How can communities create a zero-carbon world and adapt to a warming climate?

Challenge Overview

Climate change is an omnipresent issue marked by another year of record-breaking heat, intensifying extreme weather, and long-term impacts determined by near-term choices. While driven by emissions from energy, industry, and agriculture in a concentrated set of economies, climate change disproportionately impacts the up to 3.6 billion people living in contexts that are under-resourced and highly vulnerable. The climate crisis requires dramatic action from all stakeholders, including rapid technology deployment and further innovation alongside bold policies, financial commitments, and global market shifts.

Technology and innovation have an important role to play in abating the effects of climate change. Technology exists to replace or mitigate all major areas of current emissions but often has minimal deployment in vulnerable communities due to cost and a lack of design for context and scale. Innovation can offer new business models, decreased costs, and ways to deploy known approaches alongside new technologies that can help meet mitigation and adaptation goals at the speed of the crisis.

MIT Solve seeks exceptional solutions that leverage technology to address any aspect of the climate crisis with a particular interest for 2025 in solutions that:

• Drive a shift towards a low-carbon and nutritious global food system, across large and small-scale producers plus supply chains.

• Build zero-carbon and resilient cities, including through better construction or retrofitting of multi-family or commercial buildings, enabling non-car transportation, and managing extreme weather.

• Enable rapid deployment of distributed renewable energy and adaptation measures, such as community-scale solar, ecosystem restoration, or cooling/dehumidification.

• Strengthen a low-carbon blue economy, including sustainable fisheries and aquaculture, marine industry, or ecosystem conservation.

Prizes

MIT Solve - Solver Award

All Solver teams selected for Solve’s Global Challenges and the Indigenous Communities Fellowship will receive a $10,000 grant funded by Solve.

The Seeding The Future Food Systems Prize

The Seeding the Future Food Systems Prize is open to high impact innovations focusing on transforming food systems to be more sustainable, and to enable equitable access to safe and nutritious food that is affordable and trusted. Solutions benefitting underserved communities, countries or regions are encouraged to apply. Up to $150,000 will be awarded to two or more high-impact solutions selected for any of Solve’s 2025 Global Challenges. This prize is supported by the Seeding The Future Foundation, a private nonprofit organization that seeds and supports innovative solutions to help improve the global food system.

The E Ink Innovation Prize

The E Ink Innovation Prize is open to solutions that currently utilize or propose to utilize ePaper materials, technology, or displays to address problems of global importance in any of Solve’s areas of impact, including topics such as architecture, education, or intercultural understanding. The prize is funded by E Ink, a corporation that advances healthy solutions and a sustainable future using ultra-low power, daylight readable displays. Up to $100,000 will be awarded to up to four Solver teams selected for any of the 2025 Global Challenges or Solve’s existing portfolio of alumni teams. E Ink may also opt to provide materials and technical support to its prize recipients.

The AI for Humanity Prize

The AI for Humanity Prize is open to solutions leveraging data science, artificial intelligence, and/or machine learning to benefit humanity. The prize is made possible by The Patrick J. McGovern Foundation, a philanthropy committed to advancing AI and data solutions to create a thriving, equitable, and sustainable future for all. Up to $150,000 will be awarded across several Solver teams from any of the 2025 Global Challenges.

The GM Prize

The GM Prize is open to solutions that help create smart, safe, and sustainable communities around the world. The Prize is funded by General Motors, which is working toward becoming the most inclusive company in the world and is dedicated to making STEM education more accessible and equitable. Up to $150,000 will be awarded across up to six Solver teams from the 2025 Global Learning Challenge, the 2025 Global Climate Challenge, and the 2025 Indigenous Communities Fellowship.

The Citizens Workforce Innovation Prize

The Citizens Workforce Innovation Prize seeks to accelerate the development of solutions that will prepare people for today’s opportunities and the workplace of the future, advance new ways of working, and drive economic impact within communities. Funded by Citizens, the prize furthers the company’s commitment to helping communities meet today’s demands while positioning themselves well for the future. Up to $100,000 will be awarded to up to four Solver teams across all 2025 Global Challenges or Solve's portfolio of alumni teams. Preference will be given to solutions that can be implemented to address workforce development challenges in Boston, MA and New York, NY that also have scaling potential to other geographies.

The Crescent Enterprises ‘AI for Social Innovation’ Prize

The Crescent Enterprises ‘AI for Social Innovation’ Prize supports groundbreaking solutions that leverage data science, artificial intelligence, and machine learning to tackle critical global social challenges. Sponsored by Crescent Enterprises - a diversified conglomerate spanning industries such as ports and logistics, power and engineering, food and beverage, life sciences and business aviation - the prize reflects the company’s dedication to innovation, sustainability, and meaningful global impact.

Up to $100,000 will be awarded to as many as four Solver teams addressing the 2025 Global Challenges or selected from Solve’s portfolio of alumni teams. This prize aims to recognise and accelerate the growth of transformative solutions, driving positive change for a better future.

FAQ

Solver Program

What funding is available to Solvers?

Each Solver team receives $10,000 in unrestricted funding from Solve and access to additional financing in the form of grants and investments. Last year's Solver teams received an average of $40k each following selection and because once a Solver, always a Solver they will continue to be eligible for funding opportunities during their program year and beyond.

What resources does the Solve program provide?

Funding

• $10,000 prize from Solve
• Access to a pool of +$1.5M in prize funding at selection and additional funding opportunities throughout the program and after.

