Siemens Stiftung (foundation) wants to identify efficient technical solutions which empower people in developing and emerging countries to independently combat existential problems through the “empowering people. Award”. The Siemens Stiftung launched the competition in June 2012 at the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development Rio+20. It is supported by the KfW (business area development bank) and the Helmholtz Association. The Munich-based Siemens Stiftung, which commenced its operative work in early 2009, merged of all previous corporate citizenship activities of Siemens AG.

Inventors and developers from all regions worldwide are invited to enter simple and appropriate technical products and solutions in the categories Water & Waste Water, Energy, Waste Management & Recycling, Health, Food & Agriculture, Housing & Construction, and Information & Communication Technology. Entries are to be made online on the project website. The competition calls for inventions like for example innovations that create power for the operation of single machines or the supply of energy in homes, filter systems for water supply, e-health solutions or technologies for composting or recycling. The main requirement here is that the solutions or products can be implemented with the resources in the areas themselves. The entries will be professionally evaluated and an international jury will select winners.

Submitting enterprises should fulfil the following criteria

The enterprise develops solutions or products which have the potential of social impact for people in developing and emerging countries.
The enterprise develops solutions or products which are already successfully implemented to improve basic supply in developing or emerging countries.
The enterprise has a strong focus on job creation.
The enterprise follows values such as fairness, social responsibility and self-sustainability.
The enterprise is not a microfinance institution, private equity fund or deposit taking institution.

In order to identify promising inventions, the Siemens Stiftung has a sum of approx. 200,000 EUR for all these valuable contributions. The prizes will be allocated as follows: 1st Prize EUR 50,000.00; 2nd Prize EUR 30,000.00; 3rd Prize EUR 20,000.00; 20 runners up EUR 5,000.00 (each)

Following the competition, the technical innovations will be categorised in a new long-term database which aims to offer international practitioners in developmental cooperation a speedy and comprehensive overview of operational solutions from the categories defined. The online platform is also designed to foster an international exchange of knowledge, the initiation of cooperation and the further development of the products and solutions available. The aim of the Siemens Stiftung is to encourage the broad use of effective and tailored technological solutions in the appropriate basic supply context. This is to make a valuable contribution in improving living condition in the regions affected most.

Click here to find out more and apply: http://www.empowering-people-award.siemens-stiftung.org/

Source; http://www.socialearth.org