Winners of Special Olympics Innovation Challenge dedicated to People of Determination announced

• EY leveraged the Cognistreamer platform to identify and evaluate start-ups
• The start-ups Key2enable, OTTAA Project, Pasitos, SignLab and YNMO  declared winners

Dubai:The Abu Dhabi Department of Community Development and the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) of Special Olympics World Games Abu Dhabi 2019, in collaboration with EY, Mubadala and Softbank Investment Advisors, have announced the final winners of the Special Olympics Innovation Challenge.

The five winners are: Key2enable, a project consisting of a smart keyboard, as well as a software solution for audio visual activities and two applications that write and vocalize phrases; OTTAA Project, which uses artificial intelligence to gather information about the environment and enhances communication; Pasitos, a healthcare software solution that enables caretakers and people of determination to plan and fulfill activities of daily living (ADLs); SignLab, a fully digital educational platform that allows families to utilize alternate modes of communications through using sign-assisted communication; and YNMO, a digital solution that allows service providers such as schools and clinics to design, monitor, and archive individualized treatment plans for people of determination.

As part of its commitment to building an inclusive future by harnessing the power of technology, EY used Cognistreamer, an open innovation and collaboration platform, to identify and evaluate over 170+ solution submissions, bringing together start-ups from around the globe and tasking them with the mission to develop deployable solutions for people of determination across five aspects of everyday life: health, education, transport, community and sports.

Mubadala and Softbank Investment Advisors, partners of the innovation challenge, presented the five winners of the challenge with US$30,000 each for their innovative approach to solving real-world problems for people of determination at a special awards ceremony.

Dr. Yousef Al Hammadi, Chief Intelligence Officer, Special Olympics World Games Abu Dhabi 2019, said: “Around 200 million people worldwide have an intellectual disability and it is important to create technologies to help them experience a better quality of life by promoting independence and decreasing the need for other support. 

“It has been an enlightening experience seeing so many strong entries for the Innovation Challenge and we would like to thank every single start-up that has entered. Technology is a fundamental part of all of our lives, but for a person of determination, it can have a far more substantial impact on a long-term basis.”

Kapil Raghuraman, MENA Advisory Digital Leader, EY, said:

“We are extremely encouraged by the widespread participation of start-ups from around the world in the Special Olympics Innovation Challenge, and believe in the power of technology to help build a more inclusive future for the next generation. As a strategic partner to the UAE government, we will continue to work on projects that will enable the UAE to achieve its vision of becoming one of the most inclusive and digitally advanced countries globally.”

The Special Olympics World Games Abu Dhabi 2019 took place from 14 – 21 March – the Games were the world’s largest sports and humanitarian event of the year. Special Olympics is a global movement that focuses on the empowerment of people of determination with intellectual abilities. The Abu Dhabi edition of the World Games saw the participation of more than 7,500 athletes of determination from over 190 nations and attracted over 20,000 volunteers and 500,000 spectators.

-Ends-

About EY
EY is a global leader in assurance, tax, transaction and advisory services. The insights and quality services we deliver help build trust and confidence in the capital markets and in economies the world over. We develop outstanding leaders who team to deliver on our promises to all of our stakeholders. In so doing, we play a critical role in building a better working world for our people, for our clients and for our communities.

EY refers to the global organization, and may refer to one or more, of the member firms of Ernst & Young Global Limited, each of which is a separate legal entity. Ernst & Young Global Limited, a UK company limited by guarantee, does not provide services to clients. For more information about our organization, please visit ey.com.

The MENA practice of EY has been operating in the region since 1923. For over 90 years, we have grown to over 7,500 people united across 21 offices and 16 countries, sharing the same values and an unwavering commitment to quality. As an organization, we continue to develop outstanding leaders who deliver exceptional services to our clients and who contribute to our communities. We are proud of our accomplishments over the years, reaffirming our position as the largest and most established professional services organization in the region.

© Press Release 2019