Tunisian Women Finalists for Smart Wheelchair Prize

A team of four young Tunisian women engineers has reached the finals of the prestigious Young Inventors Prize organized by the European Patent Office with their innovative project, Moovobrain—a smart wheelchair system that can be controlled via touchpad, voice, facial gestures, or even brain signals. This marks the first time a Tunisian and Arab team has made it to the final round of the competition, selected from over 550 applicants. Inspired by co-founder Souleima Ben Temime’s uncle, who became paralyzed, the team began developing the prototype in 2017 while studying at the Higher Institute of Medical Sciences in Tunis. In 2019, they launched their health-tech startup, Gewinner.

Despite Tunisia's ongoing political and economic crises, the team remained committed to their vision. They believe reaching the finals will boost their credibility and help attract support. Their goal is to make the technology accessible, particularly through sponsorships, and not rely on end users to bear the cost. The startup will soon deliver the first four smart wheelchairs to a disability organization in Tunisia and has already partnered with an Italian manufacturer. The all-female team sees their gender as a strength in gaining access to women-focused opportunities and funding.