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

Eligible locations:

Current and Upcoming challenges:

Hosted by: UNDP & the Ministry of Finance of the Slovak Republic

Urban Future Finance Challenge

To address financial challenges, UNDP launched the BOOST: Urban Future Finance acceleration programme focused on identifying, further developing and scaling innovative financial solutions that can drive urban transformation in the Western Balkan region. Are you passionate about leveraging innovation for urban transformation in the Western Balkans? Are you working on a high-impact and scalable innovative financing solution? Then the BOOST: Urban Future Finance acceleration programme is for you!

Submission Deadline:
October 21

Applicants:
Academic institutions, Financial institutions, Micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises, Municipalities, Non-profits, Social enterprises, Startups, Universities

Eligible locations:
Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo (as per UNSCR 1244), Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia

Completed challenges:

Hosted by: BOOST x Ukraine

Blue Innovation Challenge

To assist the City on the Wave, UNDP Ukraine is launching the Blue Innovation Challenge — an acceleration programme that welcomes entrepreneurs, innovators, and visionaries to join us in shaping Mykolaiv's future. The Blue Innovation Challenge is open to micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises with groundbreaking solutions that align with the principles of the Blue Economy. Whether it's pioneering marine technologies, eco-friendly maritime services, or resource-efficient business models, your innovations have the power to propel Mykolaiv's transformation into a central hub for the Blue Economy in the Black Sea region.

Submission Deadline:
June 9 (CLOSED)

Applicants:
Micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises

Hosted by: BOOST x Ukraine

Green Innovation Challenge

To assist Ternopil, UNDP Ukraine is launching the Green Innovation Challenge — an acceleration programme that welcomes entrepreneurs, innovators, and visionaries to join us in shaping the city’s future. The Green Innovation Challenge is open to micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises with groundbreaking solutions that align with the principles of the Green Economy. Whether it's pioneering green technologies, sustainable business models, or nature-based solutions, your ideas have the power to shape the future of Ternopil and beyond.

Submission Deadline:
June 9 (CLOSED)

Applicants:
Micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises

Hosted by: BOOST x Kosovo

The Kosovo Green Challenge: NextGen

The Kosovo Green Challenge, launched by UNDP Kosovo, aims to support the private sector to accelerate the transition towards a greener and more resilient future for Kosovo. Do you have an innovative solution in response the interconnected environmental, economic, social, and health crises that can put us on a just and inclusive green recovery? Are you a micro, small, and medium-sized enterprise in Kosovo looking to shift towards environmental sustainability, build resilience and uplift marginalised communities, but lacks knowledge and funding?  Apply and join our BOOST x Kosovo acceleration programme.

Submission Deadline:
October 31, 2023

Applicants:
Micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises

Eligible locations:
Kosovo (as per UNSCR 1244)

Hosted by: BOOST x Kosovo

The Kosovo Green Challenge

The Kosovo Green Challenge, launched by UNDP Kosovo, in partnership with the Government of Japan, supports green recovery in the private sector. Do you have an innovative solution in response to the compounding environmental, economic, social, and health crises that can put us on a just and inclusive green recovery? Are you a small and medium-sized enterprise that wants to build resilience, but lacks knowledge and funding?  Apply and join our BOOST x Kosovo acceleration programme.

Submission Deadline:
APPLICATIONS CLOSED

Applicants:
SMEs

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