Two Icelandic companies, one of which originated in research at the University of Iceland, have received the World Summit Awards, an institute affiliated with the United Nations for technological solution for societal challenges. The companies were chosen from a group of 8,000 innovative projects nominated for the awards.
World Summit Awards was initiated almost two decades ago in the framework of the UN World Summit on the Information Society (UN WSIS). This is a new institute supported by the European Union and is to support and draw attention to companies that are considered to excel in the development of digital innovations that have a positive impact on society and support the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The institute also organises conferences and meetings as a network for representative from start-up companies and entrepreneurs in almost 190 countries working on societal innovation.
Risk calculator for eye diseases and AI against money laundering
The institute awards five companies in eight classified categories for their contribution to the solution of societal challenges annually. A total of 8,000 nominations were submitted this year from 100 countries. An international evaluation committee with experts in the field of innovation chose the 40 recipients that included two Icelandic companies. This has never happened before. These are Retina Risk, receiving awards in the Health & Well Being category, and Lucinity receiving awards in the Business & Commerce category.
Retina risk is a HealthTech company providing personalized care based on individualized risk assessment for people with diabetes of getting sight-threatening eye disease The company was founded by Einar Stefánsson and Thor Aspelund, professors at the University of Iceland, with Arna Guðmundsdóttir, endocrinologist and the risk calculator is the first of its kind in the world New recently broke that the company had signed with the American Diabetes Association to make their calculator available to the American public.
Lucinity is an AML software company using advanced AI systems to help banks discover money laundering. The company is fast growing and has provided unique opportunities for university students who have been involved in its work.
Representatives from both companies were offered to give an introduction at the World Summit Awards that will take place online 22 - 14 March.