2025 Laureate
Atef
Shkokani
Atef Shkokani believes that innovation thrives where curiosity meets purpose. A Palestinian entrepreneur, inventor, and mentor, he has built a career dedicated to transforming ideas into tangible impact, empowering young creators to move from vision to venture and from challenge to change. Through his work in technology, education, and social innovation, Atef embodies the spirit of a new generation of global business leaders who view progress not as a privilege but as a shared responsibility.
-
1993
Born (Palestine)
-
2013
Receives Patent No. 211 for A Car that Runs on Water
-
2015
Graduates from Al-Quds Bard College
-
2019
Receives Patent No. 267 for Stop Texting While Driving
-
2020
Receives MBA in Entrepreneurship from Birzeit University
-
2020
Wins the Mediterranean Inventors Fair for CVision
-
2025
Inducted into the Global Business Hall of Fame
Born and raised in Palestine, Atef’s story is one of resilience, imagination, and the conviction that local innovation can have global reach. From an early age, he showed a fascination with how technology could solve everyday problems. That spark later guided both his studies and his professional path, leading him to pursue higher education in economics, computer science, and business innovation. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Computer Science from Al-Quds University and Bard College and a Master of Business Administration in Entrepreneurship from Birzeit University. He also completed advanced studies through the WIPO Academy’s patent series (covering intellectual property, patent law, and drafting), the MIT Management of Technology program, and Rutgers University’s Social Entrepreneurship course, and became a Certified Innovation Professional in 2023.
After completing his undergraduate degree at Al-Quds Bard College, Atef began exploring how software and machine learning could be applied to enhance community safety, accessibility, and efficiency. His early prototypes showed not only technical ingenuity but also empathy, using technology to improve lives rather than simply to optimize processes. His first patent, “A Car that Runs on Water,” was registered in 2013, marking the start of a series of groundbreaking inventions. Later patents included “Stop Texting While Driving” (2019) and “Device and System for Controlling Traffic Lights and Sending Emergency Warnings to Vehicles” (2020). He also completed an Autonomous Driving System internship at CMORE Automotive in Germany, where he worked on lane-detection algorithms and active-safety systems under the supervision of Professors Kay Wilding and Thomas Kibler.
As Projects Coordinator for Birzeit University’s Innovation and Development Unit, Atef mentors student teams developing entrepreneurial projects, guiding them from concept to commercialization. He has helped shape a culture of experimentation and inclusion, creating an environment where young people learn to take calculated risks and view failure as part of discovery.
His leadership has made him a trusted voice in Palestine’s growing innovation ecosystem. He has supported the incubation of more than 30 startups—including GiveLife and Medsina—organized TEDx Birzeit, and served as a jury member for regional and international innovation competitions. His collaborations extend to the Ministry of National Economy on patent and technology support initiatives (TISC), and he teaches Social Entrepreneurship and Design Thinking courses, further advancing Palestine’s innovation infrastructure.
Atef’s own inventions have also earned international recognition. His project CVISION, a computer-vision-based safety solution, won top honors at the first Mediterranean Inventors Fair in 2020, representing Palestine on a global stage and proving that ingenuity knows no borders. Building on that success, he founded CVISION and illumes.ai, applying artificial intelligence to real-world challenges in safety, monitoring, and accessibility. These ventures reflect his lifelong mission to create technology that protects, empowers, and connects. He also developed an Advance Warning System (AWS) recognized by the Dubai Roads and Transport Authority through the Mohammed Bin Rashid Smart Majlis for its contribution to traffic safety, and received multiple regional innovation awards—including the Valeo Innovation Challenge, the Hult Prize for Water & Electric Monitoring, and the Regional Innovation Factory’s top prize for CVISION in 2020. His academic achievements were further honored through Birzeit University’s 2023/2024 Administrative Excellence Award for innovation, process improvement, and leadership in digital transformation.
Key Innovations and Ventures
CVISION: A patented vehicle safety system that alerts drivers and family members about mobile phone usage while driving.
illumes.ai: A computer-vision analytics platform enhancing safety, monitoring, and accessibility across transportation and public spaces.
COVID-19 Diagnostics Tool: A fast diagnostic tool built on Alibaba Cloud technology can analyze CT scans in under 10 seconds.
Arduino-Based Education Platforms: E-learning tools and digital teaching techniques to enhance traditional education systems with embedded technology.
Through mentorship, invention, and entrepreneurship, Atef continues to expand opportunities for others. His dedication to education and innovation has inspired countless young Palestinians to pursue careers in science and technology, challenging stereotypes and reshaping narratives about what is possible in the region. His broader innovation philosophy—rooted in growth mindset, creative collaboration, and disciplined execution—reflects his belief that progress is built through both curiosity and perseverance. Atef’s approach to leadership emphasizes scaling others’ impact, mentoring emerging innovators, and turning ideas into sustainable ventures that serve communities.
A Global Force for Good
Atef Shkokani’s impact extends far beyond his inventions. Through his dual roles as entrepreneur and educator, he has become a catalyst for inclusive growth and a mentor to the next generation of innovators. By bridging invention with mentorship, Atef is helping to build an innovation ecosystem that is both sustainable and compassionate, proving that when one person invests in the imagination of others, the results can ripple across communities and continents. His professional journey embodies the principle that innovation is most powerful when shared—and that the true measure of success lies not just in invention, but in empowering others to create.
