Global Coalition On WSIS Forum 2021 ICTs and Older Persons Track Features First-Ever Healthy Ageing Innovation Prize
New York, NEW YORK (February 23, 2021) – The World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) Forum 2021 and the Global Coalition on Aging (GCOA) announce their collaboration on the first-ever WSIS Forum Healthy Ageing Innovation Prize to be awarded at the WSIS Forum 2021. The prize will be awarded to the most innovative technology that enables healthier and more active ageing and will be presented in parallel with the WSIS Forum 2021 Special Track on ICTs and Older Persons, which is designed, organized and supported by GCOA. WSIS and GCOA are accepting submissions now. All submissions must be received by 15 March 2021. For more information and to formally submit your idea, click here.
“We are delighted to be partnering with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the WSIS Forum again in 2021, and to be able to announce we are now open for submissions by all ICT practitioners, which will be judged by a pre-eminent panel of global experts,” said Michael Hodin, CEO, Global Coalition on Aging. “It is especially timely since 2021 is the launch of the UN/WHO Decade of Healthy Ageing. GCOA is also pleased to offer the winners and finalists of this WSIS special prize the opportunity to engage with and seek advice from our global, cross-sector, Fortune 100 member companies from the technology, biopharma, financial services and elder home care sectors.”
ICTs have an important role in supporting the need for people to stay healthy, connected and independent and are critical for the sustainability of economic and health systems. This award aims to support the efforts of those entities that have recognized the dual benefits of innovating for this US$17 trillion global market and creating opportunities for their own populations.
“We are enthusiastic with the level of expertise, interest and focus the Global Coalition on Aging was able to bring to the WSIS Forum 2020 Special Track on ICTs and Older Persons,” said Malcolm Johnson, ITU Deputy Secretary-General. “And now it is timely to extend the content and substance of the track to include the first-ever WSIS special prize focused on healthy ageing.”
GCOA is also partnering with WSIS on the Ageing Better with ICTs hackathon, a first-of-its-kind hackathon to inspire ICT innovation for the Silver Economy.
About WSIS
The World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) Forum represents the world’s largest annual gathering of the ‘ICT for development’ community. The WSIS Forum, co-organized by ITU, UNESCO, UNDP and UNCTAD, in close collaboration with all WSIS Action Line Facilitators/Co-Facilitators, has proven to be an efficient mechanism for coordination of multi-stakeholder implementation activities, information exchange, creation of knowledge, sharing of best practices and continues to provide assistance in developing multi-stakeholder and public-private partnerships to advance development goals. This Forum will provide structured opportunities to network, learn and participate in multi-stakeholder discussions and consultations on WSIS implementation. The Agenda and Programme of the Forum will be built on the basis of the submissions received during the Open Consultation Process. The Forum enables participation from all over the world to engage with high-level representatives of the wider WSIS Stakeholder community, including ministers and deputies, ambassadors, as well as leaders from the private sector, academia and civil society. Furthermore, the WSIS Forum 2021 will provide an opportunity to serve as a platform to track the achievements of WSIS Action Lines in collaboration with the UN Agencies involved and provide information and analyses of the implementation of WSIS Action Lines since 2005. For more information, visitwww.wsis.org/forum