The European Innovation Council (EIC) pilot’s funded company Kunak Technologies SL installed today its first air quality device at Stade Louis II in Monaco. The company will provide six more devices that will be installed on athletics tracks around the world in the coming months as part of a pilot programme designed to highlight the need for clean air.
The first device was set up at Stade Louis II in Monaco today, in the presence of HSH Prince Albert II, President of the Monaco Athletics Federation and Chair of the IOC Environment Commission, and Sebastian Coe, President of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF).
"As chairman of the Monaco Athletics Federation I am proud that the Stade Louis II has been part of the IAAF Air Quality Device project which targets to improve the quality of environment and conditions of performances for the athletes, through data that has never been provided before," HSH Prince Albert II said. "After a first test during our IDL meeting Herculis EBS on July 20th, which has been ranked as the best meeting of the history, we are delighted to continue to work in this project. Stade Louis II will be the first stadium in the world with such tools, thus allowing the Principality to be a pioneer in terms of environmental consideration in sport."
IAAF President Sebastian Coe added: "Air pollution is a silent killer which is affecting the health of athletes, local communities and our environment, so I’m delighted that the cooperation between the IAAF and our partners has brought this project to fruition and I hope that together we can raise awareness and help to improve air quality around the globe."
Kunak is an innovative solution to deploy wireless monitoring systems whose ultra-energy efficiency characteristics and end-to-end critical system architecture (from the environmental data analysis device to the platform cloud) provide great advantages in isolated, remote and complex environments, guaranteeing the robustness and integrity of 24/7 communications, which makes it a globally unique solution.
The Spanish company won a tender process to provide the monitors. Stadiums in Argentina, Ethiopia, Mexico, Sydney and Japan have been selected for the next steps. A second device will also be installed at Stade Louis II to measure the difference between the air at each end of the stadium.
See more details in the IAAF website, here.
View Kunak's information on the EIC SME Instrument data hub.
DISCLAIMER: This information is provided in the interest of knowledge sharing and should not be interpreted as the official view of the European Commission, or any other organisation.