Winners of the Stockholm Challenge Award 2004

The winners of the international Stockholm Challenge Award have been announced. The award is for projects that find innovative ways to use IT, particularly those that bring benefits to users and society. The award's organizers received 900 entries from 107 countries. An international jury composed of 27 experts from academia, business and the public sector has selected 10 winners from the 103 finalists.

The following projects won in their respective categories:

E-Government -- Citizen Portal of Mexico
A single access point to all levels of government services, focused on the needs of citizens. www.gob.mx

E-Government -- Oregon Helps
A project to help the poor and unemployed find official information online on subjects such as job hunting. www.oregonhelps.org

Culture -- Singapore's Access to Archives Online
The national archives of Singapore have been put on the Internet, permitting improved access to photographs, maps, posters, plans, speeches and audio-visual recordings. www.a2o.com.sg

Culture -- The Archaeological Map of Egypt
A program cataloging all of Egypt's archaeological discoveries. The user can access detailed information about discoveries and the regions in which they were made. www.cultnat.org

Health -- EHAS Hispano-American Health Link
The EHAS project develops and deploys telemedicine systems and services in poor rural areas of South and Central America, where health personnel are poorly trained and paid. www.ehas.org

Health -- Policing Disease in Hong Kong
A project that borrows criminal analysis methods, and marshals them in the name of preventing the spread of diseases like SARS. www.hwfb.gov.hk/policingdisease/SARS-b.htm

Health -- Distance Healthcare in Rural South Africa
A low-cost solar-powered community network in Tsilitwa, Eastern Cape, to improve healthcare, education, security and sustainable development. www.cda.co.za

Education -- Sniff, Swing and Swipe in New Zealand
A collaboration between students and Auckland Zoo to create new environments for animals. The project also helps students to learn about animal behavior and improve their computer skills. education.otago.ac.nz

E-business -- Botswana Basket Weavers Online
Worldwide marketing and online sales channel for the unique baskets woven in Etsha, Botswana. www.botswanacraft.bw

Environment -- Pacific Environmental Information Network (PEIN)
A network to help protect the environment and to promote awareness of environmental issues in the Pacific island countries. www.sprep.org.ws