How can every woman, new mother, and newborn access the care they need to survive and thrive?

Challenge Overview

Over $2 million in prize funding is available for Solve's 2020 Global Challenges, including Maternal & Newborn Health. Learn more.

Every 11 seconds, a woman or newborn under one month old dies of complications related to pregnancy or childbirth, mostly from preventable or treatable causes. While the majority of these deaths occur in low-income countries, marginalized communities everywhere are disproportionately affected: in the United States, for example, a black woman is 3.3 times more likely to die from a complication in pregnancy or childbirth than a white woman. And as the COVID-19 pandemic sweeps the globe, overwhelming healthcare systems, access to essential health services becomes even more difficult for women and newborns—particularly those who are vulnerable.

Even after childbirth, obstacles to physical and mental well-being abound, from premature birth complications for babies to postpartum complications for women. Notably, the first month of a child’s life, the newborn period, is the most critical for survival and brain development.

The MIT Solve community is looking for technology-based solutions that promote the health and well-being of women, new mothers, and newborns everywhere. To that end, Solve seeks solutions that:

• Expand access to high-quality, affordable maternal and newborn care for women, new mothers, and newborns, including by expanding the health workforce, improving service delivery and diagnostics, and lowering barriers to seeking care, including stigma;

• Decrease the risk of disease among mothers and newborns, including by increasing vaccination rates and reducing infectious disease transmission from mother to baby;

• Improve gynecological health for all women; and

• Support the mental and emotional health of women throughout pregnancy and after childbirth, through psychological and medical care, as well as community support.

For more details on Solver Funding, Prize, and Partnership Eligibility for the Maternal & Newborn Health Challenge, visit the Prizes tab.

Prizes

Solver Funding

All solutions selected for Solve’s five current Global Challenges will receive a $10,000 grant funded by Solve. Solver teams will be selected by a panel of cross-sector judges at Virtual Solve Challenge Finals on September 29, 2020.

In addition to Solve funding, the following prizes are available to Solver teams selected for the Maternal & Newborn Health Challenge. To be considered for a prize, complete the prize-specific question within the application. You do not need to meet these requirements to apply to the Maternal & Newborn Health Challenge:

The Andan Prize for Innovation in Refugee Inclusion

The Andan Prize for Innovation in Refugee Inclusion is open to solutions that advance the economic, financial, and political inclusion of refugees. The prize is funded by Andan Foundation, a Swiss non-profit foundation dedicated to supporting solutions that promote refugee resilience, self-reliance and integration. Up to $100,000 will be granted to up to four eligible Solver teams from across any of Solve’s current Global Challenges.

Innovation for Women Prize

Solutions that use innovative technology to improve quality of life for women and girls are eligible for the Innovation for Women Prize. This prize is funded by the Vodafone Americas Foundation, which supports technology-focused projects that advance the needs of women and girls, and that promote a world where women’s voices can be celebrated. Up to $75,000 will be granted across up to three Solver teams from any of Solve’s current Global Challenges.

Health Workforce Innovation Prize

The Health Workforce Innovation Prize is open to solutions that expand and support the health workforce for newborns, pregnant women, and new mothers in low-income countries, where newborn mortality rates are 10 times those in higher income countries. Solutions that expand access to training for health workers, improve workers' assessment and referral capabilities, and/or introduce new tools or methods for treatment are preferred. This prize is made possible by the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Court's global health initiative, which is committed to providing treatment and preventative care in communities that lack access to quality health services. One prize recipient will be granted $50,000 after being selected as a Solver for the Maternal & Newborn Health Challenge.

The AI for Humanity Prize

The AI for Humanity Prize is open to solutions that are already using strong data science, artificial intelligence, or machine learning to benefit humanity, and to solutions that are not yet using these technologies but plan to do so to amplify their impact in the future. This prize is made possible by The Patrick J. McGovern Foundation, which is dedicated to improving the lives of individuals and our global community through neuroscience research and information technology. Up to $200,000 in funding will be awarded across several Solver teams from any of Solve’s Global Challenges.

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Funded Award

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Funded Award is open to solutions that improve maternal and newborn health in low- and middle-income countries, or that could be adapted for these contexts. Solutions must be developed and/or implemented in coordination or consultation with the public sector; solutions that circumvent the public sector entirely will not be considered. This prize will be awarded by MIT Solve and is made possible by The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Guided by the belief that every life has equal value, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation works to help all people lead healthy, productive lives. In developing countries, it focuses on improving people's health and giving them the chance to lift themselves out of hunger and extreme poverty. Reflecting this, up to $100,000 will be granted across up to four Solver teams from Solve’s Maternal & Newborn Health Challenge.

Future Planet Capital Prize

The Future Planet Capital Prize is open to scalable, for-profit solutions that have the potential to significantly impact millions of lives. The prize is funded by Future Planet Capital, which connects the world’s largest investors to its brightest minds to profitably address global challenges. One or more Solver teams, selected from any of Solve's current Global Challenges, will receive a total of $200,000 in investment funds. Solve Finalists under consideration for this Prize will be asked to provide materials and data (in addition to what is provided in the MIT Solve application) to enable Future Planet Capital to evaluate the prospective investments. Investment funding is contingent upon Future Planet Capital's evaluation of these materials, completion of due diligence, and parties agreeing on investment terms.

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