Global Maker Challenge 2020

For makers & innovators to solve real-world problems affecting peoples lives

The Global Maker Challenge is an online open-innovation platform that offers an opportunity for ‘makers’ and innovators to connect and collaborate, wherever they are in the world, to solve real-world problems affecting people’s lives. Leveraging manufacturing innovation to provide viable and deployable solutions for the world’s most pressing issues, it invites world-leading manufacturers and organisations to adopt challenges, provide mentorship, and help solve real-world problems.

The Global Maker Challenge will award winners with prizes of value up to USD 1,000,000 in prizes.

Within the four themes, we are looking for solutions to solve real-world problems identified as priority topics by MIT Solve in collaboration with various UN Agencies and Funds.

The challenges for cohort 2 are:

Sustainable and Healthy Food for All – How can urban populations increase access to healthy and sustainable foods, despite rapid urbanization?

Innovation for Inclusive Trade – How can rural communities increase their access to new supply chains and markets in order to create better livelihoods for themselves?

Innovation for Peace and Justice – How can displaced populations access affordable and quality services that are essential to their safety and wellbeing?

Climate Change – How can communities move towards a low-carbon circular economy by eliminating waste and utilizing existing resources?

Adjudication Criteria

Solutions will be reviewed by our experts and judges using the following criteria:

Alignment: The solution addresses the challenge that has been set forth.
Potential for Impact: The planned implementation of the solution has the potential to impact lives.
Feasibility: It is feasible to implement the solution, and the team has a plan for the solution to sustain itself financially.
Scalability: The solution can be grown and scaled to affect the lives of more people.
Innovative Approach: This is a new technology, a new application of a technology, a new business model, or a new process for solving the challenge.

Key Dates

The Global Maker Challenge was launched on 2 November 2019, at the 8th Ministerial Conference of the Least Developed Countries in Abu Dhabi.
Submission Deadline on 31 January 2020.
All submissions will be reviewed by expert judges throughout February – April 2020.
Pitch event will take place on the 22 April 2020.
Senior representatives from the shortlisted submissions will be invited to a pitch session.
The final winners will be announced on the 22 April 2020 at Hannover Messe, in Germany.