The Edison Awards, named after Thomas Alva Edison, recognize and honor the world’s best innovators and innovations. This year marks the 32nd year the Edison Universe organization has recognized technology innovation in categories ranging from medical advancements to building materials.
The Solar Suitcase was selected over other finalists in the category of Humanitarian Technology.
Worldwide, more than one billion people live without electricity – and 300,000 women die in childbirth, often turned away from health centers that lack power.
We Care Solar is a nonprofit that has teamed with Arrow to ensure women have access to safe childbirth in well-lit health facilities and equip medical providers with the power to save lives.
To optimize We Care Solar’s lifesaving technology solution, Arrow helped create a cheaper, more powerful design that is now easier to manufacture at scale, install and operate. Each unit is expected to work for at least five years before requiring a simple battery replacement. Extensive field testing is continuing in Uganda, and expanded manufacturing in the United States is planned for 2019.
“Having the light changed the lives of the health workers and patients. It changed everything,” said Maimuna Muye, a Nigerian midwife.
All nominations were reviewed by the Edison Awards Steering Committee and the final ballot sent to an independent judging panel. The judging panel was comprised of more than 3,000 professionals from the fields of product development, design, engineering, science, marketing and education, including professional organizations representing a wide variety of industries and disciplines.
The Edison Award winners were announced at a ceremony in New York City, New York, on April 4, 2019.
