In context
This call is open to startups, small and medium-sized businesses and non-profits and 3 others, at idea and R&D stage, prototype and pilot stage and pre-seed. Coverage is read from the notice itself: any country.
Solve offers bespoke challenge programmes co-designed with corporate and foundation partners to address their specific social impact or industry goals using Solve's methodology and platform. Eligible applicants are innovators and organizations solving problems aligned with partner-defined challenges across climate, health, education, economic development, and AI sectors.
About this grant
MIT Solve's Custom Challenges programme allows organisations—including corporations, foundations, philanthropists, and investors—to design and launch their own open innovation challenges tailored to their specific social impact goals or industry needs. Leveraging Solve's signature methodology and research-backed platform, the programme provides end-to-end support including promotion, applicant selection, vetting, and ongoing support for challenge participants. Solve has run over 100 challenges to date, attracting more than 28,200 solutions submitted from applicants in over 190 countries. This reach and proven infrastructure is made available to partner organisations seeking to surface technology-based solutions to pressing problems in areas such as climate, economic prosperity, health, learning, indigenous communities, and youth innovation. Organisations interested in launching a custom challenge work directly with the Solve team to define challenge parameters, identify target innovators, and structure the selection and support process. Solve handles operational details so that partners can focus on their strategic goals while benefiting from MIT Solve's global network and expertise in open innovation.
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Eligibility
This programme is targeted at organisations—including corporations, foundations, philanthropists, and investors—that wish to partner with MIT Solve to design and launch a bespoke social innovation challenge. There is no stated geographic restriction on who can partner with Solve to run a custom challenge. Individual applicants seeking to participate in Solve's open innovation challenges would apply separately through Solve's standard challenge process.
How it's scored
The page does not disclose specific evaluation or scoring criteria for custom challenge partnerships. Interested organisations are directed to contact Solve directly to learn about available packages and the support provided.
Key requirements
- ✓Solution must align with a specific partner-defined challenge brief
- ✓Participation in Solve's challenge methodology and platform
- ✓Demonstrated innovation addressing social impact or industry goals in climate, health, education, economic development, or AI
Frequently asked questions
- Who can apply for Custom Challenges?
- Eligibility covers organisations in GLOBAL; startup, sme, nonprofit, social-enterprise, university, research-institution. See the eligibility criteria above for the full conditions.
Relevant sectors
About this sector
Climate software and data funding supports emissions accounting, climate risk analytics, Earth observation, digital MRV and tools for planners. It is offered as innovation grants, public contracts for data services and support from technology programmes. Buyers generally look for data quality, interoperability and evidence that users rely on the tool.
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