The SXSW Innovation Awards serve as a platform to highlight cutting-edge digital projects with transformative potential from across the globe. Presented at Austin’s Convention Center on Monday, March 11th, awards were distributed across eleven categories, including a Best in Show and People’s Choice accolades. This year’s recipients encompassed groundbreaking advancements in areas such as cancer prevention, inclusivity, mental wellness, and notably, artificial intelligence. Read more for a glimpse into the standout achievers of this year.
Truveta Language Model (Artificial Intelligence)
The Truveta Language Model has revolutionized healthcare data by transforming unwieldy electronic health records into billions of precise data points. This breakthrough, pioneered by the US healthcare collective Truveta, promises to facilitate in-depth research on patient care and outcomes. Drawing from a vast and diverse pool of records, currently exceeding 80 million patient journeys, the model boasts over 90% accuracy, offering unprecedented insights into healthcare analytics.
Dot Pad (Best in Show)
Dot Pad, a creation of Seoul-based Dot Incorporation, stands as a revolutionary tactile graphics display designed to empower blind and visually impaired individuals. Leveraging AI technology, it converts text, graphics, and images into tactile representations through raised dots. This innovation not only grants accessibility to digital content, ranging from applications to maps and charts, but also fosters independence, opens doors to employment and creativity, and enriches leisure experiences for those with vision impairments.
UbiGro Cover (“What the Future” Prize)
Recipient of the prestigious “What the Future” Prize, the UbiGro Cover by UbiQD, an advanced materials company, reimagines greenhouse coverings with sustainability in mind. Harnessing quantum dot technology, a Nobel Prize-winning innovation, this cover optimizes sunlight absorption for crops, promoting healthier plant growth and increased yields. By converting UV and blue photons into the red photons favored by plants, the UbiGro Cover signifies a pioneering stride towards sustainable agriculture.
Tom Ford Plastic Innovation Accelerator (Climate Change)
The Tom Ford Plastic Innovation Accelerator, a collaborative initiative led by non-profit Lonely Whale and supported by Tom Ford Beauty and The Estée Lauder Companies, endeavors to expedite the adoption of marine-safe, biodegradable seaweed-based alternatives to plastic film packaging. Championing sustainability, the program backs three pioneering producers—Notpla from the UK, Zerocircle from India, and Sway from the US—each of whom received the Tom Ford Plastic Innovation Prize in 2023.
Aya Contigo (Community Empowerment)
Aya Contigo, a free-to-use app developed by the Canada-based NGO Vitala Global Foundation, serves as a lifeline for vulnerable women navigating obstacles to reproductive care. Tailored to facilitate safe abortions, the app offers emotional support and access to vital resources, empowering women on their reproductive health journeys. Originating from a partnership between Vitala and women in Venezuela, the app now extends its support to Latinas in post-Roe United States, particularly those in marginalized communities.
See the full list of winners here.
