UNICEF Innovation

UNICEF’s Office of Innovation (OOI) is an agile global architecture aligning with diverse partners to boldly explore and scale innovative approaches and technologies to deliver equitable impact and opportunity for every child today, and an accelerated pace of change for generations to come.  We do this in a collective movement with innovative minds globally, across industries and generations, and our UNICEF innovators in over 190 countries.Within the OOI, the UNICEF Venture Fund invests solely in Open Source tech solutions with the potential to impact children on a global scale. We invest in solutions around $100 billion industries in frontier technology spaces, such as: blockchain, drones, artificial intelligence, machine learning, data science, extended reality and virtual reality. The core motivation of the Venture Fund is to identify "clusters" or portfolios of initiatives around frontier technology spaces - so that UNICEF can both shape markets, learn about and guide these technologies to benefit children.

Why we are joining Hack for Earth at COP28:

• At COP 28, our collaboration with Hack for Earth is a strategic embrace of Open Source for global innovation and climate action. This initiative champions a philosophy of shared progress and community-driven solutions, crucial in the fight against climate change.
  
• Embodying transparency and collaboration, Open Source is pivotal in addressing climate challenges. It encourages global participation and diverse innovation, aligning with Hack for Earth’s objectives to create scalable, globally relevant solutions.
  
• Our commitment extends beyond innovation; it’s about fostering equitable, accessible solutions that resonate with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. We seek transformative Open solutions that redefine our approach to climate change.
  
• The mentorship for winning teams, focused on Open Source, aims to turn innovative ideas into real-world impacts. Our participation at COP 28 underscores our belief in Open Source as a catalyst for sustainable change, empowering a new generation of innovators to create technology as a communal resource for a more resilient world.
  
• Link to your website: Home | UNICEF Venture Fund
  

Is your hackathon solution an Open source?

UNICEF Open Source Challenge
If you are ready to take the leap and commit to making your solution Open Source, just check the button in the Hackathon Platform called "I want to make my solution Open Source and join the UNICEF Open Source challenge" when you submit your solution.

As a winner with an Open Source solution, together with the UNICEF Office of Innovation and the Venture Fund, you will have the opportunity to:

• A fast track into the Venture Fund open calls for applications without having to go through the usual Express of Interest stage (provided your solution fits the criteria).
• Get access to personalized mentorship sessions from the UNICEF Venture Fund experts
• Access a network of and connect with climate entrepreneurs and startups around the world, within our portfolios

So in case you want to make your solution open source, just check the button in the Hackathon Platform called "I want to make my solution Open Source and join the UNICEF Open Source challenge" when you submit your solution.

More about UNICEF office of Innovation Open Source

Our challenge is rooted in Open Source principles, a pivotal approach that preserves the freedom of users and transparency in solution development. Open Source solutions empower users and consumers with the freedom to read, run, revise, and redistribute, ensuring accessible, scalable, and robust innovations. We seek projects across software, research, content, or hardware that embody these ideals, transcending boundaries and driving sustainable development goals. Join us in championing Open Source not just as a method, but as the right way to develop solutions for a collaborative and sustainable future.
Some resources and useful info:

• What is Open Source?
• How do you do Open Source?
• How to make it successful?
• Open Data
• Open Hardware

Open Source AI: As of now, there is no standard definition of Open (Source) AI as of now, read the latest information here