Locations
ITALIAN G7 PRESIDENCY - UNDP
AI Hub for Sustainable Development Co-Design
Startup Acceleration Pilot
CALL FOR APPLICATIONS CLOSED
The opportunity
Africa stands at the threshold of a powerful AI revolution. To harness its potential for addressing the continent's most pressing issues and drive inclusive and responsible growth, a collaborative effort to propel AI is needed. A unified approach is required to shape the pillars of AI development, namely data, compute and talent. Risks abound in the absence of collective action and an enabling ecosystem, which can limit AI’s potential for sustainable development.
The private sector – including the burgeoning AI/tech startup ecosystem and continental/global private sector companies – can play a critical role in closing the various gaps related to data, compute and talent.
- Green Compute: private sector responsible innovations and partnerships to increase access to and affordability of compute
- Talent: private sector innovations, particularly with universities and research institutes, to build talent networks, addressing skill gaps through work-integrated learning
- Data: private sector innovations to increase data quality and accessibility and create data public goods
The AI Hub for Sustainable Development Co-Design: Startup Acceleration Pilot is designed to inform the design and development of the AI Hub for Sustainable Development, co-led by the Italian G7 Presidency and the United Nations Development Programme. This involves the participation of partners supporting the learning journey of this pilot, which include the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS), CDP Venture Capital SGR (CDP), the Italian Innovation and Culture Hub (INNOVIT), and ITU AI for Good.
The Startup Acceleration Pilot
Running from September to October 2024, this pilot programme aims to foster innovation and partnerships in data, compute, and talent pipelines—the three critical pillars underpinning local AI ecosystems in Africa. By focusing on these foundational elements, the pilot programme seeks to address the need for an integrated private sector approach to mitigate risks and unlock the transformative power of AI for sustainable development. It aims to support innovations that are locally based and put people and sustainability at the centre, ensuring that innovations benefit communities in countries where the innovations are designed.
As part of the programme, selected startups will have the opportunity to participate in an ecosystem-building event hosted by INNOVIT and the Italian G7 Presidency in San Francisco, California, USA on 12 - 14 November 2024. During the event, selected startups will have the chance to showcase their innovative solutions, attract potential investment, form strategic partnerships, and network with INNOVIT's start-up network and Silicon Valley AI leaders.
PHASE 1: APPLICATION PHASE
Phases | Dates in 2024 | Item |
|---|---|---|
| Open Call | 19 Jul - 5 Aug | Global Call for Applications |
| Selection | 5 Aug - 15 Aug | Selection Process |
| Notification | 23 Aug | Notify Applicants |
| ||
| Prep Period | 1 Sep - 15 Oct | Prep Programme |
| ||
| San Francisco Days | 8 Nov - 15 Nov | Global Networking |
| Demo | 11 Nov - 13 Nov | Demo Days |
| Mentorship | Mentorship and Skill Enhancement | |
| Ongoing Support and access to an alumni network and webinars | ||
Application process
The Call for Applications will run from 19 July to 5 August 2024. Applicants are required to submit the following materials:
- A completed application form addressing eligibility, project details, and motivation for applying
- A concise yet detailed company profile document (maximum 2 pages), providing an overview of the startup(s), mission, and key team members
- A PDF or PowerPoint pitch deck (maximum 15 slides) clearly communicating the AI solution, its potential impact, and vision for growth
SUBMISSION DEADLINE
All materials must be submitted by 5 August 2024, 11:59 EST. Only complete applications received by this deadline will be considered.
SELECTION PROCESS
A committee of stakeholders from various sectors will evaluate the applications based on eligibility criteria and alignment with the programme's objectives.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants must:
- Be based in one of the nine pilot countries outlined in the Italy-Africa Mattei Plan: Algeria, Republic of the Congo (Congo Brazzaville), Côte D'Ivoire, Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Morocco, Mozambique, or Tunisia
- Develop or be aspiring to develop AI solutions that address one or more of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with a focus on Education and Training, Energy, Health, Agriculture, Water, and Infrastructure (both physical and digital)
- Contribute to one of the three pillars of the AI Hub for Sustainable Development:
- Compute distribution and affordability
- Talent development and orchestration
- Data quality, accessibility, and digitization
- Demonstrate a commitment to responsible and sustainable AI development and deployment practices
Call for applications is now closed.
Thank you for your interest in the AI Hub for Sustainable Development: Startup Acceleration Pilot programme.
For any questions regarding this opportunity, please don't hesitate to email digital.support@undp.org for further information.
The AI Hub for Sustainable Development
The AI Hub for Sustainable Development is a new collaborative initiative for steering private sector collective action to accelerate sustainable development in local AI ecosystems. By focusing on three critical pillars - data pipelines, green computational power, and talent - the AI Hub seeks to support African countries in harnessing the transformative potential of AI and ensure that the AI revolution leaves no one behind. The AI Hub builds on and complements existing initiatives of the G7 and beyond, serving as a multistakeholder space for steering collective actions with the private sector to accelerate sustainable development, by working directly with local AI ecosystems across countries.
