DIGITAL INNOVATION ACCELERATOR
The Innovation Factory Digital Innovation Accelerator is a multi-stage programme that includes a 6-month acceleration programme and a final competition.
Participants begin by submitting their digital innovation solutions for Gender Equality, EduTech as well as Environmental Climate Action-related topics. 45 short-listed teams will participate in the 6-month Digital Innovation Accelerator programme where they will – among others – receive capacity building support; refine their business models and pitch strategy; optimise their SDG impacts; and work on their investment readiness.
At the end of the acceleration phase, teams will submit their refined business plans to compete for the final prize. 12 winning teams of the competition stage will receive tailored support packages equivalent to 15.000€ each that will go into further development of their products and/or the scaling of their start-ups. Additionally successful teams will also profit from the Innovation Factory’s network.
ACCELERATOR PROCESS
1 APPLY
2 ACCELERATE
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Receive capacity building support;
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Be guided in business model refinement;
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Become investment ready;
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Optimise SDG impacts;
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Develop a comprehensive business plan
3 COMPETE
SECTORS
GENDER EQUALITY
Women and girls make up half the global population and therefore half its potential. However, gender inequality in various forms still persists everywhere and stands in the way of sustainable economic growth and social progress. Similarly, this disparity between genders is also reflected in the access to digital technology.
Whether it is providing equal education access or increasing access to adaptive microfinance, technology provide endless possibilities to improving quality of life and enabling women and girls to participate in building resilient communities.
EDUTECH
Good quality and accessible education is a crucial foundation for sustainable development. In addition to improving quality of life, it equips locals with tools to further develop innovative solutions to global problems. According to the UN, 617 million children and adolescents lack minimum proficiency in reading and mathematics, and up to 750 million adults still remain illiterate*.
Digital technology has a high potential to help propel forward impoverished communities, and to help youth gain relevant skills, including technical and vocational skills for employment.
*Source: UN (2019) The Sustainable Development Goals Report 2019
ENVIRONMENTAL CLIMATE ACTION
Climate change affects all communities globally with increasingly severe weather pattern changes, rising sea levels and extremely high greenhouse gas emissions. Limiting global warming to 1.5ºC will require drastic changes in all aspects of society. Furthermore, the poorest and most vulnerable people are affected the most.
Digital innovations that contribute to climate and environmental action can deliver scalable solutions to enable countries to increase local adaptation efforts across all communities and advance quicker towards cleaner and more resilient economies.
APPLICATION PERIOD
Submissions will be accepted until 3 February 2020, 23:59 CET.
Late submissions will not be considered.
LANGUAGE
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
Eligible Countries
TIMELINE
3 Dec 2019 - 3 Feb 2020
Call for Applications Open
3 Dec 2019 - 3 Feb 2020
Feb 2020
Internal Jury Shortlisting
Mar 2020
Shortlisted Teams Contacted
Mar 2020
Apr 2020 - Sep 2020
Accelerator Programme begins
Sep 2020
Final Submission of Business Plans
Sep 2020
Oct 2020
Final Announcement of Winners
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ)
Applicants are not assessed based on education qualifications.
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