Dr Erees Queen B Macabebe, chair and associate professor of the Ateneo Department of Electronics, Computer, and Communications Engineering (ECCE), has won an Outstanding Innovation Award from the (4th) Hitachi Global Foundation Asia Innovation Award 2023.

Launched in 2020, the Hitachi Global Foundation Asia Innovation Award is an award program promoting science, technology, and innovation that solve social issues and realize a sustainable Southeast Asia. For 2023, there were entries from 27 universities and research institutions in the six ASEAN countries Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, Philippines, and Vietnam contributing to the UN’s sustainable development goals (SDG) 1 (no poverty) and 7 (affordable and clean energy).

“Energy management solutions for renewable energy technologies,” Dr Macabebe’s research entry, was one of 15 recipients of the award program and one of five to receive an Outstanding Innovation Award, which comes with a monetary prize. Her work contributes to the emergence of household and community renewable energy systems as renewable energy technologies become accessible to more people.

Dr Macabebe, also research group leader of the Ateneo Energy Research Laboratory, and her team developed monitoring systems that employ artificial intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT) to make energy systems more efficient and provide data for consumer awareness to encourage energy conservation, management, and optimize processes. Their solutions are more affordable, efficient, and flexible than existing technologies, and they can be made accessible to a wider range of users.

“We envision a future where energy technologies powered by AI and IoT are available to households and communities such that energy management and conservation decisions are made using real-time data. This award is an affirmation that our team is aligned and is making significant contributions towards the SDGs,” Dr Macabebe said. Her win is a proud moment for Ateneo and the Philippines. Her research has the potential to make a real difference in the lives of people in the Southeast Asian region, and it is hoped that her work will inspire other researchers to develop innovative solutions to the world’s sustainable energy challenge.