The recipients of the 2024 GCSP Prize for Innovation in Global Security are as follows:

• First place: "HeroBee" submitted by Ms Ichrak Eddor Mnijli from Tunisia. This project wins a cash prize of CHF 10,000.
• Second place: "Ripeness Theory 2.0" submitted by Keren Winter Dinur and Shawn Guttman of Didi.ai in Israel. This project wins a certificate of recognition.
• Third place: "Tracking Geopolitical Conflict Over Water Situation Using RIFFAI: Ultra Precise AI Remote Sensing" submitted by Ms Pinkeo Khemkhamphoumee and Mr Kolatat Phaiboonnukulkij of RIFFAI in Laos. This project wins a certificate of recognition.

Honourable mentions:

• Automated Action Reaction submitted by Ms Noelia Gonzalez.
• YouthRisk Pulse submitted by Ms Cecilia Polizzi of the CRTG Working Group.

The 2024 GCSP Prize for Innovation in Global Security celebrated three cutting-edge projects that were chosen from 161 entries. These transformative initiatives, recognized at the virtual award ceremony on 21 November, offer hope for addressing critical global security challenges.

"HeroBee," a smart hive system developed by Tunisian innovators Ms Ichrak Eddor Mnijli and Ms Oumayma Sghayri, took first place. By combining IoT and AI, HeroBee's advanced hives provide real-time monitoring and protection for bee colonies. Sound frequency analysis detects threats like hornets and tracks the queen bee's health, while AI-driven image recognition identifies pests such as Varroa mites. The system also monitors temperature and humidity, optimizing hive conditions to boost survival rates. Utilizing LoRa technology, HeroBee enables long-range, low-power communication, making it perfect for rural areas without disrupting bee activity. This technology empowers beekeepers with early threat detection and actionable insights, reducing colony losses and promoting sustainable agricultural practices. By combining cutting-edge technology with a non-invasive approach, HeroBee supports global food security and environmental sustainability, providing a crucial tool for the future of beekeeping.

Ms Ichrak Eddor Mnijli stated: 

"When we founded HeroBee, we were inspired to harness technology for a meaningful purpose. By integrating IoT and AI, we can monitor and protect bee colonies—vital contributors to the health of our ecosystems and the resilience of our food systems. Receiving this prize is a profound recognition of our efforts to safeguard biodiversity and drive sustainable agriculture. It energizes us to keep pushing the boundaries in developing proactive solutions that ensure hive health and preserve ecological balance for future generations".

Inspired by Zartman's Ripeness Theory, "Ripeness Theory 2.0" from Didi.ai in Israel, submitted by Mrs Keren Winter Dinur and Mr Shawn Guttman, takes second place. This powerful toolkit empowers users working to address critical social issues (like toxic polarization, gender equality, and racism), violent conflicts (such as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the Ukraine-Russia war), and existential global crises (like climate change and peacebuilding). By harnessing advanced classification algorithms, it analyses vast volumes of data from news media, social media, and political discourse. This analysis reveals how these actors' actions resonate with the public as they implement their theories of change. With real-time updates and dynamic insights, the toolkit empowers users to remain agile in an ever-changing landscape, enabling them to drive meaningful change and resolve complex issues. Ultimately, it's a powerful step towards creating sustainable solutions - and even advancing the cause of world peace.

Mr Shawn Guttman declared:

“As a PeaceTech company we understand at Didi that global security can only be achieved by creating a world at peace. We are honoured that the Jury of the GCSP Prize for Innovation in Global Security sees our team, our work and our AI-powered tools as an important part of this endeavour and are very thankful to receive this recognition.”

“RIFFAI”, or Remote Information Future Forecast Artificial Intelligence, a project submitted by Ms Pinkeo Khemkhamphoumee and Mr Kolatat Phaiboonnukulkij of RIFFAI in Laos, secured third place. This innovative solution leverages cutting-edge AI and satellite imagery to detect floods and other environmental changes. By analyzing water levels and flow upstream, without relying on traditional ground-based hydroinformatics stations, RIFFAI offers a unique approach to tracking critical changes. As Southeast Asia confronts the challenges posed by large-scale hydropower projects, RIFFAI's satellite capabilities are poised to make a significant impact on the Mekong River region. By enhancing climate resilience and bolstering disaster preparedness, RIFFAI empowers the region to navigate the complexities of water management in the face of geopolitical challenges.

Ms Pinkeo Khemkhamphoumee stated:

“I’m honoured to receive recognition through the GCSP Prize on behalf of our team. This award highlights our mission to use cutting-edge AI and satellite technology to empower downstream communities of the Mekong River with critical data to manage disasters, plan sustainably, and navigate geopolitical tensions. It highlights the power of innovation in transforming lives, especially in regions vulnerable to environmental and political instability. With this recognition, we are inspired to expand RIFFAI’s reach, building partnerships that advance water security, global peace, and cooperation.”

The jury for the 2024 GCSP Prize for Innovation in Global Security included:

• Ambassador Gabriel Lüchinger, Head of the International Security Division at the FDFA State Secretariat in Bern
• Lt General (Retd) André Blattmann, Former Chief of the Swiss Armed Forces
• Ms Angela Kane, Senior Fellow at the Vienna Centre for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation
• Professor Jane Royston, Entrepreneur and member of the Swiss Science Council
• Ms Lauren Anderson, Founder and CEO of LC Anderson International Consulting and former FBI Executive
• Professor Nayef Al-Rodhan, Director of the Geopolitics and Global Futures Department at the GCSP and Honorary Fellow at St Antony's College, Oxford University
• Ambassador Thomas Greminger, Executive Director of the GCSP

Get ready to innovate! The GCSP Prize for Innovation in Global Security will launch its annual call for submissions in Spring 2025.