Challenges

BOOST applies systems thinking to better understand complex development challenges. It crowdsources, boosts and scales innovations addressing inequality and poverty, governance, energy, environment, resilience and gender equality. Will your innovation help us reimagine our future?

Explore our open challenges and apply now
Challenges
Eligible locations:
Eligible locations
  • All
  • Albania
  • Armenia
  • Azerbaijan
  • Belarus
  • Bosnia and Herzegovina
  • Europe and Central Asia
  • Georgia
  • Kazakhstan
  • Kosovo (as per UNSCR 1244)
  • Kyrgyzstan
  • Moldova
  • Montenegro
  • North Macedonia
  • Poland
  • Serbia
  • Tajikistan
  • Turkey
  • Turkmenistan
  • Ukraine
  • Uzbekistan
Issues
  • All
  • New Digital Services & Voice
  • Gender equality
  • Low touch economy
  • Wellbeing
  • Resilience
Type of applicant
  • All
  • Academic institutions
  • Non-profits
  • Civil society organizations
  • Private sector (including social enterprises)
  • Private sector companies
  • Research institutes
  • Universities
Completed challenges:
Hosted by: UNDP, Koç Holding & the Slovak Ministry of Finance

BOOST: Women Innovators

BOOST: Women Innovators is an open call for innovative ideas that leverage the power of technology to address gender inequalities and boost opportunities for women and girls to advance and thrive. We invite women-led or women-owned startups, SMEs, social enterprises, non-profits and academic institutions in Europe and Central Asia* with innovative and/or tech-driven ideas in four key areas: women & digital access and use, women in the digital economy & STEM, women in data, and women driving technology innovation.

Submission Deadline:
March 15 (Deadline extended)

Applicants:
Academic institutions, Non-profits, SMEs, Startups

Eligible locations:
Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kosovo (as per UNSCR 1244), Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan

Hosted by: UNDP & Koç Holding

Civil Society Technology Challenge

Covid-19 has revealed the importance of mobilizing digital and emerging technologies in response to complex societal and environmental issues. UNDP Europe and Central Asia and Koç Holding have launched BOOST Civil Society Technology Challenge to accelerate the digital transformation of civil society organizations to increase their impact and outreach.

Submission Deadline:
September 30, 2020

Applicants:
Civil society organizations

Eligible locations:
Turkey

Hosted by: UNDP & Slovak Ministry of Finance

Innovation Challenge Fund

The Innovation Challenge is looking for novel solutions to the effects of the pandemic in the following issue areas: new digital services and voice, low touch economies, wellbeing. Solutions should be applied in more than one country and enhance regional collaboration in addressing the crisis.

Submission Deadline:
September 30, 2020

Applicants:
Academic institutions, Private sector (including social enterprises)

Eligible locations:
Europe and Central Asia

Hosted by: UNDP – Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Polish Challenge Fund

The Polish Challenge Fund is calling for innovative solutions to address the emerging development issues resulting from the global health crisis. Applicants can apply for any of the following issue areas: new digital services and voice, low touch economies, and wellbeing.

Submission Deadline:
September 30, 2020

Applicants:
Private sector companies, Research institutes, Universities

Eligible locations:
Poland