All-women’s team of engineers from Tunisia reaches finals for European inventor’s prize

A high-tech wheelchair system built by a team of young Tunisian female engineers has made it to the final round of a prestigious European inventor’s prize, AFP reports. The invention- named Moovobrain- enables users to direct the wheelchair using a headset which detects brainwaves. Users can also choose between using touchpad, voice command or facial gestures.

The remarkable device will compete with the two other finalists- from the Netherlands and Ukraine- on July 9 for the Young Inventor’s Prize, launched by the European Patent Office (EPO) in 2021. 

This is “the first time a Tunisian and Arab team has reached the final” stage of the competition, the EPO said in a statement.  

28-year-old co-founder Souleima Ben Temime told AFP that Moovobrain was inspired by her Uncle who became dependent on a wheelchair after his upper body was paralysed. 

The team's international success comes despite Tunisia's increasing economic and political dislocation over the last several years.