Three students from the University of Macedonia in Thessaloniki just won first place at the Huawei ICT Competition 2025-...

Three students from the University of Macedonia in Thessaloniki just won first place at the Huawei ICT Competition 2025-2026 global finals in China, beating out more than 220,000 competitors from over 100 countries. The team, called AEGIS, took the top prize in the Innovation Track category. Nikolaos Georgitsogiannis, Eleftherios Pagonidis, and Vasileios Verykokkos built a disaster management platform that combines predictive AI, autonomous drones, and offline mesh networks to support rescue teams during the critical first hours of an emergency. The system is designed to work even when standard communications are down, and the team tested it with actual drone flights in Thessaloniki before competing. Judges focused on the completeness of their presentation, including real-world analysis of rescuer needs, market research, a live video demonstration, and a custom algorithm called the "Aegis Algorithm" that powers the platform's smart operations. At the global finals in Shenzhen, the team ran their own exhibition booth and walked away with formal Letters of Interest from industry executives for future partnerships. Greece's Consul General in Guangzhou, Gina Andreadi, sent the team an official congratulatory letter, noting the technology drew significant attention for its scalability and real-world applicability. Pallavi Malhotra, Director of Huawei Talent Alliance Europe, said the AI solution has the potential to save lives by supporting emergency services with real-time, reliable communications during disasters. The project was developed with backing from professors Konstantinos Psannis, whose research ranks in the global top 1%, and Konstantinos Fouskas, head of the University of Macedonia's Technology Transfer Office. The team was also guided by Theodora Stamoglou, a previous winner of the same competition. #Greece #Technology #Innovation