Six Global Challenges In 2013 the Young Innovators announced six global challenges for its applicants to solve with the use of innovative technology. These are the challenges, defined with the help of expert partners who were also active in coaching and selecting the winners: • Improve employment opportunities for young people and migrant workers • Reduce food and water wastage at individual and retail level • Facilitate access to public services for the elderly • Improve natural disaster prediction and response • Improve road safety for both drivers and pedestrians • Protect sensitive personal data and inspire the creation of local digital content From over 600 applications from 88 countries, ten finalists have been selected to attend ITU Telecom World 2013 in Bangkok. These include start-ups, already up and running but in need of funding to reach the next stage and be brought up to scale, and concepts, worked out on paper but in need of support to make them real. Find out more on the winners and their projects in the following pages. This is about addressing some of the world’s most pressing issues mixed with very local and down to earth approaches. Daniela Schiffer, Mentor InnovationSpace: Young Innovators 3