Announcing the MIT Solve 2020 Global Challenges

After months of research, planning, and preparation, I am delighted to announce the launch of Solve’s 2020 Global Challenges:

1. Sustainable Food Systems: How can we produce and consume low-carbon, resilient, and nutritious food?
2. Learning for Girls & Women: How can marginalized girls and young women access quality learning opportunities to succeed?
3. Maternal & Newborn Health: How can every woman, new mother, and newborn access the care they need to survive and thrive?
4. Good Jobs & Inclusive Entrepreneurship: How can marginalized populations access and create good jobs and entrepreneurial opportunities for themselves?
5. Health Security & Pandemics: How can communities around the world prepare for, detect, and respond to emerging pandemics and health security threats?

Solve now seeks tech-based solutions to these four Global Challenges. Anyone, anywhere can apply by the June 18 deadline. Selected Solver teams will join a supportive community of peers, funders, and experts to help scale their impact. Thanks to our partners, Gulbenkian Foundation, General Motors, Vodafone Americas Foundation, Andan Foundation, and Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Court, over $1 million in prize funding is available across the Challenges.

There are four ways to get involved:

1. Apply. Submit your solution, if you have one, by June 18.
2. Take our MITx course. Define or refine your business and impact plan through this free online course which follows Solve’s application, so you can work to improve your plan before you apply! Sign up here.
3. Spread the word. Get others in your network to apply! See our social media packet for sample posts.
4. Host a Solveathon. Help us generate and refine solutions from your community by hosting one of our design-thinking workshops. Learn more here.

To develop these Challenges, we consulted more than 500 subject matter experts, hosted 14 Challenge Design Workshops in eight countries, and received more than 26,000 online votes through Solve’s open innovation platform. Thank you to everyone who took part!

Finalists for each Challenge will be invited to pitch their solutions at Solve Challenge Finals on September 20, 2020 in New York during UN General Assembly Week, and our esteemed Challenge Leadership Group members will select the most promising solutions to join our 2020 Solver Class.  

In the last three years, Solve has brokered commitments of over $14 million in funding for Solver teams and entrepreneurs, in addition to providing in-kind support such as mentorship, technical expertise, and media and conference exposure. 

If you have a relevant solution, I hope you’ll apply.