The Mohammed bin Rashid Initiative for Global Prosperity today announced the 20 finalists who will be competing for cash prizes and mentorship worth up to US$1 million in this year’s Global Maker Challenge. The finalists are to present their virtual pitch from 31 August to 3 September, in the lead up to the Award Ceremony on 6 September.

The 20 finalists have been selected from a cohort comprising over 3,400 solutions, three times the number of last year's inaugural event. These solutions came from 148 countries, of which 18% came from least developed countries.

This year’s Global Maker Challenge centered around four themes: “Sustainable and Healthy Food for All”, “Climate Change”, “Innovation for Inclusive Trade”, and “Innovation for Peace and Justice”. In partnership with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s SOLVE initiative (MIT SOLVE), an esteemed judge panel made up of 47 renowned experts from UN agencies, global organizations, digital innovation companies, NGOs, and academia helped pick the 20 finalists (five innovators per theme).

The shortlisted finalists harnessed novel technologies including machine learning, artificial intelligence, smart materials and cloud-based networks to design affordable, highly scalable solutions for helping disadvantaged communities around the world, as well as creating new opportunities for sustainable development.

It is estimated that as many as 50 million people will fall into extreme poverty as a result of the COVID-19 coronavirus. The pandemic is also slowing down overall efforts to achieve the 17 Sustainable Development Goals set out by the United Nations, putting years of progress at risk.

"Innovation is key to controlling the damage caused by Covid-19 and bringing us back to speed towards a more sustainable future," said Badr Al Olama, Head of Organizing Committee for the Global Manufacturing and Industrialization Summit, who will hand out the prizes this year. "We must double up on our efforts in utilizing innovation to address humanitarian challenges and offer solutions to the unprecedented crisis."

The finalists of the “Sustainable and Healthy Food for All” challenge are ColdHubs, IXON, Xilinat, Stixfresh, and Nilus. The finalists of the “Climate Change” challenge are AlgiKnit, Aquacycl, Queen of Raw, Plastics for Change, and Biocellection. The finalists of the “Innovation for Peace and Justice“ challenge are Peripheral Vision International, ID2020, PeaceTech Lab, Simbi Foundation, and Aiyin. The finalists of the “Innovation for Inclusive Trade” challenge are Agricycle Global, Fantine, POKET, Takachar, and ChapChap.

"The finalists that have been selected are a testament that there is still hope for millions of people suffering from the effects of environmental or human-made problems,” said Lisa Mcauley, CEO of the Global Trade Professionals Alliance. “Their ideas represent an inspiring blend of creativity and practical knowledge that will improve the lives of millions.”

For those who are interested in viewing the finalists’ virtual pitch and attending the award ceremony, please register here.

「穆罕默德·本·拉希德全球繁榮計劃」今天宣布了20名決賽入圍者，他們將在今年「全球製造者挑戰賽」中爭奪價值高達100萬美元的獎金和名師指導。入圍者將於8月31日至9月3日發表「虛擬遊說」，並將於2020年9月6日出席頒獎典禮。

這20名入圍者是從3,400多個提案中選出來的，數目是去年賽事的三倍。這些提案來自148個國家，其中18％來自最不發達國家。

今年「全球製造商挑戰賽」圍繞四個主題：「全民可持續健康食品」、「氣候變化」、「包容性貿易創新」和「和平與正義創新」。通過與麻省理工學院的「MIT SOLVE」計劃合作，由來自聯合國、全球企業、數碼科技公司、非政府組織和學術界等47名專家組成的評審小組最終選出了20名入圍者（每個主題五名入圍者）。

入圍者利用機器學習、人工智能、智能材料和雲端網絡等新穎技術，設計出可負擔和可擴展的方案，以幫助世界各地的弱勢社區，並為可持續發展創造新的機會。

據估計，全球高達5000萬人將因為新型冠狀病毒陷入極端貧困。病毒大流行也減慢了聯合國提出的17個可持續發展目標，使多年的進展處於危險之中。

「全球製造和工業化峰會」組織委員會主席Badr Al Olama表示：「創新是控制新型冠狀病毒和重啟未來可持續性的關鍵。我們必須加倍努力，利用創新來應對人道災難，並為前所未有的危機提供解決方案。」

「全民可持續健康食品」挑戰的五名入圍者為ColdHubs、IXON、Xilinat、Stixfresh和Nilus。「氣候變化」挑戰的五名入圍者為AlgiKnit、Aquacycl、Queen of Raw、 Plastics for Change和Biocellection。「包容性貿易創新」挑戰的五名入圍者為Peripheral Vision International、 ID2020、PeaceTech Lab、 Simbi Foundation和Aiyin。「和平與正義創新」挑戰的五名入圍者為 Agricycle Global、 Fantine、 POKET、 Takachar和ChapChap。

全球貿易專業人士聯盟首席執行官Lisa Mcauley說：「被選中的入圍者證明了遭受環境或人為問題影響的弱勢社群仍然有希望。他們的概念融合了創造力和實踐知識，將改善數百萬人的生活。」

有興趣觀看入圍者虛擬遊說和參加頒獎典禮的人，請在這裡註冊。

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