the umbrella of its 2026 Company Program, one of the Kingdom’s leading entrepreneurship programs.
More than 1,100 students from universities and secondary schools took part in the competition. Over 140 students, representing 20 student companies—10 university teams and 10 secondary school teams—qualified for the national finals, following months of project development and participation in specialized mentoring and coaching programs in entrepreneurship, innovation, sustainability, financial performance, technology, and leadership. The participating teams presented their projects before a prestigious judging panel comprising a select group of business leaders and specialists from various sectors.
The University of Bahrain’s “AXIS” team won the “Innovative Venture” Award and the “Excellence in Technology” Award, presented by Tamkeen, while the student company “Cellupla” received the “Global Impact Award” in the university track of the competition.
The AXIS team included students: Mohammed Yasser, CEO of the company, Salman Sheikh Hussain, Abdulrahman Aref Al Marzouqi, Nawaf Rami Al Ansari, Mohammed Ahmed Al Noaimi, and Aya Mohammed Ismail, from the College of Information Technology and Mohammed Jaber Al Ansari College for Teachers (BTC).
AXIS works on developing practical artificial intelligence solutions that contribute to enhancing growth, efficiency, and creating tangible impact. Its product, “Turjuman,” is a smart glove that translates Arabic Sign Language by capturing hand movements and processing them locally using machine learning, then converting them into spoken Arabic in real time. The system operates offline, with a focus on affordability, privacy, and ease of use.
The Cellupla team included students: Mai Mahmood, CEO of the company, along with Faris Abdulaziz, Husain Abdulkarim Habib, Abdullah Abdulnabi, Hajar Ahmed Mohammed, Mohammed Isa Mohammed, Malak Abdullatif Mohammed, Asma Abdulhadi, Zahra Jaafar Saleh Ali, Fatema Mohamed Alqaseer, Abrar Jaafar Ali Shamlooh, Ammar Abdulhusain Alkhamis, Fatima Fadhel, Noor Alhussain, Taghreed Sayed Abbas, Marwa Salah, and Naima Jameel. The members come from various colleges at the University of Bahrain, including the College of Business Administration, the College of Engineering, the College of Arts, and the College of Science.
Cellupla produces bio-based plastic additives that accelerate biodegradation within a period of 6 to 24 months, while reducing the formation of microplastics. The company offers industrially applicable solutions that require no modification to existing production lines, enhancing the prospects for wide-scale adoption.
These outstanding results achieved by the University of Bahrain teams reflect the deep commitment of the university to fostering a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship among its students, and its dedication to providing a supportive environment that transforms graduation projects and creative ideas into startups with sustainable economic, social, and environmental impact.
