The event featured keynote sessions on Design (Idea to Reality, Innovation Management) and interactive workshops aimed at helping participants identify signals for future product development. Attendees also explored Startupland, the founder and venture capital conference, and the Innovation Harbour in Cologne, gaining invaluable insights into scaling entrepreneurial ideas.
A highlight of the program was the pitch competition, where teams presented their projects to a jury of university experts, Ford Philanthropy leaders, and Ford representatives. Each pitch was evaluated on five key criteria: Need, Innovation, Community Impact, Scalability, and Presentation, with the ultimate prize being a scale-up grant.
First Prize: Aqua Volt – Fadiya Fathima Muhammad
Second-year Product Design & Technology student Fadiya Fathima Muhammad, from the Loughborough School of Design and Creative Arts, claimed first prize for her visionary project: Aqua Volt.
Aqua Volt is a pioneering solar body wrapper for electric vehicles, inspired by the natural efficiency of fish scales. Its overlapping, flexible solar panels maximize energy capture while doubling as aerodynamic enhancers, reducing drag by up to 25%. Built into a lightweight carbon-fiber composite shell and coated with a self-healing polyurethane layer, Aqua Volt repairs scratches under sunlight, extending durability and reducing maintenance costs.
The system’s smart power management channels clean solar energy directly into the vehicle’s battery, providing a meaningful daily boost in range without reliance on the grid. Combining biomimicry, sustainability, and advanced materials, Aqua Volt redefines mobility as cleaner, safer, and more resilient.
Fadiya was awarded €15,000 to further develop and implement her project.
Two additional teams from Loughborough University showcased innovative solutions:
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Astra – Developed by post-graduate students Jessie Yu, Rashmi Agrawal, and Hyungseo Nam (MA User Experience and Service Design), Astra is a safety travel app empowering solo travellers with real-time safety insights and user-generated reviews. It transforms personal experiences into collective wisdom, fostering a supportive global community.
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Gazelle – Created by Freya Knox (Product Design & Technology), Gazelle is a community-powered route planning app for runners. It highlights safe, well-lit routes and potential hazards, giving runners confidence to explore freely while staying safe.
Second and third place went to:
- HaPee – A digital tool supporting inclusive mobility by mapping accessible toilets for users with incontinence or related conditions.
- EverPark – A smart parking solution leveraging street interactions and private garage rentals to reduce congestion and pollution in cities.
The Ford Philanthropy Smart Mobility Accelerator continues to inspire innovation and collaboration, helping students and entrepreneurs scale ideas that make mobility safer, more inclusive, and sustainable.
Congratulations to all participants and especially to Fadiya Fathima Muhammad for her groundbreaking achievement!