MIT Solve announces 2022 global challenges and the Indigenous Communities Fellowship

MIT Solve, an MIT initiative aimed at driving innovation to solve world challenges, has announced the launch of its 2022 Global Challenges and the Indigenous Communities Fellowship. 

Solve seeks tech-based solutions from social entrepreneurs around the world that address specific challenges. The program invites anyone, anywhere to submit a solution to this year’s challenges by March 31. Finalists will be invited to pitch their solutions to a diverse panel of cross-sector judges, the Challenge Leadership Group, ahead of Solve Challenge Finals on Sept. 18-19 in New York City. The event will bring together over 400 members of the Solve community and welcome the 40 most promising tech-based innovators as new 2022 Solver teams and Indigenous Communities Fellows. The selected teams will share over $1.3 million in available funding, and take part in the nine-month Solver program, which includes coaching, mentorship, and networking opportunities to scale their solutions. 

Solve’s 2022 Global Challenges are: 

• The Care Economy;
• Climate: Ecosystems and Housing;
• Equitable Health Systems; and
• Re-engaging Learners.

Building on the 2021 Antiracist Technology in the US Challenge and Solve’s effort to be a culturally diverse and anti-racist platform, Solve is integrating U.S. racial equity solutions across their 2022 Global Challenges by launching the Black & Brown Innovators program. The program will include one or two solutions led by Black and brown innovators in the United States from each 2022 Global Challenge. In addition to the Solver program, these teams will receive culturally-responsive support and partnership opportunities, and participate in the annual Indigenous and Antiracist Innovators Summit. 

In addition to the Global Challenges, Solve is also opening applications for the 2022 Indigenous Communities Fellowship, which looks for Native innovators in the United States and its territories.

“We continue to witness reverberating turmoil around the world as a result of the global pandemic, ongoing climate crisis, centuries of institutionalized racism, and increasing inequality. Through our 2022 Global Challenges, we are looking for the people facing these big issues head-on,” says Alex Amouyel, executive director of MIT Solve. “We want to hear solutions from every corner of the world and every community that disproportionately experiences the impact of these problems.”

Interested applicants can learn more and apply online at solve.mit.edu/challenges.

Solve's 2022 funders include General Motors, the Vodafone Americas Foundation, Living Proof, GSR, and the Elevate Prize Foundation.

To date, the funding available for selected Solver teams and fellows includes:  

• Solver Funding — $330,000 for the Solver Awards and Community Award
• Indigenous Communities Fellowship — $160,000 across initial awards and follow-on funding
• The GM Prize (supported by General Motors) — up to $150,000 for up to six solutions from the Re-engaging Learners Challenge, Climate: Ecosystems & Housing Challenge, and 2022 Indigenous Communities Fellowship
• The Innovation for Women Prize (supported by the Vodafone Americas Foundation) — $75,000 for up to three solutions that empower and enrich the lives of women and girls 
• The Elevate Prize (supported by the Elevate Prize Foundation) — $300,000 for a nonprofit Solver Team (from the 2022 class or any earlier class) that will then take part in the Elevate Prize program in addition to the Solver program
• The GSR Prize (supported by GSR) — $200,000 to solutions from any of the 2022 Global Challenges, with a focus on innovative technology and, in particular, blockchain solutions to address pressing issues in Solver teams’ communities and the world
• The Living Proof Prize: Women’s Leadership Solutions (supported by Living Proof) — $100,000 for up to four solutions from any of the 2022 Global Challenges with a focus on women-led teams

The Solve community will convene on MIT’s campus for its flagship event, Solve at MIT, on May 5-7. Solver teams, Solve members, and Solve champions will be invited to attend and engage over three days of inspiration, connection, and partnership. Press interested in attending the event should contact press@solve.mit.edu. 

Solve is a marketplace for social impact innovation. Through open innovation challenges, Solve finds incredible tech-based social entrepreneurs all around the world. Solve then brings together MIT’s innovation ecosystem and a community of members to fund and support these entrepreneurs to help them drive lasting transformational impact. Solve has catalyzed over $50 million in commitments for Solver teams and entrepreneurs to date.

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