"empowering people. Award 2015" Call for Entries Opens Today: Siemens Stiftung on the Lookout for Technical Solutions to Improve Basic Supply in Developing Regions

MUNICH, GERMANY--(Marketwired - Jul 1, 2015) - Siemens Stiftung today announced the call for entries for its "empowering people. Award" with a kick-off event in Munich. Siemens Stiftung invites inventors and developer teams to submit their low-tech innovations in one of eight categories that cover the main areas of basic supply in impoverished regions. The potential to be embedded in entrepreneurial models providing sustainable help to individuals and communities in developing regions is one of the pivotal criteria. 

Effective, simple and innovative: The Award is on the lookout for solutions in the categories of Water & Waste Water, Energy, Food & Agriculture, Waste Management, Healthcare, Sheltering, Education and Information & Communication.:

"The goal of the contest is ultimately to empower people in developing regions to have access to basic services for their daily needs," said Rolf Huber, Managing Director, Siemens Stiftung. "We want to locate creative solutions and we are eager to work with innovative teams to bring their solutions to the lives of those who need them most. Since our first Award in 2012, we were able to support dozens of initiatives. In addition, our network partners of engineers from various fields and social business experts around the world help them maximize their impact."

Project entries will be assessed by an interdisciplinary and international jury, with the winners receiving cash prizes and an expert evaluation of their entries. The first prize winner will be awarded a sum of 50,000 Euros ($56,045 U.S.); the second prize earnings are valued at 30,000 Euros $33,619.50 U.S.); third place at 20,000 Euros ($22,418 U.S.). In addition, 20 runners-up will be awarded a sum of 5,000 Euros each ($5,604.50 U.S.). A Community Prize will also be awarded and judged by the highly engaged global online empowering people community. The winning entry here will receive hardware to the value of 3,000 Euros.

In addition to the prize money, the solutions will be showcased and promoted in a Solutions Database, with the inventors and entrepreneurs behind the innovations becoming part of a broader endeavor: the "empowering people. Network". This community, created and facilitated by Siemens Stiftung, consists of developers and social entrepreneurs from around the globe. Members of the Network benefit from training sessions on relevant topics for their businesses as well as expert support for their organizational or technical developments. Regular online and offline meetings enable the creation of synergy and cooperation between inventors and players of the ecosystem who span the globe. 

Deadline for entries is midnight EST on November 30, 2015.

Further information on www.empowering-people-network.org

"empowering people. Network" on Facebook:
www.facebook.com/EmpoweringPeopleNetwork

and on Twitter:
www.twitter.com/Emp_Ppl_Award

Official hashtag: #epA2015

About the Siemens Stiftung

Siemens Stiftung operates in the fields of basic services, education, and culture. As a hands-on foundation, we develop our own projects and implement them with a view to the long term. Together with our partners, we aim to help people improve their living conditions. By doing so, we try to empower functioning communities in which people can have a good life. We are committed to international, impact-oriented, and transparent project work. The geographical focus of our work is on regions in Africa and Latin America as well as Germany and other European countries.

Website of Siemens Stiftung: www.siemens-stiftung.org