GlobalNeoNat
Every year, 2.6 million newborns (children aged 1-28 days) die in the world, with Sub-Sahara African countries accounting for 42% of these deaths. 60-80% of newborns in this region suffer from hypothermia, which largely contributes to increased mortality in addition to infection and asphyxia.
The challenge
On top of these stark statistics about infant mortality due to
hypothermia comes another: 70% of medical equipment donated to low- and middle-income countries is never put into commission. This is because they are not adapted to the climate and socio-economic context of low- and middle-income countries. Reasons include:
- High cost of ownership
- Unstable electricity
- The harsher environment (humidity, high temperature and dust)
- Lack of resources, staff and training
- Lack of logistics and parts for maintenance
Our adapted solution
We’ve designed an innovative, patented neonatal incubator adapted to the context and intend to bring it to market through a social business start-up. It is:
- Low-cost
- High-quality with thermal regulation, maintaining the zone of thermo-neutrality of the newborn
- Efficient for superior heat retention
- Equipped with a thermal battery (EPFL patent) that can operate up to 4 hours without electricity
- Resists humidity of 98% and temperatures up to 50°C with adapted electronics and a robust casing
- User-friendly to operate and easy to maintain
- Mobile for infant transport
Project status
The project is in the final stages of development and feasibility study, prior to implementation. Please contact us regarding potential philanthropic and investment opportunities.
Credits Main Image: ICRC
Nathalie holds an M.A. in Social Sciences. She has a rich background in humanitarian work and social impact projects, working with NGOs and international organizations. She has led diverse teams across Sub-Saharan Africa, the Balkans, Central America, and Switzerland, fostering cross-disciplinary collaboration and building cross-cultural partnerships to develop impactful solutions that advance societal progress. Her core areas of expertise include post-crisis recovery, gender-based violence, and forced migration.In her previous roles, Nathalie worked with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Geneva on anti-human trafficking interventions and served as an independent consultant specialising in strategic planning for humanitarian initiatives. She also contributed to socio-economic integration programs for refugees in Switzerland. Nathalie joined EssentialTech in 2021 as Head of Stakeholder relations and Fundraising before taking the Head of the Sustainable Development Division in 2023, Nathalie leads interdisciplinary innovation projects that strategically leverage technology to develop sustainable solutions for vulnerable communities. Her work focuses notably on improving access to essential health services, including neonatal care, oxygen therapy,and assistive devices, while empowering healthcare professionals and institutions in low-resource settings.
Dr. Yan-Kim Tran is a skilled power electronics engineer specializing in DC-DC power conversion for medium-voltage applications. With expertise spanning the entire lifecycle of power supply systems—from simulation and component design to hardware assembly and control firmware—he has contributed to a wide range of projects, from small-scale power solutions to multi-megawatt systems.
Yan-Kim earned both his Master’s degree in Electrical and Electronic Engineering (2013) and his PhD in Power Electronics (2019) from EPFL. His extensive professional experience has shaped his ability to develop innovative and resilient power supply technologies.
Since joining the EssentialTech Centre in 2022 as a development engineer for the GlobalO2 project, Yan-Kim has played a key role in designing life-saving medical technologies, including a robust oxygen production device and a neonatal incubator for resource-limited and challenging environments. His recent work has reinforced his expertise in innovation under technical and economic constraints, emphasizing deployment, maintenance, and user-centric design.
Curious, motivated, and highly adaptable, Yan-Kim is passionate about creating impactful solutions at the intersection of power electronics, embedded systems, and sustainable technology.
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