Category Archives: competition

WORLD BANK GROUP GOVTECH INNOVATION CHALLENGE 2025

Application Deadline: September 12, 2025, at 23:59 Central European Time (CET).

LOCATION: Switzerland

Partner with the World Bank to develop digital solutions for Ghana Tax Administration this autumn. Creating a platform for private companies to design and test innovative digital solutions for the public sector to enhance government efficiency, transparency, and citizen services.

ELIGIBILITY:

Early-stage startups, scale-ups, and SMEs that:

Are legally incorporated

Have fewer than 75 employees

Have under $5M USD in annual revenue

Possess technical, operational, and business expertise relevant to the challenge

Have the capacity to actively participate in challenge activities

Information sessions with the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) will be held to allow you to ask specific questions and improve your proposal. Attending these sessions is optional.

Incomplete applications will not be evaluated

Complete applications will be evaluated by a selection committee based on:

Technical feasibility

Potential impact

Team capability

Scalability potential

Proof of Concept (POC) is a working prototype that:

demonstrates the core technical functionality of the proposed solution;

operates in a controlled testing environment with real or simulated data;

validates key technical and operational assumptions;

provides measurable evidence of the solution’s feasibility and potential effectiveness for the Ghana Revenue Authority.

BENEFIT:

All core programme services are provided at no cost to selected Innovation Companies. This includes full participation in the Switzerland bootcamp experience, all online training sessions, mentorship programmes, and attendance at the GovTech Conference. All associated travel expenses (including international flights), accommodation costs, meals during programme activities, and local transportation throughout the programme duration are also covered by the program.

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IF SOCIAL IMPACT PRIZE 2025

Application Deadline: 1 September 2025.

LOCATION: United Nations

The iF SOCIAL IMPACT PRIZE is open for the second round and supports projects that contribute to improving our society. If you work towards achieving one or more of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, your project is eligible.

ELIGIBILITY:

Applying is free of charge.

Companies, design studios, NGOs, foundations, public and other organizations, social enterprises, and entrepreneurs are welcome to submit.

Your project should already be established and must be related to design (this is now one of the five evaluation criteria).

You can apply with the same project a maximum of two times. Student concepts are not accepted.

The jury evaluates all projects based on five updated criteria, considering each project’s individual aspects. Providing answers to some or all of these questions in your participation materials will help the jury to understand your project better.

All submissions should be in line with one of the following 15 UN SDGs:

No poverty

Zero hunger

Goodhealth and well-being

Quality education

Gender equality

Clean water and sanitation

Affordable and clean energy

Decent work and economic growth

Industry, innovation and infrastructure

Reduced inequalities

Sustainable cities and communities

Responsible consumption and production

Climate action

Life below water

Life on land

The deadline for the second round ends on 01 September 2025 at 23:59 CET.

BENEFIT:

Social projects that are supported with the iF SOCIAL IMPACT PRIZE benefit from this:

A share of EUR 100,000

Publication on our iF Design Website

They will be presented to a global design community, the design-interested public, and the media.

The projects selected by the jury receive an individual winner certificate.

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