Events - 19 June 2020

LWB among the 12 finalists in the running for the EIC Horizon Prize

LIBRARIES WITHOUT BORDERS AMONG THE 12 FINALISTS IN THE RUNNING FOR THE EIC HORIZON PRIZE FOR AFFORDABLE HIGH-TECH FOR HUMANITARIAN AID

The European Innovation Council (EIC) Horizon Prizes award the most innovative solutions to societal challenges. The prize attracted applicants from the EU and across the world. It aims to promote innovation and technologies that can improve people’s lives, in particular the most vulnerable.

       On the occasion of World Refugee Day, the Commission is announcing the 12 projects that are in the shortlist for the EIC Horizon Prize for Affordable High-Tech for Humanitarian Aid. With our offline internet solution, Libraries Without Borders competes in the “open” category and challenges other organizations as UNHCR, Handicap International and many more.

Fifty-two applications in total were submitted in the five categories : shelter and related assistance; water, hygiene and sanitation; energy; health and medical care; and an “open” category. The 5 winners – one per category – will be announced in September during the European Research and Innovation Days and will receive €1 million each.

Since 2007, Libraries Without Borders acts to bring knowledge to those who are deprived of it – from refugee camps in Bangladesh to rural territories in France – and make the right to culture a fundamental human right.

In thirteen years, the association has aided more than six million people in fifty countries.