Nine-month support program

• Tailored capacity-building workshops covering marketing, public relations, monitoring and evaluation, business model, and more; 
• Leadership coaching; 
• Access to in-kind and pro bono resources such as software licenses and legal services; 
• Monitoring and evaluation support to build an impact measurement practice; 
• A powerful network of impact-minded leaders across industries and sectors, including MIT, with dedicated spaces to meet year-round; 
• Attendance at two flagship events in New York City in September and Cambridge in May; 
• Exposure in the media and speaking opportunities at conferences; 
• Connections with past Solver teams for peer-to-peer support, inspiration, and guidance

What is the time commitment?

Selected Solver teams should expect to commit ~25 hours to the program over the course of nine months, inclusive of coaching sessions, workshops, virtual events, etc. Additionally, attendance to MIT Solve flagship events is usually four days for Solve Challenge Finals in New York City (September) and four days for Solve at MIT in Cambridge (May).

What happens after completion of the program?

Once a Solver, always a Solver! You will continue to have access to funding opportunities, in-kind and pro bono resources, exposure in the media, and speaking engagements, and you will receive invitations to join Solve in selected virtual and in-person events. 

Solutions

What type of solutions is Solve looking for?

Solve seeks innovative, human-centered, tech-based solutions to our Global Challenges. Through open innovation, Solve is looking for a diverse portfolio of solutions across geography, development stage, and team members’ gender and background. We encourage people of all backgrounds to submit applications.

What stage should my solution be to be accepted?

You can submit applications at the stages listed below.

Concept: An idea being explored and researched for its feasibility to build a product, service, or business model, including prototypes under development. Until the solution has a functioning prototype, we would still consider it a Concept. Concept-stage ideas are only reviewed under the Indigenous Communities Fellowship. 

Prototype: An initial working version of a solution that may be in the process of getting initial feedback or testing with users (i.e. running a pilot). If for-profit, a solution that has raised little or no investment capital. Until the solution transitions from testing to consistent availability, we would still consider it a Prototype. (Often 0 users/direct beneficiaries)

Pilot: The solution has been launched in at least one community, but is still iterating on design or business model. If for-profit, is generally working to gain traction and may have completed a fundraising round with investment capital.

Growth: An established solution available in one or more communities with a consistent design and approach, ready for further growth in multiple communities or countries. If for-profit, has generally completed at least one formal investment round (Seed stage or later). If nonprofit, has an established set of donors and/or revenue streams.

Scale: A standard solution operating in many communities or multiple countries and is prepared to scale significantly by improving efficiency. If for-profit, has likely raised at least a Series A investment round.

How does Solve define technology?

We define technology broadly as the application of science and evidence-based knowledge to the practical aims of human life. We welcome solutions that are using apps, SMS technology, software, AI, robots, drones, blockchain, and virtual reality.! We also welcome solutions that leverage traditional, ancestral, and natural technologies and knowledge systems. Tech-based innovations across our Solver portfolio include plant-based solutions that reduce the effects of climate change, machine-learning platforms that improve the delivery of justice and governance, biodegradable sanitary pads, and solutions that leverage centuries-old irrigation or building techniques, to name a few. Learn about all our Solver teams' diverse technologies.

Selection Process

How do I apply?

Review our How to Apply to a Challenge webpage for tips and tutorials to get you started.

Can I submit multiple solutions or apply to multiple Challenges?

One team lead, solution, or organization can apply to multiple Global Challenges if there is alignment. However, if you advance beyond the initial judging rounds in multiple Global Challenges, you will be asked to select one challenge in which to advance.

A team lead cannot submit multiple solutions to the same Global Challenge. However, we encourage you to look at other open custom challenges on our site. You can apply to as many of these as you fit the application criteria for! Note that the resources offered to winners of Custom Challenges vary from the Solver program associated with the Global Challenges.

How will my solution be evaluated?

First, Solve's staff and community will conduct an initial screening. Secondly, a diverse set of expert reviewers will evaluate and score the solutions according to Solve’s judging criteria, and the 50 solutions with the highest scores will pass to the semifinalist round. Challenge Leadership Group judges (experts and leaders from across industries and sectors) will evaluate and score the solutions. The 15 solutions with the highest scores will become finalists and will be notified in July and invited to a virtual live pitch and Q&A session, after which the judges will deliberate and select the Solver class. 

Solutions will be evaluated along the following criteria:

• Alignment: The solution uses technology to address one of Solve's Global Challenges.
• Potential for Impact: The planned solution implementation has the potential to impact the intended population.
• Feasibility: The team has a realistic, practical plan for implementing the solution, and it is feasible in the given context.
• Innovative Approach: The solution includes a new technology, a new application of technology, a new business model, or a new process for solving the Challenge.
• Human-Centered Design: The solution is designed with and for underserved communities, and the solution team demonstrates proximity to the community.
• Scalability*: The solution has a plan for financial viability and the potential to be scaled to affect the lives of more people.
• Partnership Potential*: The applicant clearly explains how the solution would benefit from the broad range of resources that the Solve community is positioned to provide.
• Technical Feasibility*: If the underlying technology is novel, the applicant has provided convincing evidence that it has been built and functions as they claim it does.

*This criterion will only be considered during finalist selection and beyond.

How long will it take to complete the application?

Once you decide you would like to apply to Solve’s 2025 Global Challenges, begin your application as soon as you can. In post-application surveys, most applicants reported that they spent several hours completing the application. Be sure to budget enough time to submit your application before the deadline.

To help you prepare, download a PDF version of the application here. The PDF version is only for reference; you must submit your application online here.

Have more questions?

If you have any additional questions, please review our events calendar to find application clinic sessions, where you can learn more about MIT Solve, the Solver program, commonly asked questions, and Solve's selection criteria. 

You can also email your questions to help@solve.mit.edu. Please allow 3-5 business days for a response.