Qatari team representing GCC wins second prize in the “Henkel Innovation Challenge”

Visionary skin care in the year 2050

Düsseldorf – 21 student teams from 30 countries around the world took part in the international final of the “Henkel Innovation Challenge” in Düsseldorf, Germany. The Qatari team representing GCC won the second prize. With their vision of “Diadermine Allure” – the world's first programmable beauty product – Jaasim Polin and Sarah Mustafa from the Carnegie Mellon University Qatar convinced the jury. During the three-day-event students from all over the world showcased their innovative concepts and ideas to a panel of Henkel managers. The jury ultimately selected the Croatian team as having submitted the best product vision for the year 2050. 

The second winners are awarded with 4,000 euros and along with the first and third placed teams, they will have the opportunity to meet Henkel CEO Kasper Rorsted in person. “We are really excited – we didn’t expect to come so far in this challenge at all. But what counts almost just as much as winning the second prize is the experience we made here in Düsseldorf: We really enjoyed the international atmosphere and met so many great people”, said Jaasim Polin.

The vision of team “Oryx” from Qatar: With “Diadermine Allure” users can treat their skin according to their individual needs thanks to smart substances and a special computer software. This visionary idea of a programmable beauty product convinced the jury members to award the students with the second prize. 

This year’s winners of the “Henkel Innovation Challenge”, Daren Perincic and Dominik Benger, who are studying at the Rochester Institute of Technology Croatia,  receive an around-the-world-ticket worth 10,000 euros. Their product idea “H Design” by Schwarzkopf allows its users to change and design their own hair style through an app. Third place was awarded to the Indian team, Geetika Goel and Mayank Nandwani from the Faculty of Management Studies Delhi. They developed a sustainable surface coating called “eCoat”, which can be used in the automotive industry to generate electricity. 

About “Henkel Innovation Challenge”

Once again this year, the competition attracted students from various disciplines from all over the world: ideas were submitted by teams of two from no less than 30 countries, including Brazil, China, the USA, France and India. The students’ task was to create an innovative and sustainable product or technology for a Henkel brand, based on the potential trends and market needs in 2050. 

The “Henkel Innovation Challenge” took place for the 7th time. In the last seven years 30.000 students from around the world have already participated in the competition. For Henkel, this event offers the opportunity to get to know outstanding international young talents and to position Henkel as a potential employer. Henkel has a workforce of around 47,000 people from more than 120 nations in over 75 countries. Every year more than 1,500 students intern at Henkel worldwide and therefore gain valuable insights into the company.

Henkel operates worldwide with leading brands and technologies in three business areas: 
Laundry & Home Care, Beauty Care and Adhesive Technologies. Founded in 1876, Henkel holds globally leading market positions both in the consumer and industrial businesses with well-known brands such as Persil, Schwarzkopf and Loctite. Henkel employs about 47,000 people and reported sales of 16.4 billion euros and adjusted operating profit of 2.5 billion euros in fiscal 2013. Henkel’s preferred shares are listed in the German stock index DAX.