Ushering in social change through 'Jugaad'

23 innovations in Siemens' award shortlist aim to do just that

One dollar glasses, sleeping bag incubators for newborns, internet solutions through sms – these are but few examples of frugal engineering or ‘jugaad’ that aim to plug the gaps faced by the less privileged groups in developing countries.

These are also part of the 23 shortlists from over 800 submissions for the Siemens Stiftung ‘empowering people. Award’, which aims to recognise technological innovations that could bring about social change.

One of the shorlists – Thermpod – by US-based company Embrace seeks to provide a low-cost and energy efficient incubator to prevent hypothermia among newborns. WHO estimates show that about 15 million babies are born prematurely every year. Of these, 85% of all premature births take place in developing nations. Most of these kids could be saved by keeping infants warm in the first few days after birth, says the company.  

Then there are one dollar glasses made from spring steel mires, biogas and water purification solutions, portable solar chargers, soil mapping system, wheelchairs to traverse extremely rough terrains, funnels to prevent wastage of water, polymer-based prosthetics among others in the shortlist.

The lone Indian shortlist – ‘smsgyan’ - aims to provide the benefits of internet to people through sms. Majority of Indians have access to mobile phones but not internet, we intend to bridge this divide, says Deepak Ravindran of Innoz Technologies. The user search query is sent via sms, scanned on the web, shortened and sent back to the user for 0.01 euro per sms or 0.30 euro flat rate per month.

Rolf Huber, Managing Director of the Siemens Stiftung says, “Entries provide access to water, energy, health, education and communication in a practicable and cost-efficient manner. They also create opportunities for the establishment of small businesses, new ways of generating income and improvements in daily life”

Voting for the 23 shortlists for a community prize is now open on the website: http://www.empowering-people-award.siemens-stiftung.org. Winners of this prize will receive freely selectable technical equipment to the value of 3,000 Euros for their project.

Besides, an international jury will announce the top three winners of the Siemens Stiftung award at a ceremony in Nairobi on 30 October. The first three winners will recieve 50,000, 30,000 and 20,000 euros respectively.  The remaining 20 will get 5,000 euros each.

An online platform will also be developed to connect inventors with potential investors and multipliers.

A list of the shortlists for the Siemens Stiftung award:

1)    Score StoveTM 2: Power production through acoustic oscillations
2)    Eliodomestico: Affordable water distillation system using solar energy
3)    Leveraged Freedom Chair: Wheelchair for rough ground
4)    SMSGYAN – Information & Communication: Offline internet research service via SMS
5)    BioGas Backpack: Portable carrier allows transport of valuable biogas
6)    SimGas GesiShamba rural biogas digester: Affordable rural biogas digester
7)    ROTOR – Swimming power plant: Floating hydropower
8)    Jompy Water Boiler: Heats water, kills bacteria
9)    Sun Saluter: Solar tracking & water filtration in one simple device

10)    River Ice – Cooling system: Cooling system with turbine in flowing water
11)    BioGas Backpack: Portable carrier allows transport of valuable biogas
12)    Mapeo de Napas con Georadar: Soil research innovation
13)    Mobile Solar Cellphone charger: Transportable charger
14)    MakaPads Sanitary pads: Locally-made biodegradable sanitary pads
15)    OneDollarGlasses: Specs for one dollar crafted manually empowering people
16)    OpenIR : Democratizing Infrared Satellite Data
17)    ReMotion Knee: Polycentric prosthetic knee for amputees
18)    ElectroChemical Arsenic Remediation: Vital water purification
19)    Solar reflectors: Solar energy for cooking
20)    Solarkiosk: Power for remote regions
21)    The Fish Farm: Micro-intensive process for sustainable fish production

22)    Thermpod: Sleeping bag incubator with reusable heat pads
23)    Pee Poo: Recyclable single-use toilet bags removing bacteria