The Mohammed bin Rashid Initiative for Global Prosperity (the Global Prosperity Initiative) has declared the names of 20 finalists who will compete for the coveted Global Maker Challenge Award which offers US$1 million worth prizes and mentorship.
The finalists will present their solutions during a series of Virtual Pitches that will commence on August 31, 2020, with the final winner being declared at the Global Maker Challenge Award Ceremony on September 6, 2020.
The finalists were selected from over 3,400 solutions that were submitted for Cohort 2 of the Global Maker Challenge which witnessed a 200 percent increase submissions when compared to the last year’s inaugural cohort.
Solutions from over 148 countries were received, of which 18 percent came in from Least Developed Countries.
The 20 finalists (five innovators per theme) were evaluated and shortlisted in partnership with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s SOLVE initiative (MIT SOLVE), and an esteemed jury of 47 globally renowned subject matter and innovation experts from UN agencies, global organizations, digital innovation companies, NGOs, and academia.
This year’s global challenges focused on four themes:
Sustainable and Healthy Food for All
Climate Change
Innovation for Inclusive Trade and
Innovation for Peace and Justice.
The shortlisted finalists have utilized modern technologies such as machine learning, artificial intelligence, smart materials or cloud-based networks to create affordable solutions that are highly scalable, and can help disadvantaged communities around the world to create new opportunities for sustainable development.
An audience of social impact enthusiasts from academia, investment companies, incubators, accelerators, and the judging panel are expected to be united through the Virtual Pitches and award ceremony who will witness high-level panel debates, pitches from the finalists and expert-led presentations. The discussions will focus on developing a path towards overcoming setbacks caused by the pandemic and ensuring the SDGs are placed back on track to achieving the 2030 targets.
Challenge Finalists – Sustainable and Healthy Food for All
Nilus, ColdHubs, IXON, Stixfresh, and Xilinat who effectively addressed the issues that fast-growing urban populations face in accessing healthy and sustainable food.
Challenge Finalists – Climate Change
The finalists of this challenge which proposed solutions that facilitate a low-carbon circular economy through smart use of existing resources include AlgiKnit, Aquacycl, Queen of Raw, Plastics for Change, and Biocellection.
Challenge Finalists – Innovation for Peace and Justice
Each of the shortlisted solutions from Peripheral Vision International, PVI, ID2020, PeaceTech Lab, Simbi Foundation, and Aiyin offered a novel idea that helps refugees and displaced people access affordable, quality services that are essential to their safety and wellbeing; these include
Challenge Finalists – Innovation for Inclusive Trade
The finalists within this challenge, Agricycle Global, Fantine, POKET, Takachar, and ChapChap were selected for their ability to support rural communities in accessing new supply chains and markets to create better livelihoods.
Global Maker Challenge – Cohort 2
Cohort 2 of the Global Maker Challenge was launched at the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation’s 8th Ministerial Conference of the Least Developed Countries in November 2019 in Abu Dhabi.
