- Sodetel and Collège Notre-Dame de Jamhour celebrate their students’ gold-winning MAX PRO invention that is first of its kind in the world, with NASR.
Beirut, December 7, 2018: Sodetel, a leading provider of Telecom & Internet Services in Lebanon, alongside the National Association for Science and Research (NASR), celebrated Collège Notre-Dame de Jamhour students’ Gold Medal and first place win as they represented Lebanon at the innovation iENA International Trade Fair in Nuremberg – Germany 2018 event for their brilliant technology project and invention known as Maximum Protection – “MAX PRO,” a smart safe that detects the loss or theft of precious objects. The winning team is comprised of five students from 11th and 12th grade classes.
The celebratory event took place at Collège Notre-Dame de Jamhour on December 5, 2018 and was attended by Sodetel Chairman and CEO Patrick Farajian, Father Charbel Batour S.J. , Rector of Collège Notre-Dame de Jamhour, NASR Board Chairman Radwan Chouaib, and Collège Notre-Dame de Jamhour’s five MAX PRO inventors: Ryan Dib Nehmé, Janine Bikai, Carl Moussallem, William Abou Khalil, and Marco Karam in addition to their teacher and coordinator of the School’s technology center Mr. Sadek Barek who assisted them throughout their journey.
Sodetel supported the MAX PRO inventors at the iENA 2018 event after having won the Golden Medal at the Lebanese Science Fair competition 2018 held by the National Association for Science and Research (NASR). Consequently the team represented Lebanon among the NASR’s delegation against several international countries.
This is the first step for MAX PRO in making their invention a reality, and most importantly the potential to receive monetary support to market their product. This project is currently the first in the world as it has never been done before. The smart safe is also able to detect the humidity inside and alert the owner of any emergencies in the possibility of a theft. It also recognizes when things are not in place, download the thief’s fingerprints in the process, and download the photo of the thief and transmit it to the owner.
Sodetel Chairman and CEO Patrick Farajian expressed his enthusiasm and said, “Our country should change from its current status as a consumer of technologies to become a creator and producer of new products and new technologies. To succeed in this transformation, we need to promote innovation. This is why I would like to congratulate the National Association for Science and Research that organizes these competitions and enhances ambition amongst our youth; as well as the Collège Notre-Dame de Jamhour which has encouraged and prepared its students to excel in innovative projects. Furthermore it is critical to improve ethics in the country and fight corruption in order to create a healthy environment for our youth to fulfill their potential. Sodetel has been able to prosper for over 50 years as it has constantly reinvented itself and favored innovation. ”
Father Charbel Batour S.J., Rector of Collège Notre-Dame de Jamhour said, “We are currently working on a big project for our school and hopefully the country: a robotics and technology academy at Collège Notre-Dame de Jamhour that will kick start as of this summer. We are proud of the participation of our students in the Lebanese Science Fair Competition and International Competitions with the National Association for Science and Research, this year and all the past years since 2011. We aspire to see the names of our students and all their accomplishments and inventions acknowledged. In Lebanon, we should also aspire to become a nation of producers and creators.”
National Association for Science and Research Radwan Chouaib commented and said, “Youth inventions, creations, and entrepreneurship are extremely important in the field of technology. Today, we have been able to witness their positive capabilities in creating something that is safe, secure, and fights off corruption. Innovation will enable career growth and progress in our country in the future.”
Taking Lebanon to the forefront of inventions and innovation, the MAX PRO being the first of its kind in the world will certainly shed a light on the creative and talented Lebanese youth present in the country, further placing Lebanon on the world map of innovation. Taking the first-place win at iENA 2018 proves that Lebanon has a talented and innovative landscape with a potential to succeed locally, regionally, and internationally.