AUST Team Wins Top Prize at National Innovation Competition with Groundbreaking Plastic Recycling Innovation

Lagos, Nigeria — June 25, 2025

The African University of Science and Technology (AUST), in collaboration with its innovation hub, AUSTInspire, has emerged as the overall winner of the Nigerian Academy of Engineering’s 2nd National Innovation Competition, beating 60 teams from across the country.

The award-winning innovation—a 3D Printing Filament Recycler—was designed and developed by a multidisciplinary team from AUST and partner startup, 3D Robotronics.

This cutting-edge machine converts waste PET plastic bottles into high-quality filaments used in 3D printing, addressing the global challenge of plastic waste and supporting sustainable manufacturing through circular economy practices.

The prestigious competition, which spanned more than seven months, attracted entries from across key sectors including energy, agriculture, healthcare, and environmental sustainability. The AUST team advanced through several evaluation stages to make the final shortlist of seven teams, before being announced as the winner during the Innovation Exhibition held on Wednesday, June 25, at the Balmoral Convention Center, Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos.

“This achievement is a testament to the power of research, innovation, and teamwork in solving real-world challenges. We are proud to contribute meaningfully to sustainable development through engineering and innovation,” said Dr. Vitalis Anye, team lead, during the award ceremony.

The winning team was made up of Dr. Vitalis Anye from AUST, Daniel Israel of 3D Robotronics, Mohammed Jibril, and Chino Chinedu, both of whom are also from AUST.

Their success underscores the growing impact of AUSTInspire’s efforts to foster innovation and promote research commercialization across the university community.

Special recognition was extended to Distinguished Professor Peter A. Onwualu, FAS, President of AUST, for his visionary leadership and unwavering support for innovation, entrepreneurship, and applied research at the university.

The university also expressed heartfelt appreciation to the Nigerian Academy of Engineering and the competition sponsors for providing a powerful platform that empowers young innovators to tackle pressing societal challenges through engineering.

As the team prepares for further development and scaling of the 3D filament recycler, AUST invites the public to stay connected for updates on this and other transformative innovations from the university and its vibrant innovation hub.