Tag Archives: Multiple Regions

UNICEF CLIMATE INNOVATION TECH START-UPS CHALLENGE

Application Deadline: 21 October, 2025

LOCATION: Multiple Regions

UNICEF is launching a call for solutions from emerging markets in collaboration with India Health Fund (IHF), and the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL). To maximize impact, UNICEF will foster collaboration between early-stage frontier tech ventures and help scale proven climate adaptation solutions. This dual track approach seeks to drive impact and provide long-term sustainability. 

They also invite value-aligned partners to support innovation challenges, design sprints and deliver strategic technical assistance to build greater equity and trust across technological solutions. 

ELIGIBILITY:

Companies need to fulfil the following mandatory selection criteria to be considered:

be registered as a private for-profit company

be registered in a UNICEF programme country (See the list of eligible countries here)

have a working prototype or minimum viable product of the proposed solution, ideally, showing promising results

be open source or willing to be open source

have the potential to positively impact the lives of the most vulnerable children

generate publicly exposed real-time data that is measurable 

BENEFIT:

The UNICEF Venture Fund has been specifically designed to finance early-stage, open-source technology that can benefit children. The core motivation of the UNICEF Venture Fund is to identify “clusters,” or portfolios of initiatives around emerging technology, so that UNICEF can both shape markets and learn about and guide these technologies for children. They invest in solutions clustered around $100 billion industries in frontier technology spaces such as blockchain, virtual and augmented reality, machine learning and AI.

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THE MILLS FABRICA GLOBAL CHANGE AWARD 2026

Application Deadline: 6 October, 2025

LOCATION: Multiple Regions

The Global Change Award is a global innovation challenge launched by the H&M Foundation in 2015 to accelerate the transition to a circular and planet-positive fashion industry.

ELIGIBILITY:

GCA is looking for changemakers who fall into one of four overarching areas:

Sustainable materials and processes—such as low-energy materials and new and recycled fibers, sustainable energy practices, alternative wet processes, treatments and finishes, new construction techniques and more.

Responsible production—such as energy efficiency, renewable energy, prediction modelling, on-demand, waste management, zero-waste solutions and more.

Mindful consumption—such as reshaping demand, garment care, extending garment life cycles, recycling solutions, circular business models and more.

Wildcards—unexpected impactful ideas we haven’t even thought of yet, or that amplify transformation within multiple areas.

Proposal period: The platform is open for submitting your proposal until 6 October 2025, 8.00 am CET. You will be informed by GCA if your idea has been nominated by The Mills Fabrica by the end of October 2025.

BENEFIT:

Every year, 10 winners will be awarded. Winning this prestigious award grants access to three key components:

A yearlong Changemaker Programme: As a winner, you get access to the Changemaker Programme, designed together with GCA’s strategic partners Accenture and KTH Royal Institute of Technology and contributing partner The Mills Fabrica. It includes three immersive in-person weeks, expert sessions, and an extensive peer network.

€200,000 grant and global recognition: Each winner receives a €200,000 grant, with no strings attached. You are free to collaborate with whoever you want—GCA exists to drive transformation for the entire industry. You’ll be celebrated at the iconic Stockholm City Hall, home of the Nobel Prize banquet, and introduced to the textile industry on a global stage.

Access to the industry and the GCA community: You’ll gain access to GCA’s ever-growing, vibrant community of changemakers, researchers, brands, suppliers, investors and more. We actively facilitate connections across the value chain to help you test, grow and scale your solution.

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