WE CARE Solar was today named as a laureate of The Tech Awards 2011 in recognition of its work to reduce maternal and infant morbidity and mortality in the developing world by providing solar electricity for lighting and communications. WE CARE Solar is one of 15 global innovators recognized for applying technology to benefit humanity and spark global change. The Tech Awards, a signature program of The Tech Museum, and presented by Applied Materials, Inc., selected WE CARE Solar from among hundreds of nominations representing 54 countries.
“We are delighted that The Tech Awards Committee recognized the importance of bringing reliable electricity to health care facilities,” stated co-founder Dr. Laura Stachel. “Lack of electricity severely impairs the ability to deliver care at 300,000 health facilities around the world. Using solar technology to power LED lights, mobile communications, blood bank refrigerators and other medical devices means women can deliver babies more safely and hospitals need not turn people away at night.”
“We are scaling up in manufacturing, distribution, training and servicing around the world,” said Hal Aronson, WE CARE’s co-founder and director of technology. “Recognition by the Tech Museum will help us build partnerships to accelerate the deployment of renewable energy solutions that help mothers and babies worldwide.”
The Tech Awards: Technology Benefiting Humanity is one of the premier annual humanitarian awards programs in the world, recognizing technical solutions that benefit humanity and address the most critical issues facing our planet and its people. The awards program honors 15 scientists and innovators annually alongside the recipient of the Global Humanitarian Award. Laureates are selected by a prestigious panel of international judges organized by the Center for Science, Technology, and Society at Santa Clara University, and made up of Santa Clara University faculty as well as leaders from educational and research institutions, industry and the public sector around the world. One Laureate in each category will receive a $50,000 cash prize during the annual Awards Gala in Santa Clara, Calif., on October 20th.
