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Abstract

How do we ensure that indoor environments support the needs of all individuals to live and work independently, simply, efficiently, effectively and safely?

The aim is to empower people living with disabilities, while unlocking the business, social and economic value of practical solutions.

This challenge provides contribution to the following sustainable development goals (SDGs) to transform our world:

  • SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
  • SDG 10: Reduced Inequality
  • SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities.

For questions about the challenge and your proposal you can contact disabilityitalia@enel.com.

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Description

SCENARIO

Around 1.3 billion people in the world are affected by a disability to some degree (15% of the global population, or 1 in 7 people). People with disability account for nearly $8 trillion of disposable annual income. Including friends and family members, disability touches 53% of consumers, representing a market of untapped business potential. Looking ahead, the global trends in longevity and the higher risk of disability in older people are likely to lead to further increases in the population affected by disability. 

 

BACKGROUND

Around the world, persons with disabilities face a number of obstacles that prevent them from actively participating in society. Physical and technological barriers are tangible, whereas other hurdles are dictated by cultural or social perceptions. In order to promote inclusivity, Enel thinks that granting autonomy and accessibility is a precondition to equal participation and contribution for all mankind. This will help to:

  • innovate the context in which people with disabilities live;
  • integrate concerns about disability in everyday life;
  • increase visibility of people with disability thus activating involvement and spreading knowledge of the issues at stake;
  • ensure smart and sustainable growth.

 

THE CHALLENGE

Enel is looking for solutions to ensure autonomous mobility and facilitate navigation of people with disabilities throughout buildings such as private houses, public buildings and offices.

In particular the main goals of this challenge are:

  • providing free mobility within buildings without depending upon someone for assistance;
  • overcoming architectural barriers or detecting the presence of obstacles;
  • creating safe paths for people with disability even in private houses;
  • orienting blind people and people unable to ask for directions in a large building.

 

Some examples of problems that have been scouted are related to:

  • turnstiles that do not accommodate wheelchair users and guide dog access
  • difficulty with badge access and information about check-in/check-out time for vision-impaired people
  • elevator safety for persons with hearing disability (e.g. emergency sign language tool)
  • use of toilets autonomously for people with reduced mobility (e.g. lack of ergonomic toilets, lack of spatial information useful for blind people)
  • go through crowded corridors safely (e.g. for people with reduced mobility and blind people)
  • use the stairs (in particular in case of an emergency)
  • navigating in a new environment (e.g. for blind people and people with reduced mobility)
  • how to integrate artificial intelligence in electronic wheelchairs 

 

The above list is not exhaustive and Enel is looking for solutions that solve other problems that have not been listed/identified.

 

SOLUTION REQUIREMENTS

Submissions must have the following Solution Requirements:

  • Any solution has to be verified and documented (not just an “idea”);
  • All solutions must be safe and compliant with the local regulations where the solution is going to be implemented;
  • All solutions must be sustainable environmentally and economically;
  • The solution must be innovative in terms of technology used with a multifaceted impact analysis (social, economic and technological aspects) and tested or designed with the help of people with disabilities;
  • TRL ≥ 7; 
  • Solutions should support Enel’s commitment on SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) with specific emphasis on SDG8, SDG10, SDG11.

 

In addition, the following qualities are highly desired but not required:

  • It is preferable that the solution is designed with artificial intelligence (AI) tools that monitor and learn from the Persons with Disabilities (PwD) experience.
  • Applicable in a global context (that is, the solution would be transferable to different parts of the world).

 

PROJECT DELIVERABLES

The submitted solutions should consist of a detailed description, including:

  • A detailed description of the solution, through a mean which is fully accessible to everybody e.g. a video with subtitles with automatic translation, accessible website or document. (note that the system allows you to upload a maximum of 5 files, 25MB total size);
  • Rationale for the proposed technology/solution, including direct cost;
  • A written detailed technical description and explanation (see solution form when you click CREATE YOUR SOLUTION);
  • An analysis of the technical, environmental, social and economic aspects:
    • quantitative and qualitative assessment of the environmental impact of the proposed overall process on the ecosystem;
    • costs and benefits;
  • Identification of potential risks or eventual constraints;
  • Identification of possible uses of products/byproducts and of stakeholders/third parties that may benefit from the development or the implementation of the solutions, creating a value chain;
  • Certify involvement of people with disabilities in designing or testing the solution (e.g. associations)
  • Data, case studies, patent and journal references or any additional material that supports the proposed solution

 

The proposal should not include any personal identifying information (name, username, company, address, phone, email, personal website, resume, etc.) or any information the Solvers may consider as their Intellectual Property they do not want to share.

Challenge rules

All proposers are invited to read carefully the challenge and the Regulation of this challenge, attached below in the Attachments section, before submitting a solution.

By submitting a solution they automatically accept the attached Regulations other than the Terms of Use of this platform.

Explain your proposal clearly in English, attach documents (max 5 files, 25MB total size) if needed.

 

ELIGIBILITY

This Campaign is dedicated to startups, scaleups, SMEs, big corporations, NGO and any kind of organization incorporated in any country, with a technology and/or solution at commercial level (TRL ≥ 7).

 

CHALLENGE, AWARD, DEADLINES

This is an electronic Request-for-Partners (eRFP) Challenge. The Solver will write a proposal to be evaluated by the Seeker with the goal of considering a collaboration.

All intellectual property rights, if any, in the idea or concept demonstrated by the Proposed Solution will remain with the Solver.

The Proposals that will be considered as the most interesting will give the opportunity to the respective Solvers to negotiate a collaboration agreement with Enel S.p.A. or other relevant company of the Enel Group. Nonetheless it is understood that there is no obligation for the selected Solver and for any Enel Group company to enter into any kind of collaboration. The signing of a collaboration agreement is subject to all the internal checks and procedures in force within the Enel Group.

The proposals will be admitted until November 2, 2020 and the evaluation will start after this date.

Late submissions will not be considered.

Specific regulation attached at the bottom of this page.

What happens next?

After the Challenge deadline, the Seeker will complete the review process and make a decision with regards to the Winning Solution(s). All Solvers that submit a proposal will be notified on the status of their submissions.

Enel will evaluate the proposal using the following criteria:

  • Overall scientific and technical feasibility of the proposed solution;
  • Economic potential of concept (e.g. Total Cost of Ownership);
  • Business potential for Enel;
  • Novelty and creativity;
  • Potential for proprietary position (i.e., is the technology novel or protectable);
  • User’s capabilities and related experience;
  • Realism of the proposed solution;
  • Maturity level of the proposal.

 

In case the reward includes “Collaboration with Enel”, once suitable solution/s have been identified, Enel will reserve the opportunity to start a collaboration, by way of example, all or part of the following activities:

  • Test execution;
  • Supply of prototypes (if an equipment);
  • Installation and site tests;
  • Follow up and monitoring of the proposed idea behavior.

 

Upon completion of the evaluation, you will receive feedback.

In case of success, an Enel contact person will get in touch with you to discuss the next steps.

Attachments

20200731 - Regulation challenge Value for disability

PDF (0.28MB) Download

Enel Open Innovability User Guide

PDF (0.66MB) Download

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