Saudi headquartered Eram Group's R&D division, Eram Scientific Solutions (ESS), has won a whopping grant of over $ 450,000 from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The grant has been won to set up eco-friendly and hygienic eToilets, making public conveniences more accessible to the urban poor. ESS, based in India, was awarded the grant as part of the foundation's second round of 'Reinvent the Toilet Challenge' grants totaling nearly $ 3.4 million.

Guided by the belief that every life has equal value, the foundation works to help all people lead healthy, productive lives. In developing countries, it focuses on improving people's health and giving them the chance to lift themselves out of hunger and extreme poverty. In the United States, it seeks to ensure that all people-especially those with the fewest resources-have access to the opportunities they need to succeed in school and life. Based in Seattle, Washington, the foundation is led by CEO Jeff Raikes and co-chair William H. Gates Sr., under the direction of Bill and Melinda Gates and Warren Buffett.

"Innovative solutions change people's lives for the better. If we apply creative thinking to everyday challenges, such as dealing with human waste, we can fix some of the world's toughest problems," foundation Co-chair Bill Gates said in a statement.

Operating across GCC, Europe and India for more than a decade under the dynamic leadership of Eram Group's CMD Siddeek Ahmed, the group has a proven track record in multifaceted activities ranging from engineering, infrastructure development, industrial contracting, travel and tourism, automotive, health care, clean tech to information technology, among various other key sectors.

"We had started ESS with the aim to develop innovative and utility solutions by combining cross platform technologies and domain. Eram Scientific Solutions (ESS) seeks to go beyond the conventional thinking and traditional standards to a pro-earth approach," Ahmed said.