Latest news with #Technovation
eNCA
17-06-2025
- Health
- eNCA
E-cigarettes at a crossroads: Will SA's Tobacco Bill embrace harm-reduction?
CAPE TOWN - South Africa stands at a pivotal moment in tobacco regulation, as Parliament revisits the controversial Tobacco Products and Electronic Delivery Systems Control Bill. The proposed legislation has sparked intense debate between health experts, industry players and policymakers over whether smoke-free alternatives like e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products should be treated as tools for harm-reduction or subjected to the same strict regulations as conventional cigarettes. The bill in its current form would impose sweeping new rules, including plain olive-brown packaging for tobacco products, with graphic health warnings covering 65% of the surface; a complete ban on all tobacco advertising and promotions; restrictions to only tobacco and menthol flavours for vaping products; and prohibitions on public vaping wherever smoking is banned. Crucially, it makes no distinction between traditional cigarettes and cigarette alternatives. Philip Morris International (PMI), which manufactures the IQOS heated tobacco products, has emerged as a leading voice calling for regulatory differentiation. Supplied The company cites peer-reviewed studies showing its products release significantly fewer toxicants than traditional cigarettes. "The science is clear; these products are not risk-free, but they are a better alternative for smokers who won't quit," says PMI vice-president for Sub-Saharan Africa, Branislav Bibic. On the sidelines of the company's Technovation conference in Cape Town, Bibic said the plan was to replace cigarettes with smoke-free products. PMI director of external affairs for Southern Africa, Themba Mathebula, has been vocal about the potential consequences of the bill in its current form. He says by 'applying the same restrictions to scientifically proven reduced-risk products as we do to cigarettes, we're essentially telling smokers there's no reason to switch". PMI argues that South Africa could follow the example of countries such as the UK and Japan, where differentiated regulation has coincided with accelerated declines in smoking rates. Supplied However, health advocacy groups remain sceptical. They point to concerns about youth vaping and argue there is insufficient long-term data on the safety of e-cigarettes. Some lawmakers are also hesitant to embrace products claiming harm-reduction without a formal report from the National Economic Development and Labour Council on the science behind these alternatives. The tobacco debate comes at a critical juncture for South Africa's public health and economy. Proponents of harm-reducing products warn that treating all nicotine products equally could stifle innovation and keep safer alternatives out of reach. Critics counter that lax regulation could lead to new public health challenges. South Africa, therefore, faces a fundamental question: Will it join the growing number of countries incorporating harm-reduction into tobacco control, or will it take a more restrictive path? Whatever decision it makes will have lasting implications for millions of South African smokers and the country's public health landscape.
Irish Independent
28-05-2025
- Health
- Irish Independent
Wicklow student honoured for ingenious app that helps people manage diabetes
St Mary's College in Arklow student Sofiia Shevchuk with Dahab Sharaby (Teen-Turn Lead Mentor) at the Technovation Ireland Regional Pitch Event at AMD in Dublin. Photo: Robbie Reynolds Photography Sofiia Shevchuk, a third year student from St Mary's College in Arklow, received the award for her outstanding work in developing an app, SweetHealth, which allows users to easily track blood sugar, meals, activity, and mood in one place through smart AI technology providing personalised advice based on each user's data. The app also includes features like barcode scanning for diabetes supplies and accessibility options for users with vision challenges. Fourteen-year-old Sofiia was one of 65 app enterprise projects pitching at the event, which formed part of the global Technovation competition. As a result, Sofiia will be presenting her app at the global semi-finalist round later this year. As Sofiia explained, she was inspired to create the app after noticing how often people, including herself, underestimate their sugar intake, noting that, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), the percentage of adults living with diabetes has doubled from 7pc in 1990 to 14pc in 2022. 'After learning about the health risks of excess sugar, I wanted to create a tool that would make it easier for everyone to keep tabs on what they're consuming,' Sofiia said. Teen-Turn, an Irish non-profit organisation that provides teen girls the opportunity to gain hands-on STEM experience and support to acquire qualifications and jobs, provided Sofiia with support in developing an app for the first time for Technovation. Through a 12-week programme, Sofiia, along with other participants, received guidance from industry and academic mentors, learning skills in market research, business planning, and coding, to develop her app. 'Every session felt so uplifting and inspiring, filled with hands-on activities, lively group discussions, and genuine encouragement,' Sofiia continued. 'The mentors were always helpful, especially Yuri from Microsoft, who provided clear guidance and practical advice whenever I faced technical challenges.' Reflecting on the experience, Sofiia says she is now considering a career in science and technology, adding: 'I discovered how much I enjoy problem-solving and using technology to make a real difference in people's lives. 'In fact, the experience inspired me so much that I now want to study medicine at Trinity College, because I believe that we should help those in need and use our skills to make a positive impact on the world. 'Looking back on the day, a highlight was seeing the other teams' projects. It was inspiring to witness so many creative ideas and to learn from the diverse approaches others took. Being part of such an innovative community was truly motivating. 'After finishing my pitch and answering the judges' questions, I felt a huge wave of relief. Their encouraging words and positive feedback left me feeling accomplished, grateful, and even more passionate about continuing with my project.' When asked about her plans for the future with the app, Sofiia says she plans to add new features to the app and reach more users. 'I'm also looking forward to participating in more TeenTurn events and collaborating with others on new projects, such as developing an app for pregnancy,' she said. 'Looking ahead, I hope to grow my company and work with national government organisations to help supply medication to those in developing countries, because I believe everyone deserves access to essential healthcare. The experience has opened up so many opportunities, and I'm excited for what's next.'
