The Project MARCH team is a voluntary group of Delft University of Technology students tackling the issue of mobility limitations with a high-tech solution. They have successfully created an exoskeleton aimed at improving the lives of people affected by mobility issues across the world. It is a project based on partnership with collective expertise being used to solve global challenges together.
The ultra-energy-efficient, long-range, award-winning Dutch-made Lightyear one is a self-charging electric solar car with a slick aerodynamic design. As we look to smart mobility to reduce CO2 emissions in the future, solar vehicles could form part of the solution. The founders of this Dutch startup company began their journey on the Stella solar car team that won the World Solar Challenge race cruiser class in 2013. The Lightyear One car was also awarded the Climate Change Innovator Award at the Consumer Electronic Show (CES) in 2018. This prize is presented to startups whose product or technology demonstrated the ability to cut greenhouse gas emissions if widely implemented.
The gripping impact of COVID-19 is greatly felt by every country in the world. The pandemic has also revealed the stark difference in access to quality healthcare in various regions. In line with yesterday’s World Health Day theme ‘Building a fairer, healthier world’ we were inspired to highlight this poignant issue. Making adequate healthcare accessible for everyone can only be realised through international partnerships. The COVAX roll out of the Janssen vaccine is an example of how this could be achieved.
Each year, over half a million women worldwide die from breast cancer. In 2020, 2.3 million women were diagnosed across the globe with the disease, which makes up 11.7 percent of all cancer diagnoses. This places female breast cancer mortality higher than lung cancer and makes it the most commonly diagnosed and deadly cancer. Early diagnosis and screening significantly increase survival rates. A recent independent study reveals that Artificial Intelligence (AI) mammogram assessment systems can increase efficiency and accuracy, potentially saving thousands of lives.
Today, on the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace (6 April), we celebrate not just athleticism, team building, or the many benefits of playing sports. We also put the #WhiteCard initiative in the spotlight. As opposed to the red card which signifies a major sporting offence and exclusion from sports, the #WhiteCard symbolises inclusion, tolerance and peace in sports and beyond. It is a sign of commitment to peace efforts worldwide.
With an ever-growing world population, achieving food security is one of our main challenges in years to come. As food waste accounts for around one-third of all food produced for human consumption globally, reducing food loss can contribute significantly to reaching food security. In Ethiopia and Djibouti, the Flying Swans consortium is creating a cool logistics network together with local partners. This network aims to reduce post-harvest loss substantially and create economic opportunities for both countries.
Today marked the 20th anniversary of the first same-sex marriages worldwide, which took place in Amsterdam. Since then, 20,000 same-sex marriages are registered in the Netherlands. And 30 countries have passed national laws, enabling gay and lesbian couples to wed.