A High Energy Day at Danova 2025

Danova 2025 at Iran International Innovation District (IIID) proved that innovation has no age limit. From 5th‑graders to 11th‑graders, students presented projects that surprised judges with their depth and maturity—solutions that often went well beyond typical school work and pointed directly toward the future of Iran’s technology.

This year, Danova 2025 was not just a competition; it was a large‑scale showcase of a future that Iranian students are already building with their own hands. The competition hall was filled with projects that might look simple at first glance, but behind each one were months of research, design and scientific validation.

Teams from 5th to 11th grade presented solutions that spanned smart homes and energy management, clean and environmental technologies, and advanced cybersecurity systems—offering a clear picture of a new generation of young inventors.

Smart vacuum cleaner with “tank tracks”

One of the most eye‑catching projects was an Iranian smart vacuum cleaner designed by two 8th‑grade students. Despite its modest appearance, it featured important engineering differences compared to foreign products. By using a sand‑like tracked system—what the students called a “tank” drive—the vacuum could move over carpets without getting stuck.

The prototype also included obstacle detection, automatic stop, and control via a dedicated software app. The team plans to integrate SLAM algorithms next year so the robot can autonomously map the home and clean the entire space without any prior data.

Nitrogen‑stabilizing compost to cut farmers’ costs

Among the high‑tech hardware, an environmentally focused project stood out: a nitrogen‑stabilizing compost. Two teenagers synthesized zinc oxide and copper nanoparticles using artichoke extract and melon peel to produce a compost that enriches soil, retains nitrogen and accelerates plant growth.

Their goal is to create a low‑cost, natural product usable by farmers at scale. As they explained, artichoke is inexpensive yet rich in antioxidants and phenolic compounds—an example of how accessible materials can be turned into practical, high‑impact agricultural inputs.

Magnetic nanocatalyst reusable up to nine times

Nearby, an 11th‑grade student presented a magnetic nanocatalyst with serious potential for industrial and pharmaceutical use. Built with an F₃O₄ core and a silica shell, the nanocatalyst is both recyclable and can be reused up to nine times without significant loss of quality.

Its unique advantage is easy separation using a simple magnet. To complete the project, the student had to collaborate with a university lab and send samples to a pharmaceutical company for testing—an academic‑level research process carried out by a teenager.

Solving password fatigue: a novel authentication system

One of the most distinctive projects was a password‑less authentication system based on advanced mathematics and cryptography. The 10th‑grade creator enthusiastically explained that in this design, neither the user, nor the server, nor the website ever knows the real password.

The system combines knight’s moves from chess, elliptic curves and zero‑knowledge proofs—an approach that would be considered advanced even at university level. As the student put it, even if the entire site is hacked, there is no password to steal, because security is built on mathematics rather than stored credentials.

Four‑in‑one vacuum cleaner by a 5th‑grader

In another corner, a four‑function vacuum cleaner built by a 5th‑grade student drew smiles and serious interest. The device can vacuum, generate cool airflow, act as an air pump and provide adjustable suction.

The young designer solved an initial problem of weak suction with a simple but clever engineering tweak: changing the size of the air outlet. He also added a safety cover for the air inlet to prevent injuries. Encouraged by his teachers after the project passed two rounds of judging, he came to Danova specifically to improve his design.

Smart cooling for solar panels

The final highlighted project of the day was a smart cooling system for solar panels. A 10th‑grade student from East Azerbaijan showed, through careful research, how rising panel temperature reduces efficiency.

By combining a thermoelectric module with a water circulation system, his prototype lowers panel temperature and increases energy yield. He noted that, if the captured heat is stored, it could also be used for space heating—allowing a single system to provide both electricity and thermal energy.

Together, these projects underscored that Danova is more than a contest; it is a national laboratory for discovering the talents that will shape the country’s technological future. Some projects carried the depth of university research, others the spirit of invention or direct problem‑solving—but all shared one element: the passion of teenagers determined to change something.

Danova 2025 showed that when the right platform is provided, the new generation not only has ideas, but also the capability to execute them. From smart greenhouses and track‑driven vacuums to industrial nanocatalysts and cryptographic algorithms, everything on display pointed to the same conclusion: the future of Iran’s technology is already being written in today’s classrooms.