Innovative Thinkers From Across the Globe Awarded Grants

Philips Livable Cities Award: Left to right: Harry Hendriks, CEO of Philips Electronics, Sabrina Faber, Overall Winner and Richard Florida, Chair of Supervisory Panel.


28 Apr 2011 11:19 Africa/Lagos

Innovative Thinkers From Across the Globe Awarded Grants to Address Significant Challenges Faced by City Living

AMSTERDAM, April 28, 2011/PRNewswire/ --

- Philips Awards EUR125,000 to Help Make Cities More Livable

Royal Philips Electronics (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHI) has today announced the winners of the Philips Livable Cities Award, a global initiative designed to generate innovative, meaningful and achievable ideas to improve the health and well-being of city-dwellers across the world.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20110428/452767 )

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20110428/452767-b )

The overall winner of the Award, announced at a gala ceremony held at the world famous Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, was named as Sabrina Faber from Sana'a, Yemen, for her idea 'Rainwater Aggregation in Sana'a'.

Sabrina's idea was praised by the supervisory panel for its unique approach to modifying existing structures in Sana'a to capture, filter and store rooftop rainwater. Through her scheme, Sabrina hopes to help solve the water shortages commonly experienced in the city during dry spells, whilst providing clean drinking water. This could potentially result in significant health benefits for the whole population.

Sabrina will receive a EUR75,000 grant from Philips to enable her to realize her vision.

Richard Florida, Professor, Author and Chair of the Philips Livable Cities Award supervisory panel, commented: "What really impressed us with Sabrina's scheme was the proposed execution of a relatively simple concept that will have such a significant impact on the lives of so many people across the city of Sana'a. We're looking forward to seeing her idea come to life and improving the health and well-being of the residents of Sana'a."

Two additional winners will each receive EUR25,000 for their practical, implementable ideas.



Manuel Rapoport, from Buenos Aires, Argentina was recognized for his 'Plaza Movil Street Park' idea. This would see Buenos Aires' streets temporarily closed to traffic during weekends and public holidays and portable playground equipment and benches used to convert them into recreational spaces for people of all ages.

James Kityo of Kampala, Uganda, will use his grant to develop his Shade Stands project. Waiting for transport under hot sun, or in torrential rain with no shelter is a situation that the people of Kampala know only too well. The Shade Stands will provide vital protection in particular for nursing mothers and babies, and the elderly.

Other finalists come from Argentina, Kenya, Nigeria, the UK and the USA, representing a truly global picture of the solutions offered to city-dwellers across the world.

All eight finalists and their ideas for providing unique and original solutions were showcased and celebrated at the Award ceremony in Amsterdam. The event was attended by leading experts, dignitaries, and government officials from the Benelux region.

"We recognize the tremendous effort invested by both the winners of the Philips Livable Cities Award and the other finalists in developing their submissions. Philips is proud to be associated with the imagination and vision they have all displayed and offer our congratulations and thanks in the 2010-2011 Award's first year," said Katy Hartley, Director of the Philips Center for Health & Well-being and member of the Philips Livable Cities Award supervisory panel."

For 2011-2012 Philips is committed to building on the program's strengths to further recognize meaningful innovations which make a real difference to people's lives.

The winners will work with Philips and program mentors to help realize their ideas in their local communities.

Further Information:

More information about the winning entries and the progress of each project can be found by visiting http://www.because.philips.com/.

Information regarding The Philips Livable Cities Award is widely available in the social media space. For more information and updates on the initiative, including video coverage, interviews and live updates, please use the following resources:

- Social Media Release: http://bit.ly/fXpzhP

- Twitter: http://bit.ly/Livable-Cities-Twitter

- YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/livablecities

- Facebook: http://on.fb.me/Philips-Facebook

- Linkedin: http://www.linkedin.com/groups?home=&gid=3159466

Notes to Editors:

About Philips Livable Cities Award

- The Philips Livable Cities Award is a global initiative designed to encourage people to develop practical, achievable ideas for improving the health and well-being of people in cities - ideas which can be translated into reality.

- The Award was open to individuals, community groups, NGOs and businesses.

- More than 450 ideas from 29 countries were entered into the competition.

- Entries are grouped into three categories, exploring how best to improve health and well-being in our cities:

- Well-being Outdoors: Initiatives that will help make citizens feel safe and secure in public spaces, or help create city identity and foster a sense of belonging;

- Independent Living: Initiatives that will help the growing number of elderly people living alone to feel secure and comfortable in a city, and/or enable them to live longer at home with the appropriate access to healthcare;

- Healthy Lifestyle at Work and Home: Initiatives that will support a healthy body and mind, whether through a person's surroundings or other essentials such as exercise, sleep and diet.

About Royal Philips Electronics

Royal Philips Electronics of the Netherlands (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHI) is a diversified health and well-being company, focused on improving people's lives through timely innovations. As a world leader in healthcare, lifestyle and lighting, Philips integrates technologies and design into people-centric solutions, based on fundamental customer insights and the brand promise of "sense and simplicity". Headquartered in the Netherlands, Philips employs about 117,000 employees with sales and services in more than 100 countries worldwide. With sales of EUR 22.3 billion in 2010, the company is a market leader in cardiac care, acute care and home healthcare, energy efficient lighting solutions and new lighting applications, as well as lifestyle products for personal well-being and pleasure with strong leadership positions in male shaving and grooming, portable entertainment and oral healthcare. News from Philips is located at http://www.philips.com/newscenter.

Source: Philips

For further information, please contact: Marie-Helene Azar, Philips Corporate Communications Officer, Tel: +31(0)20-59-77426, Email: marie.helene.azar@philips.com