Dr. Kawthar Ali, Associate Professor in the Department of Restorative Sciences at the Faculty of Dentistry, Kuwait University, has been awarded first place in the Nexus Startup Challenge for her project Restore.
This achievement was announced during the Nexus Technology and Innovation Exhibition and Conference, which recently concluded under the patronage and attendance of the Minister of State for Communications Affairs and Minister of Public Works, Mr. Omar Al-Omar, and with the participation of more than 80 companies.
Dr. Kawthar Ali’s win came after competing against approximately twenty projects and inventions from various technological sectors, in addition to completing an intensive training program that included specialized workshops aimed at developing business models. The projects were subsequently presented to a judging panel comprising a distinguished group of investors and experts.
The value of the innovation lies in its multifaceted benefits across several stakeholders and levels. It assists patients in understanding the feasibility of restorative success and the expected duration of treatment; supports clinicians in the medical decision-making process; serves as an educational tool for students; and functions as an auditing and assessment instrument for health insurance companies.
In this regard, the Acting Dean of the Faculty of Dentistry at Kuwait University, Dr. Rashed Al-Azemi, commended the achievement attained by Dr. Kawthar Ali, affirming that this accomplishment reflects the overall competence and excellence of the faculty members, and Dr. Kawthar in particular.
He further noted that this success underscores the ability of the faculty’s academic staff to innovate and develop advanced technologies—specifically artificial intelligence and machine learning—in enhancing diagnostic and therapeutic methods in the fields of oral, dental, and maxillofacial health.