#Sustainability #BE OPEN #Switzerland #Lugano #Designing Futures

BE OPEN Announces Winners of Designing Futures 2050 Competition

Lugano, Switzerland – June 11, 2025 – The BE OPEN Foundation has just announced the winners of its sixth international competition, Designing Futures 2050. This initiative aims to inspire young creators from around the world to design innovative solutions that contribute to a sustainable and prosperous future, aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Launched in 2019, this competition is part of BE OPEN's ongoing efforts to raise awareness among young professionals in creative and engineering fields about the urgent need for action regarding sustainable development.

Elena Baturina, the founder of BE OPEN, emphasized the importance of this project, saying, "For the past six years, BE OPEN has been dedicated to supporting the Sustainable Development Goals by organizing international design competitions for students. Each year, we gather an impressive array of well-documented and creative projects from young individuals across the globe. It’s evident that educating and motivating youth to become catalysts for sustainable change is the best way forward. Our vision is to establish a foundation of knowledge and encouragement for young people as they face future challenges. By offering opportunities for creative expression, collaboration, and learning, we aspire to empower them to take charge of building the future."

The Designing Futures 2050 competition seeks to promote the practical application of sustainability principles. It aims to identify, present, and promote creative ideas that facilitate the global transition toward an efficient and sustainable future. This year, participants were encouraged to rethink the SDGs in light of today’s realities, urging them to play a more significant role in implementing a realistic action plan for sustainable development.

The evaluation of the three main prizes was conducted by an international jury comprised of experts in foresight and academia. Notable jurors included Jennifer Gidley, PhD, former president of the World Futures Studies Federation; Victor Vahidi Motti, co-founder and president of the Alternative Planetary Futures Institute; and Ashton Moseley, a full-time lecturer in industrial design at the University of Johannesburg.

Winners of the Competition

The winners, determined based on accumulated points, are as follows:

• - First Prize: A grant of €5,000 awarded to "Redefining Global Healthcare: Adjusting the SDGs for Practical and Scalable Impact" by Ajisafe Damilola Ifeoluwa from Nigeria.
• - Second Prize (First Winner): A grant of €2,500 awarded to "Ecovironment: Transforming Plastic Waste into Sustainable Construction Materials" by Foday David Kamara from Rwanda.
• - Second Prize (Second Winner): A grant of €2,500 awarded to "AGASA/Algae for Sustainable Action: Sustainability of Blooming Through Algae Installation" by Adnan Hasyim Wibowo from Indonesia.

Note: Both Ecovironment and AGASA received the same score from the jury.

The winners of the Public Vote and the Founder’s Choice Award, selected by BE OPEN founder Elena Baturina, will be announced later this month.

In conclusion, as the world faces pressing sustainability challenges, competitions like Designing Futures 2050 play a pivotal role in nurturing the next generation of innovators. By empowering young creatives, BE OPEN fosters a culture of responsibility and ingenuity essential for creating lasting solutions to global issues. Through such initiatives, the foundation continues to champion the importance of creative problem-solving in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, ultimately paving the way for a brighter and more sustainable future for all.