Five new Laureates have been announced for the 2023 Rolex Awards for Enterprise.

Under its Perpetual Planet initiative, Rolex unveils the five laureates of the 2023 Rolex Awards for Enterprise. These individuals are at the forefront of pioneering projects aimed at enhancing the quality of life and safeguarding our planet for future generations.
Initiated in 1976 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Oyster, the Rolex Awards for Enterprise recognise outstanding individuals whose innovative projects broaden our understanding of the world, promote environmental conservation, aid in the preservation of habitats and species, and contribute to human wellbeing.&nbsp;Originally intended as a singular event, the Awards garnered global recognition, prompting Rolex to establish them as a biennial event. Over the past 48 years, the programme has supported 160 laureates, whose initiatives have made significant impacts in 65 countries.
The Awards are bestowed upon projects that concentrate on areas such as the environment, science and health, applied technology, cultural heritage, and exploration. These projects are evaluated based on their innovation, potential global impact, and the candidates' entrepreneurial spirit. Every two years, five Laureates are selected to receive funding to advance their projects and join the esteemed Rolex Laureates network, which fosters ongoing collaboration among its members.&nbsp;For the 2023 cycle, a distinguished panel of ten globally acclaimed experts and leaders in their respective fields chose the Laureates. The diverse projects of the 2023 Laureates, ranging from providing clean water in Kenya to conserving the mountainous forests of the Andes, underscore Rolex's dedication to the Perpetual Planet initiative.

Constantino Aucca Chutas - The biologist will be expanding his community-focused forest ecosystem restoration and protection programme in the high Andes. He established the Asociaci&oacute;n Ecosistemas Andinos (ECOAN) in 2000 and co-founded Acci&oacute;n Andina in 2018. To date, he has planted 4.5 million trees, involved over 60 local communities, and established 16 protected areas in the mountains throughout Peru and other high Andean nations.

Beth Koigi - The young Kenyan social entrepreneur will be supplying solar-powered generators that extract water from the air to 3,000 individuals across 10 communities in dire need of clean water resources. Since co-founding her start-up in 2017, Koigi's atmospheric water generators have been producing more than 200,000 litres of clean water monthly for over 1,900 people. The potential impact of this pioneering technology is vast; in Koigi's native Kenya, half the population lacks access to clean drinking water, and according to the UN, by 2030, half the world's population may reside in areas facing severe water stress.

Denica Riadini-Flesch - The social entrepreneur will be broadening her regenerative farm-to-closet clothing supply chain, enhancing women's empowerment, and conserving local Indonesian cultures. Following a distinguished academic career in economics, Riadini-Flesch established SukkhaCitta. This initiative collaborates with rural Indonesian craftswomen, equipping them with business acumen, environmental stewardship knowledge, and access to customers in 32 countries.

Inza Kon&eacute; - The primatologist will be dedicating efforts to protect a highly biodiverse forest in C&ocirc;te d'Ivoire, ensuring the safety of its endangered wildlife and alleviating poverty in the region. After years of collaboration with local communities, Kon&eacute;'s initiatives culminated in the Tano&eacute;-Ehy Forest being designated as a community-managed natural reserve in 2021. The Rolex Award will empower Kon&eacute; to further conserve the forest's exceptional biodiversity, bolster community management, and promote sustainable livelihoods for the inhabitants of the area.

Liu Shaochuang - The remote sensing specialist will be investigating the habitats of wild camels with the aim of establishing two new conservation reserves to protect the last remaining wild herds. Utilizing his scientific expertise, which includes a significant contribution to the development of China's Lunar and Mars rovers, Liu Shaochuang will employ satellite tracking to monitor wild camels in the Gobi Desert regions of China and Mongolia, aiding in the conservation of these species.

2023 Rolex Awards for Enterprise Laureate Liu Shaochuang is a Chinese remote sensing specialist on a mission to save one of Asia’s last large wild animals, the wild camel. © Rolex/Liu Xiaoxue

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