Nazareth contest crowns Arab-school innovators in 2026 Eagle Eye competition
This week, Nazareth hosted the “Eagle Eye 2026” competition, a joint initiative of the Nazareth Municipality, Touching Space, and the Nazareth Space Center. The event brought together outstanding students from schools across Arab society, who presented technology projects they developed over a full school year. President Isaac Herzog sent a recorded greeting, along with representatives of the Education Ministry and the city of Nazareth.
The competition is designed as a full startup simulation, not just a technology lesson. Students identify a problem, develop an idea, research it, build a prototype, test and improve it, then present it to judges and potential investors, mirroring the process used in real startups. Organizers said the format is intended to train a new generation of entrepreneurs, developers and innovators.
Among the leading winners, the Ibrahim Hussein middle school in Shfaram took first place for a system that detects blockages in drainage networks early and helps prevent flooding. The Nazareth school of the Sisters of Salizian won for a device that translates sign language and improves communication for people with hearing impairments. The Kafr Qara middle school was recognized for a “smart plant” that can communicate with its surroundings, warn of a water shortage and request help using sensors and artificial intelligence.
Other projects included a smart glove that translates sign language into speech and a system that alerts when a person is in distress in water. Judges included senior figures from tech companies, university deans, doctors, professors, researchers and other specialists in science, technology, engineering and innovation. They had to choose among 25 closely contested projects, and the organizers said the model could become an example for other cities and countries. They added that the initiative is meant not only to advance technology, but also to build cooperation, understanding and regional peace.
