"Being part of the Seoul International Invention Fair 2025 was an extraordinary and eye-opening experience. I had the opportunity to observe how global innovators approach complex problems, design advanced solutions, and maintain precision under scrutiny," said Calibrator-Z team member Jayed.
At Seoul International Invention Fair 2025, the largest annual invention fair in the world, the Bangladesh team Calibrator-Z achieved a silver medal. From December 3 to 6, the invention fair took place at Coex Hall in Seoul, South Korea. The Ministry of Intellectual Property, Republic of Korea, hosted the event, where 19 countries participated, including Germany, Indonesia, and Hong Kong. A total of 578 teams participated in the fair, with Calibrator-Z representing Bangladesh.
Calibrator-Z is a robotics and innovation team from Bangladesh which participated in the competition with sponsorship from Hamko Industries Limited. In a conversation with the Financial Express writer, the team shared their experience. The team said, "We sincerely express our heartfelt gratitude to Hamko Industries Limited for their generous sponsorship and unwavering support. Your belief in our vision empowered Team Calibrator-Z to represent Bangladesh on the global stage and achieve success at the Seoul International Invention Fair 2025."
The team departed for South Korea on November 24 and stayed in the Gangnam Square area, one of Seoul's most vibrant and innovation-driven districts. Alongside their competition preparations, they made it a point to explore the city's research and technology ecosystem to gain broader global exposure. As part of this experience, they visited the Lab for Autonomous Robotics Research (LARR) at Seoul National University. The visit offered valuable insights into cutting-edge research in autonomous systems, robotics, and AI-driven technologies.
Abdullah Ibnah Hasan, who led the team of nine members, said, "Guiding a youth-led team through an international arena dominated by seasoned global innovators was among the most demanding challenges of my journey. Every phase-from concept development to global presentation-tested our resilience, leadership, and belief in ourselves."
The co-leads are Md Maruf Miah and Jarif Ahmed from Kent State University. The other members were Abir Hossen, Md Jakaria Miah, and Samir Ahamed, who completed HSC this year, and three others from Adamjee Cantonment College: Jayed Abdullah, Khalid Bin Walid, and Istiak Ahmmed.
"This silver medal at the Seoul International Invention Fair 2025 represents far more than an award-it embodies months of sleepless nights, rigorous experimentation, repeated failures, and an unwavering spirit of teamwork within Team Calibrator-Z. Competing as a youth-led team alongside world-class innovators and earning this recognition marks a historic milestone for us, reaffirming that Bangladeshi youths can compete, innovate, and excel at the highest international level," said co-lead Maruf.
When asked about their project for the competition, the team explained, "Our project was BlueWave. It is an autonomous, AI-powered water treatment rover designed to monitor, analyse, and purify polluted water bodies and convert the collected polypropylene, polyethylene, and polystyrene chain compounds into usable combustible hydrocarbon distillate like pyrolytic diesel, other synthetic fuels, and AGO (Automotive Gas Oil) through intelligent automation and sustainable engineering. It combines real-time water quality analysis, dual purification technologies, and solar-powered mobility into a single, efficient environmental restoration system.
"Equipped with precision sensors, BlueWave continuously measures pH, turbidity, total dissolved solids (TDS), and electrical conductivity. These data are transmitted to a custom-built website, enabling users to remotely monitor water quality, evaluate performance, and observe environmental trends with real-time accuracy. The rover continuously tests the water quality to assess its condition and automatically begins purification when contamination is detected. It utilises a dual purification mechanism combining electro-coagulative (ECG) and nano-bubble processes. Together, these methods remove heavy metals, dyes, microplastics, and harmful microorganisms with over 90 per cent purification efficiency, verified through SGS-certified testing.
"BlueWave also features an innovative conveyor system that collects floating plastics and surface waste, transferring them into an onboard storage compartment for later conversion into combustible hydrocarbons and AGO (Automotive Gas Oil). This enables simultaneous purification of both visible debris and dissolved contaminants whilst also converting them into further usable fuels in automotive industries, ensuring comprehensive water restoration and passive fuel production. The rover operates entirely on solar power, requiring no external energy source, and is built from over 70 per cent recycled and biodegradable materials, reinforcing its commitment to sustainability. Field testing in a polluted lake environment demonstrated excellent stability, high cleaning and fuel production efficiency, and precise data accuracy," they added.
Sharing the experience at Seoul International Invention Fair, co-lead Jarif said, "Standing on an international platform like the Seoul International Invention Fair 2025 was a defining moment for our team. Every challenge we faced—from refining our innovation to meeting global standards—strengthened our belief in collaboration, resilience, and purposeful engineering."
During their time in South Korea, they also faced several challenges. "A major challenge was managing intense preparation under time constraints. Balancing travel, logistics, and last-minute technical refinements ahead of an international exhibition placed considerable pressure on the team. Limited access to familiar resources and tools meant we had to rely heavily on improvisation, teamwork, and problem-solving skills," the team said.
They added, "We also faced technical and presentation-related challenges, including ensuring our innovation met global standards and could be clearly communicated to an international audience. Presenting complex ideas to experts from diverse backgrounds demanded clarity, confidence, and repeated rehearsal."
"This journey to South Korea was both inspiring and demanding. From refining our robotics system under time constraints to presenting our ideas confidently to an international audience, I learnt how to handle pressure, communicate technical concepts clearly, and work cohesively as a team," said team member Khalid.
He added, "Visiting advanced research labs such as the Lab for Autonomous Robotics Research at Seoul National University allowed me to gain insights into modern robotics techniques and AI-driven innovation. These experiences have not only enhanced my technical expertise but also motivated me to push the boundaries of what we can achieve as young innovators representing Bangladesh."
Sharing how the platform shaped their experience, Istiak said, "Participating in SIIF 2025 provided a unique platform to learn from some of the world's brightest minds. I gained hands-on experience in troubleshooting complex systems, optimising robotics performance, and collaborating effectively with my teammates under high-pressure scenarios. Being immersed in an international innovation environment showed me the importance of meticulous planning, continuous learning, and resilience."
Expressing hope for future projects, the team said, "This experience has strengthened our technical skills, broadened our perspective, and fuelled our determination to contribute meaningfully to Bangladesh's growing landscape of youth-led innovation."
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