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Faculty of Engineering and Computing
Team Anaphero

Irish Student Team Wins Big at Global Tech Competition in China

Irish student team, Team Anaphero, made a remarkable impact on the global stage this April, securing two major awards at the Huawei Tech4Good Global Final held in Shenzhen, China. Competing against the world’s top young innovators, the team placed third overall globally and claimed the coveted People’s Choice Award, voted by over 50 audience members during the final pitch day.

The Tech4Good competition is a flagship initiative of Huawei’s Seeds for the Future programme, designed to empower students worldwide to address pressing societal challenges through technology. The 2024 edition brought together more than 1,000 students across regional rounds, with fewer than 80 advancing to the global final in China.

Representing Ireland, Team Anaphero was comprised of DCU student Ciara O’Reilly, alongside students Tiarnan O'Rourke, Dylan Hussain, Luke O'Sullivan, and Eoin Creavin from other Irish universities. 

Their innovation, Anaphero, is a wearable device designed to detect early signs of anaphylactic shock in children. The solution leverages real-time data, AI, and 5G connectivity to provide early warnings and save critical minutes during life-threatening allergic reactions.

In a special honor, DCU’s soon-to-be graduate Ciara O’Reilly was selected to speak at the opening ceremony on behalf of all global participants, representing a diverse cohort of passionate, tech-driven changemakers.

The experience extended beyond the competition itself. The Irish team participated in a technology and cultural tour across China, visiting Beijing, Hangzhou, Shanghai, and Shenzhen. The journey deepened their appreciation for China’s innovation landscape and expanded their global outlook.

Team Anaphero's success follows their earlier achievement as European Region Champions in the Seeds for the Future programme, supported by Huawei Ireland. The team credited their mentors, Salam Al-Nukta and Wei Zhang Chuan, for their guidance throughout the competition.

Looking ahead, Anaphero will continue development through a digital incubator run by the Hult Prize Foundation, focusing on prototyping and clinical collaboration. The team is now seeking partnerships with hospital innovation hubs and clinical advisors to assist with data synthesis and validation.