On June 30, 2025, students from the Department of Mechatronics, in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture, at the Issam Fares Faculty of Technology (IFFT) at the University of Balamand (UOB) participated in the Berytech IdeaLab Program and won first prize. The Berytech IdeaLab program supports entrepreneurs in Lebanon with Cleantech and Agrifood solutions, providing training, coaching, and grants. The program culminates in a final event where participants pitch their validated ideas. The final event took place at El Safadi Cultural Center in Tripoli.

The submitted projects were subject to a rigorous evaluation process conducted by a distinguished panel of IdeaLab Experts from Berytech.

The first place winning team from IFFT consisted of students Moemen El Ayoubi and Michel Matta. Their project, titled “Smart Solar-Powered Composter: Efficient, Automated, and Eco-Friendly”, originally selected and funded by Injaz (the implementer of IdeaLab in the North), has been supervised by Dr. Ibrahim Chambour. The project consisted of a fully automated, solar-powered, smart composter system designed to make composting effortless and efficient. Equipped with advanced sensors—including temperature, ammonia, CO₂, and ultrasonic—it continuously monitors and optimizes the composting environment for maximum efficiency. The design ensures proper aeration, while a custom-designed auto-drain system and bio-filter manage excess liquid and odors naturally.

This innovative system is also IoT-enabled, allowing you to track and manage the composting process remotely through a user-friendly mobile app. The design ensured a low-cost, low-maintenance, and ease to use. This smart compost presents an ideal solution for turning organic waste into rich compost with minimal effort—suitable for restaurants, schools, municipalities, farms, and homes.

The Issam Fares Faculty of Technology extends its heartfelt congratulations to the winning team for this remarkable achievement. The students’ perseverance and technical excellence simply reflect the high academic standards and advanced applied technology skills that the IFFT coaches to its students.



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