Students at the University achieved 2nd place in the inaugural UK-India Social Innovation Challenge, which received over 50 submissions from British and Indian social innovators.
Competitors were tasked with developing a sustainable business model which aids in the completion of United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Number six: Clean Water and Sanitation, challenging the students to “ensure the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.”
Southampton students receiving their award
JuaMaji, a solar water purification venture created by Enactus Southampton, received second place whilst Cranfield University’s Claire Scott secured the top prize with her project A BCD Egg.
Enactus’ project involved providing financially sustainable infrastructure through a secondary industry of fish farming, whilst Scott’s project involved an egg shape indicator which reacts to the presence of life-threatening diseases in water. A BCD Egg won £1,500 prize money and a 6 month mentorship for Scott.
This multinational initiative was a collaboration between British Council, the Centre for Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CSIE) at the Institute for Information Technology (IIT) Madras, and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), with leadership from the University’s Social Impact Lab. The Challenge was run entirely on the open innovation platform Babele.
Social Impact Lab Director Dr Pathik Pathak commented:
Our first UK-India Social Innovation Challenge was a great success, and shows how, through open innovation and collaboration, we can tackle the pressing challenges of our age. Clean water and sanitation is an urgent problem for our world, and through this Challenge we hope to have found some game-changing innovations which can improve the lives of millions.
Learn more about the Social Impact Lab by clicking here.
