Firm challenges students to take on climate change with innovation

By Sara Okuoro 

Ericsson has launched its annual Ericsson Innovation Awards (EIA) 2020. The global competition offers university students around the world the chance to develop new, innovative ideas with support from experts. 

The theme is “Reclaim the future,” which centers on addressing current and future climate challenges and focuses on how information and communications technology (ICT) can provide radical climate change mitigation for consumers and industries alike.   Kenyan startups and university students have previously emerged as winners for the awards as part of the sub-Saharan Africa category. In 2015, Team Chura won an award for developing an App that allows subscribers to switch, buy and cash their airtime across networks in a multi-sim environment.

SEE ALSO: Messi unlikely to change mind on Barca exit, says presidential candidate

In 2016, lluminum Greenhouses, a Kenya-based agri-tech startup won an award for their innovative solution under the EIA theme, “The Future of Food”. “Through our research and collaboration with academia and industry partners, we know that digitalization will drive the innovation and opportunities we need to achieve a 1.5-degrees-Celsius future in line with the Paris Agreement. That’s why this year’s Ericsson Innovation Awards will challenge some of the best and brightest students sharing our passion for innovation to demonstrate how technology can support climate action,” said Heather Johnson, Head of Sustainability and Corporate Responsibility at Ericsson. “We believe that young people drive innovation and development when it comes to current pressing issues.” The competition is open to students currently enrolled in university. They can participate in teams of two to four members. Teams should register and submit their ideas by September 30, 2020.