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
The next Microsoft will be started by a 17-year-old girl, Tara Chklovski says
My Wildest Prediction is a podcast series from Euronews Business where we dare to imagine the future with business and tech visionaries. In this episode, Tom Goodwin talks to Tara Chklovski, CEO of Technovation, a global tech education non-profit empowering girls to become entrepreneurs and leaders. The gender gap in the workplace is still a problem. According to LinkedIn data from 2024, women make up 42% of the global labour force. However, while women hold nearly half of the entry-level positions, they account for less than one-quarter of C-suite, high-ranking roles. These inequalities were particularly visible in certain sectors, said the study. In 2024, women represented only 28.2% of the workforce in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields. Tara Chklovski is working to change these numbers. She is the CEO of Technovation, a global tech education non-profit empowering girls to become entrepreneurs and leaders. Chklovski joins My Wildest Prediction to share her experience and bold views on the future. 'My wildest prediction is that the next Microsoft will be started by a 17-year-old girl,' Chklovski told Euronews Business. Chklovski has dedicated her career to ending gender disparities, founding her company Technovation to support girls aged 8 to 18 in launching their own tech-orientated firms. Although Chklovski recognises that some progress has been made on gender equality, she believes it is important for both men and women to acknowledge the huge disparities still marking our societies. 'When you're not tapping into 50% of your population for the ideas, for the innovation, for the perspectives, we all miss out,' Chklovski told Euronews. She added that gender stereotypes are still deeply rooted in our cultures to the point that they negatively impact our professional and private lives. 'In Covid, women scientists who had children took the learning responsibilities for their children, and they did not publish. And the male scientists who had children, they published much more,' she explained. Chklovski also pointed out that women have less access to funding and social capital networks, meaning support programs are essential to even out disparities. Founded in 2006 as Iridescent, Chklovski's company Technovation aims to raise the number of young women at the head of tech companies. 'Technovation works as an accelerator,' Chklovski explained, talking about her company. 'Young women work in teams with mentors, identify a problem they care about, and launch a tech start-up, pitching their business plans and ideas in the finals of the project.' Technovation is currently active in around 120 countries in the world and supports women in the development of their projects, which are extremely diverse depending on the experiences of girls. Beyond fostering entrepreneurship, Technovation places a strong emphasis on equipping participants with technical skills crucial for the future of tech. 'Many countries say, 'we are adopting responsible AI policies' - but they don't have a plan for building an AI skilled workforce,' Tara Chklovski told Euronews.
Euronews
12-03-2025
- Business
- Euronews
The next Microsoft will be started by a 17-year-old girl, Tara Chklovski says
Can young women revolutionise the world of tech? According to Tara Chklovski, CEO of Technovation, the answer is yes - it's simply a matter of providing them with the same funding and networking opportunities as men. ADVERTISEMENT My Wildest Prediction is a podcast series from Euronews Businesswhere we dare to imagine the future with business and tech visionaries. In this episode, Tom Goodwin talks to Tara Chklovski, CEO of Technovation, a global tech education non-profit empowering girls to become entrepreneurs and leaders. The gender gap in the workplace is still a problem. According to LinkedIn data from 2024, women make up 42% of the global labour force. However, while women hold nearly half of the entry-level positions, they account for less than one-quarter of C-suite, high-ranking roles. These inequalities were particularly visible in certain sectors, said the study. In 2024, women represented only 28.2% of the workforce in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields. Tara Chklovski is working to change these numbers. She is the CEO of Technovation, a global tech education non-profit empowering girls to become entrepreneurs and leaders. Chklovski joins My Wildest Prediction to share her experience and bold views on the future. The place of young women in tech 'My wildest prediction is that the next Microsoft will be started by a 17-year-old girl,' Chklovski told Euronews Business. Chklovski has dedicated her career to ending gender disparities, founding her company Technovation to support girls aged 8 to 18 in launching their own tech-orientated firms. Although Chklovski recognises that some progress has been made on gender equality, she believes it is important for both men and women to acknowledge the huge disparities still marking our societies. 'When you're not tapping into 50% of your population for the ideas, for the innovation, for the perspectives, we all miss out,' Chklovski told Euronews. She added that gender stereotypes are still deeply rooted in our cultures to the point that they negatively impact our professional and private lives. 'In Covid, women scientists who had children took the learning responsibilities for their children, and they did not publish. And the male scientists who had children, they published much more,' she explained. Chklovski also pointed out that women have less access to funding and social capital networks, meaning support programs are essential to even out disparities. Technovation Founded in 2006 as Iridescent, Chklovski's company Technovation aims to raise the number of young women at the head of tech companies. 'Technovation works as an accelerator,' Chklovski explained, talking about her company. 'Young women work in teams with mentors, identify a problem they care about, and launch a tech start-up, pitching their business plans and ideas in the finals of the project.' ADVERTISEMENT Technovation is currently active in around 120 countries in the world and supports women in the development of their projects, which are extremely diverse depending on the experiences of girls. Beyond fostering entrepreneurship, Technovation places a strong emphasis on equipping participants with technical skills crucial for the future of tech. 'Many countries say, 'we are adopting responsible AI policies' - but they don't have a plan for building an AI skilled workforce,' Tara Chklovski told Euronews.
