Draft:EssentialTech Centre

Located at the École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) in Switzerland, the EssentialTech Centre is a facility dedicated to research and innovation, primarily in the fields of humanitarian action, development and peace.

History
EPFL’s Presidency established EssentialTech as a Centre in December 2018. Since its establishment, Dr. Klaus Schönenberger, who previously held various leadership positions in the medical devices industry, has been leading the Centre. Dr. Schönenberger was influenced by his interest in focusing on regions with significant needs for functional medical devices and creating sustainable markets, beyond the primary markets of developed countries.

Approach
The EssentialTech Centre articulates its mission as addressing global challenges by integrating technological innovation with a focus on three interconnected areas, commonly referred to as the 'Humanitarian-Development-Peace Nexus'. These areas include addressing humanitarian crises, tackling poverty, and managing conflict. To this end, the Centre's activities are structured into three main divisions: Sustainable Development, Humanitarian Action, and PeaceTech.

Initiatives of the EssentialTech Centre
The Centre has participated in various initiatives within the humanitarian and development sectors. Notable projects include:

In addition to its core activities, the EssentialTech Centre also provides a range of Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) that focus on the application of technology in humanitarian action and development. The Centre has also published on ways to improve collaborations between academic and humanitarian actors.
 * GlobalDiagnostiX — A robust, accessible digital radiology system that can be used in a wide variety of medical imaging applications.
 * HelloMask — a transparent surgical mask now being made market-ready by spin-off HMCare.
 * Agilis — a low-cost prosthetic foot, made in collaboration with ICRC.