Science, technology, innovation, and health

Rajamanohar is addressing global inequalities through technological innovations. His company, Hexolabs Interactive, develops grounded technological solutions for the rural masses, while his other initiative, Socialabs, advises non-profits on appropriate technology development strategies to reach out to marginalised groups. He also co-founded Aqua Connect, South Asia’s largest aqua farmers’ network, which supports aqua farming communities on sustainability goals, technology transfer, and training. Raja’s impressive social entrepreneurship has been deservedly acclaimed: his team was named among the TR35 – TOP 20 Young Innovators in India and won ‘Social Innovator of the year 2012’ by MIT Tech Review India for the development of speech-enabled mobile solutions for the Indian market. He became a ‘TED Fellow’ in 2009 for his accomplishments in ‘Mobile4Good’ initiatives in emerging markets, and World Economic Forum recognised Raja as a ‘Young Global Leader in 2012’.

Dr Chung is a leading forensics expert and academic. Before assuming the role of Professor and Dean at Chungnam National University, she served as the first ever female Director General of the National Forensic Service, Korea. She previously held many top forensics posts in Korea, such as Head of Department of Forensic Science, Director of Narcotics Analysis Division, and Director of Drug and Toxicology at the National Institute of Scientific Investigation. In recognition of her outstanding work in the field of forensics, Dr Chung has been awarded a medal for distinguished service by the Korean government, a medal for the excellence in forensic science from the Mongolian government, and the most outstanding female scientist award from the Ministry of Science and Technology. In 2014, Dr Chung was made an Honorary Commander of the most Excellent Order of the British Empire (CBE), in recognition of her long-standing efforts to strengthen UK-Korea relations, particularly in the fields of science and education.

Hania is an anthropologist and feminist researcher, based at the American University in Cairo. Her research mainly explores issues of reproductive health and she has published various articles on political and social topics in Egypt and the Middle East. Hania has been a Centennial Carnegie Visiting Scholar at Yale University and a Junior Research Fellow at St. Anne’s College, University of Oxford. She also leads the Egyptian Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) programme, which aims to transform social protection for women in Egypt, and is one of the advisors to the United Nations Research Institute for Social Development project on human rights and social protection.

Mustafa is driven by a vision to revolutionise global access to dental care through his innovative startup, SMILAB. By leveraging state-of-the-art technology, SMILAB connects dentists worldwide with international experts, facilitating treatment consultations and streamlined procurement of essential medical devices. This not only improves treatment precision but also reduces treatment time, ensuring optimal patient outcomes. SMILAB has been recognised by the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce, granting them a space in their acceleration hub. Mustafa was a global finalist in StudyUK's Business and Innovation Award 2024.