UNICEF Innovation Challenge 2022
The 2nd UNICEF Innovation Challenge Organized by UNICEF and Pardis Technology Park to Recognize Innovative Solutions that Address Challenges Faced by Children and Adolescents
Children and adolescents face an array of different challenges on a growing trajectory and ranging from the lack of access to quality education or psychosocial support to late diagnosis of developmental issues. UNICEF Iran in partnership with the Pardis Technology Park (PTP), launched the Second Innovation Challenge to curate innovative solutions that address twenty one of the most pressing challenges facing children and adolescents in Iran across three priority areas: 1) Learning and Play, 2) Health and Protection, and 3) Equity and Social Support Services. Overall, twenty-nine solutions were received from across the country and top ten shortlisted teams pitched their solutions in the Azadi Innovation Factory in Tehran on 15th of December 2022. The top ten shortlisted solutions that participated in the Pitch Event of the Innovation Challenge included:
CYCLOPS uses AI-based treatment algorithms via play therapy in a Virtual Reality (VR) setting to assist the treatment of Amblyopia (lazy eye) in 4–12-year-old children. Using this approach, the treatment for Amblyopia is accelerated 4X. CYCLOPS was recognized as one of the top innovative solutions ranking FIRST in the 2nd Innovation Challenge for Children and Adolescents in Iran.
Robokidz is an interactive narrative-based theme park that offers children a renewed chance at edutainment using Artificial Intelligence and Robotics. An ecosystem of AI-and robotics-enabled services for children is being built around Robokidz. It offers dozens of interactive games such as sandbox, carpet, engagement with social robots, etc. across its three branches in Iran. Robokidz was recognized as one of the top innovative solutions ranking SECOND in “the 2nd Innovation Challenge for Children and Adolescents in Iran.
Jobzi, a Place for Play, a Place for Life, is a mobile school that provides services such as education, health, psychosocial support, etc. to children at risk and in street situation whether they are in workshops or at the intersections. Jobzi has been implemented for four years and children in street situation from 4- to 18-year-old of age have received services through Jobzi in fourteen stations across Tehran. In Persian, Jobzi is an acronym standing for “A Place for Play, A Place for Life”. Jobzi was recognized as one of the top innovative solutions ranking THIRD in “the 2nd Innovation Challenge for Children and Adolescents in Iran.
Kidora is an AI-based platform for monitoring development of children under the age of five that provides personalized services for them. It uses ASQ-based screening tests to arrange customized daily play programmes. It also offers developmentally adequate, cognitive science-based, and age-appropriate activities for children.
Robocode is a narrative role-playing game-based learning platform that help children learn digital literacy, problem solving skill, algorithmic and computational thinking, and coding in Scratch to create games and animations.
Drop-based Education and Learning Ecosystem is a new approach to learning with microlearning modules of under 10 minutes for 15 to 18 -year- old high school students. The platform offers “virtual chair, a financing mechanism to support out-of-school children.
MomoBob is a parenting platform designed for parents of children under 7 years old covering a wide range of personalized high-quality visual content from purposeful games to guidance on nutrition and appropriate reading materials.
Nature Studio is a Do-it-Yourself Kit comprised of solid materials developed using nanotechnology that children can use to make themselves lipstick. The materials are not only edible but also made of non-chemical natural materials and contains necessary nutrients such as Omega 3, Zink, Vitamins A and E.
Ninipa is a children growth monitoring platform helping parents with children under the age of six to track their growth from birth and to prevent delays in referral of disorders. It uses CDC diagnostics.
Jaizi Platform, promoting educational justice using network effect, offers visual educational and skill building content in order to develop skills among children and adolescents.
After each pitch, questions from the panelists were addressed, and the event was concluded with a cross-feedback networking session and the recognition to the top innovative solutions. Read more about each innovative solution in more details in “The 2nd Cohort of Top Solutions (2022)”.
