A team of Cardiff University alumni has competed against the world's best in the grand finale of a global entrepreneurial action competition.
Drawn from the Schools of Engineering and Physics and Astronomy, the team brought home $1,000 in prize money after making it to the last 16 of the Enactus World Cup 2025 held at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center (QSNCC) in Bangkok, Thailand.
Hajira Irfan (BEng 2025), Harry Parkinson (BSc 2025) and Benjamin Drury (BSc 2025), pitched their carbon capture system Spiruflow to Enactus judges over two rounds of competition before missing out on a place in the top four after coming up against the 2024 winners Tunisia.
The team, completed by electrical and electronic engineering studentGurpreet Singh who did not travel to Thailand, qualified for the World Cup event in May, after becoming the first from Wales to win the Enactus UK and Ireland National Championship .
It feels unbelievable that a project we spent so long working on as just a small team of students has now been presented to the world. This achievement would not have been possible without the incredible support of Cardiff University: the culture of encouraging learning and new ideas is what allowed us to take our project this far. Now, having attended the Enactus World Cup as new graduates, it feels like the perfect way to close this amazing chapter.
The team, who also won the Inspired Engineers Award at Cardiff University's Student Start-Up and Freelance Awards in 2024 and showcased their work at the 2025 Greenman Festival, have been supported by the Student Futures Team and academic mentors Professor Les Baillie, Professor Adrian Porch, and Dr Jonny Lees.
Their project, Spiruflow, is an algae-based direct air carbon capture (DACC) system that uses a chemical solution to capture CO₂ from the atmosphere and feeds it directly to algae.
The algae convert the CO₂ into oxygen—offering a low-energy, scalable alternative to traditional carbon capture methods.
Professor Les Baillie of the School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences said: "Climate change is a significant global challenge that requires innovative solutions to reduce the long-term effects of human activity on our planet.
"This student-led Spiruflow project is an excellent example of what can be achieved when students are empowered to unleash their creativity."
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The Cardiff team celebrates reaching the top 16 of the Enactus World Cup 2025 in Bangkok, Thailand.
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The Cardiff Team was supported by other Enactus representatives from across the globe.
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Hajira Irfan (BEng 2025) address delegates at the Enactus World Cup 2025.
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Georgina Moorcroft from Cardiff University's Student Futures team (dressed in orange) judging at the Enactus World Cup 2025.
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The Cardiff Team at the Enactus World Cup cultural fair.
Plans are underway for one of the bioreactors to be installed in the Welsh capital in 2026 in collaboration with Cardiff University, Renishaw and Cardiff City Council.
"The Spiruflow bioreactor is a fantastic example of a truly interdisciplinary project raising awareness of important global challenges as well as the engineering and science that can help address them," explains Dr Jonny Lees, who leads the Electrical and electronic department in the School of Engineering.
"It has been remarkable to see this group of engineering, physics and other undergraduate students work so well together, taking their design from initial concept to physical demonstrator – they have been truly inspirational to fellow students and academics alike.
"I want to congratulate them for reaching the last 16 of the competition and for representing Cardiff, Wales and, indeed the UK and Ireland, on the world stage too."
This year's event marked the 25th edition of the Enactus World Cup and its return to Southeast Asia.
The World Cup ran alongside the Sustainability Expo 2025 (SX2025) and brought together over 1,800 students, educators, and staff from 35 countries.
The atmosphere at the finals is what inspired teammate Benjamin Drury, who also graduated in the summer from the School of Physics and Astronomy.
It's not just about the project; there's a whole cultural fair. It's been nice to integrate with other people and get to see a little bit of other people's culture from their countries. I'm really happy we placed in the Top 16. It's been great coming to Bangkok and representing not only Cardiff but the UK and Ireland as a whole!
Taking 'Generation:Re' as its theme, the event celebrated the power of young people to reimagine, restore, and regenerate the world.
To stand alongside some of the most innovative student teams in the world and share the work we've been building is an incredible opportunity. For me, this journey isn't just about showcasing our project; it's about learning, collaborating, and being part of a global movement of young people determined to tackle the world's toughest problems.
