SACAQM, a winner of the ODESS 2025 Prize of the Pierre Fabre Foundation in France

SACAQM, hosted by the Institute for Collider Particle Physics (ICPP) at the University of the Witwatersrand, has been named a global recipient of the ODESS 2025 Prize from the Pierre Fabre Foundation in France. This year’s competition drew a record 350 applications worldwide.

The award recognises a technology transfer success of the SA-CERN programme, adapting methods from experimental particle physics to environmental and public health challenges. The winning project integrates environmental sensors, IoT communications, and real-time AI analytics, inspired by CERN’s approach to collecting, transmitting, and analysing detector data.

At the heart of the innovation is the AI_r platform, which combines cost-effective, high-accuracy sensors with cloud-based AI algorithms for early anomaly detection and climate impact assessment. This scalable solution enables real-time air quality monitoring and supports rapid, informed decision-making — even in resource-limited environments.

The project has been made possible through the support of the South African Department of Science, Innovation and Technology (DSTI), the National Research Foundation (NRF), iThemba LABS, the Canadian International Development Research Centre (IDRC), the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), and CERN’s IdeaSquare.

Read more : https://www.nrf.ac.za/institute-for-collider-particle-physics-wins-prestigious-odess-2025-prize-in-france-for-ai-powered-innovation/