#BE OPEN #Switzerland #Lugano #Gender Equality #Design Equality

Design Equality with Innovation: Announcing the Winners

On June 10, 2026, in Lugano, Switzerland, BE OPEN announced the winners of the Public and Founder’s Choice awards from the renowned Design Equality with Innovation competition. This prestigious international contest aimed at fostering innovative solutions for achieving Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 5, which focuses on gender equality.

Founded by Elena Baturina, an international entrepreneur and advocate for innovation, the competition aims to inspire young creatives by challenging them to develop sustainable and impactful solutions for gender equity. This year represented the seventh iteration of this competition and was established in 2025 to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration, a groundbreaking agenda adopted by 189 UN member states to advance women's rights.

“For seven consecutive years, BE OPEN has fostered the UN SDGs by encouraging young people from all around the globe to channel their creativity and intellect in addressing crucial challenges for humanity,” stated Baturina. “Every year, we receive hundreds of extraordinary, insightful, and imaginative proposals. This ongoing commitment reaffirms our belief that educating and inspiring youth is the most effective way to achieve significant change.”

Winners of the Competition

Founder’s Choice Award

The Founder’s Choice Award, awarded by Baturina, comes with a prize of €3,000. This year, the honor was given to a talented group from the University of Indonesia, consisting of participants Ellena Vianne, Tria Indah Lestari, Farida Doa Valentina, and Adnan Hasyim Wibowo. They were recognized for their innovative project, the Roots Menstrual Care System. This sustainable menstrual care system was developed specifically for the indigenous Orang Rimba community in the Bukit Duabelas National Park on Sumatra. It combines biodegradable menstrual products made from locally-sourced natural materials with women-led economic initiatives and culturally-informed health education.

Public Award

The Public Award, which offers a prize of €2,000, highlighted the project Samvaad Saathi, spearheaded by graduates Akshat Shah, Harshavi Patel, and Aryaa Bhagwat from the Environmental Planning and Technology Center in India. Samvaad Saathi focuses on financial inclusion for daily wage women workers in the construction industry. The service offers step-by-step assistance in managing financial autonomy, which includes help with essential documentation, bank account openings, pension plan enrollments, and understanding savings and income options.

Both winning teams will not only receive the monetary awards but also gain access to relevant educational opportunities. They will embark on an all-expenses-paid trip to a major sustainability-related event, allowing them to present their projects to international decision-makers and global audiences.

The Importance of the Initiative

BE OPEN's initiative underscores the intricacies of fostering gender equality and the role that innovative ideas play in shaping a more sustainable future. By targeting issues related to women's health, financial independence, and entrepreneurship, these projects symbolize a significant step forward in empowering women and girls everywhere. The ongoing commitment to creativity and collaboration reflects the organization's aim to cultivate future generations that can effectively tackle the challenges of tomorrow.

This year’s competition exemplifies the importance of engaging youth in pivotal global issues such as gender equality, reiterated Baturina. “Through collective creativity and knowledge-sharing, we can create a world that is not only more equitable but also resilient in the face of environmental and social challenges.”

Through the Design Equality with Innovation competition, BE OPEN continues to inspire and mobilize the youth towards a better tomorrow—a future where gender equality is not just a goal, but a reality.