23-year-old Ukrainian inventor Valentyn Frechka took second place in the "Young Inventors Award" nomination for developing a method of converting fallen leaves into environmentally friendly paper, which significantly reduces the need to cut down trees during paper production.

"Through Releaf Paper, a startup based on a school science project, Valentyn Frechka is perfecting a process that uses cellulose from fallen leaves for production. Leaves obtained from city parks, squares, green spaces and other urban areas are actually burned or composted (which creates costs for the city), and if not collected or burned, emits carbon dioxide. Frechka's innovative process reduces the amount of waste and emissions. The leaves undergo a mild chemical treatment using sodium hydroxide and hydrogen peroxide. of acetic acid. This allows the pulp to be extracted without damaging the delicate structure of the leaves. The pulp is then mixed with biofillers for various products such as bags and cardboard. The technology is highly efficient, producing 2.3 tonnes of pulp from fallen leaves. 17 trees using traditional methods," the report says.

In addition to Valentin Frechka, awards in this field were also received by:

• Dutch scientist Rochelle Niemeyer, 29, won first place for her AI-powered portable chemistry kit that quickly identifies bacteria that cause infections, such as urinary tract infections. This invention allows faster and more accurate treatment decisions.
• A young Tunisian team of Khaula Ben Ahmed, Ghofran Ayari, Sulaima Ben Temime and Sirine Ayari won third place for an innovative intelligent wheelchair control system that improves mobility and autonomy for people with disabilities.

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