Around 21 student teams from 30 countries took part in the final of the ‘Henkel Innovation Challenge’ in Düsseldorf, Germany. The students had to showcase their innovative concepts to a panel of Henkel managers.
The Indian team of Geetika Goel and Mayank Nandwani, from the Faculty of Management Studies Delhi, took third place. They developed a sustainable surface coating called eCoat, which will be used in the automotive industry.
Daren Perincic and Dominik Benger, who are studying at the Rochester Institute of Technology Croatia, are this year’s winners. In the final, their idea for a revolutionary hairstyling product saw off the concepts entered by their international rivals. The winners receive an around-the-world-ticket with a value of 10,000 euros and along with the teams placed second and third, they will have the opportunity to meet the Henkel boss Kasper Rorsted in person.
The winning team’s product idea ‘H Design’ by Schwarzkopf allows its users to change and design their own hair style through an app. This visionary idea convinced the Henkel jury. Second and third place were awarded to the teams from Qatar and India respectively. Second prize went to Jasim Polin and Sarah Mustafa from the Carnegie Mellon University Qatar. Their vision— AOK Allure is the world’s first programmable beauty product. Users can treat their skin by using smart substances and a special software.