Every day, we are awash with news of the latest gadgets, product launches and strategic moves of Internet giants. In this climate, it’s easy to lose sight of the important role technology can play in improving the lives of people around the world.
Twenty-three startups recently received awards for focusing their considerable talents on solving the basic problems of people in developing countries. If more of our collective innovation and investment dollars were applied to solving the world’s most pressing problems, picture the world we could create.
Technology for Basic Needs
Imagine a lightweight, inexpensive fire-top device that enables households to cook a meal while heating water to temperatures high enough to kill waterborne bacteria. Imagine a simple, small, and affordable hydro power plant that uses the current of a river to provide electricity for the 1.4 billion people without access to electrical energy. Or imagine the impact of a low-cost, reusable and energy-efficient infant warmer, which addresses the critical challenge of preventing hypothermia for the nearly 13 million premature, low-birth-weight babies born each year in developing countries.
These are just a few of the pioneering technologies recognized for this year’s Siemens Stiftung “empowering people. Award”.
Award Supports Innovation
The Siemens Stiftung “empowering people. Award” is designed to find and support simple but intelligent technology solutions with the capacity to sustainably improve the lives of people in developing countries. The top three winners announced today — OneDollarGlasses, MakaPads and the Jompy Water Boiler — were awarded cash prizes totaling $113,160 to further their efforts. Each of the remaining 20 finalists received a $6,900 cash prize, and one solution — Solar Reflectors — received a Community Prize of technology valued at $4,140.
Here’s a look at the top winners and a sampling of other innovative finalists:
