NPCC Celebrates Young Innovators at InnovEd 2025 Award Ceremony and Officially Launches InnovEd 2026
Moka, 19 February 2026 – The National Productivity and Competitiveness Council (NPCC) proudly announced the successful culmination of the InnovEd 2025 challenge during an award ceremony, which also marked the official launch platform for the next edition, InnovEd 2026, calling upon a new cohort of students to embark on their own innovation journeys. The event was attended by Hon Aadil Ameer Meea, Minister of Industry, SME and Cooperatives, Dr. Hon Mahend Gungapersad, Minister of Education and Human Resource, the Chairman of the NPCC, Mr. Arshad Duymun and council members as well as students and facilitators from more than 30 secondary schools.
The winners and runner ups in each category were as follows:
THEME: CULTURAL HERITAGE
WINNER: Quatre Bornes SSS
Title of project: Culture Quest: The Wellness Edition
RUNNER UP: Imperial College
Title of project: Heritage Nature
THEME: LANGUAGES AND PUBLISHING
WINNER: Polytechnics Mauritius Ltd
Title of project: Smart career navigator
RUNNER UP: Simadree Virahsawmy SSS
Title of project: Environmental Awareness Game
THEME: DESIGN
WINNER: Le Bocage International School
Title of project: Scrap Canvas
RUNNER UP: Polytechnics Mauritius Ltd
Title of project: 7-day Social Media Detox
THEME: PERFORMING ARTS
WINNER: Polytechnics Mauritius Ltd
Title of project: MELVA-AI
RUNNER UP: Le Bocage International School
Title of project: Performing for a change
THEME: INTERACTIVE MEDIA
WINNER: Ramsoondar Prayag SSS
Title of project: MoCarriere
RUNNER UP: Rabindranath Tagore Secondary School
Title of project: Managing stress for a better life.
THEME: VISUAL ARTS AND CRAFTS
WINNER: Ananias Andre Le Chou College
Title of project: A kinetic junk sculpture representing earth and sea
RUNNER UP: Doha Secondary School
Title of project: FabArt
The InnovEd 2025 journey was an intensive experience for student teams from across the island. From mid-April through June 2025, participants developed their projects across six thematic areas: Interactive Media, Cultural Heritage, Performing Arts, Visual Arts & Crafts, Design, and Languages & Publishing. Their projects creatively addressed contemporary topics including Waste to Art, Games for Sustainability, Healthier Habits, Music Composition using AI and Preparedness for Employability.
Throughout this intensive phase, teams received ongoing support from the NPCC. The project development stage concluded with the submission deadline on 20 June 2025. Entries then underwent a comprehensive two-tier evaluation process. The initial assessment by an expert panel on 18 and 19 June 2025 evaluated projects based on creativity, feasibility and potential impact.
Shortlisted teams advanced to the CREAThon event held from 20 to 24 June 2025, where they refined their concepts through intensive mentorship sessions with industry experts. The final evaluation round on 25 and 26 June 2025 assessed the market viability and scalability potential of the remaining projects. The journey culminated with the Final Assessment on 2 and 3 July 2025, where 34 outstanding teams competed for top honours.
Speaking at the event, the Executive Director of NPCC, Dr. Vinaye Ancharaz, commended the participants for their ingenuity and drive. “Mauritius has embarked on an ambitious journey. We have come a long way from an economy based on a single crop to a dynamic, diversified one. But the world does not stand still. The pace of change is breathtaking and to thrive, we cannot just adapt; we must lead. We must become a Nation of Innovators,” he stated. “We have to create environments where a student in a classroom doesn’t just memorise formulas but asks, ‘How can this formula solve a problem in my community?’ Where an apprentice doesn’t just learn a trade but asks, ‘How can I make this process smarter, safer, and more efficient?’ This is the culture we must instill. This is the culture you have already begun to embody.”
The Chairman of the NPCC, Mr. Arshad Duymun underscored that innovation is the engine and productivity is the result. “You cannot have one without the other. At the NPCC, we are committed to instilling this innovation mindset in everyone—from the shop floor to the classroom. We do this through training and advocacy initiatives to show every citizen that they have the power to improve their work and their community through creative thinking. We believe that the next great idea for Mauritius can come from anywhere and it is our duty to create an environment where that idea can flourish.”
For the Hon Aadil Ameer Meea, Mauritius needs more young Mauritians choosing STEM courses and STEM careers. “Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics are not optional skills. They are strategic assets for our economy. STEM skills power modern manufacturing, clean energy, healthcare, agri tech, digital services, and advanced materials. These are the sectors that will define future jobs and future exports,” he pointed out.
Hon Mahend Gungapersad encouraged students to use Artificial Intelligence (AI) in their1 studies, however he urged them not to become overdependent on AI. “You have a lot of challenges today. But when you will take the lead, when you will be professionals in various sectors, the challenges will be greater. The question that we should ask is how do we do more with less. How do you develop that critical mind?” To answer this, he announced that the Ministry of Education and Human Resource is working on a blueprint that will take into consideration the development of students through critical thinking and innovation.
With the successful conclusion of InnovEd 2025, the NPCC now looks forward to InnovEd 2026, inviting schools across Mauritius to prepare for another year of creativity, problem-solving, and innovation.
