search

“In the humanitarian field, the challenges are constantly multiplying and require new and innovative solutions. However, we can only meet the major challenges of our time together and by combining our expertise. This is why I call on all eligible companies to participate in the Humanitarian Innovation Accelerator and to submit their innovative projects to us – together, we can make a lasting and real difference in the humanitarian sector,” says Franz Fayot, Minister of Cooperation and of Humanitarian action.

Humanitarian Innovation Accelerator: Innovative solutions

According to United Nations estimates, a record of 339 million people will need humanitarian assistance and protection in 2023. The Humanitarian Innovation Accelerator (HIA), which is powered by the Directorate of Cooperation and Humanitarian Action of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of Luxembourg, in close collaboration with the World Food Program (WFP) and the Austrian Development Agency, aims to pilot the development and scaling up of innovative solutions in order to solve emergency and humanitarian challenges faced by vulnerable populations and humanitarian actors.

The call for projects targets innovative entrepreneurs all over the world, who through their products and/or services bring a positive and lasting impact to the humanitarian aid sector, particularly in the fields of emergency management, access to services and data management and communication.

Artificial intelligence, space, healthtech, logistics

The HIA is particularly interested in solutions from the sectors of artificial intelligence, space, healthtech, supply chain and logistics, and data sciences. It wishes to support proposals that are likely to be implemented at scale in different crisis contexts as well as in different geographical areas. Simultaneously and ideally, these solutions also take into account the greening of humanitarian action, the environment and gender aspects as well as the needs of vulnerable communities including LGBTIQ, seniors and people living with disabilities.

Support and funding

The HIA programme has been designed to support ventures and solutions at different stages of development. It has two workstreams: 1) Scaling and 2) Early Stage. The selected ventures and solutions for both workstreams in the programme will:

  • Be invited to participate in a fully virtual WFP Innovation Bootcamp in early June 2023.
  • Be invited to attend an in-person pitch event in Luxembourg on 29 June 2023.
  • Be able to apply for the WFP Sprint Programme, which is a 6 to 12 monthacceleration programme with access to:
    • Support from the WFP Innovation Accelerator and relevant partners through the duration of their Sprints.
    • Mentorship and access to a global network of relevant stakeholders in the humanitarian space.
    • Equity-free funding for the implementation of a proposed growth plan.

Funding will depend on the corresponding workstream: up to US$500,000 in the Scaling workstream and up to US$130,000 in the Early Stage workstream.

Solutions that have proven their concepts, scale and value for social impact may qualify for further funding and support.

Pitch event co-organised with Luxinnovation

The best products and services submitted to this call will be invited to pitch at a live Pitch Event on 29 June 2023 in Luxembourg. During this event, co-organised with Luxinnovation, Luxembourg’s national innovation agency, the winning projects of the call will be selected. The winners will then have access to funding, mentoring and connections with Luxembourg’s economic and humanitarian ecosystem.

Images: © Humanitarian Innovation Accelerator

Read more

LIST and Expon Capital to attract AI companies to Luxembourg

28-03-2024

The Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology and VC company Expon Capital have joined forces to identify R&D opportunities in artificial intelligence.
Read more

Waste heat: Time to take action

28-03-2024

The workshop organised by Luxinnovation on 26 March highlighted the need to take appropriate measures to reuse "lost" heat in industrial processes. An EU directive also supports this approach.
Read more

Cross-border tours in support of digital transformation

20-03-2024

Luxembourg manufacturers will visit Hannover Fair and the Deloitte Smart Factory during the L-DIH Cross-Border Tour from 24 to 25 April 2024.
Read more

Launch of the second joint R&D call in the defence sector

19-03-2024

This call for projects specifically targets the deployment of dual-use capabilities that can be utilised for both civilian and military purposes, with a focus on themes like "smart mobility," "resilience," and "strategic foresight and climate change adaptation."
Read more

56 days until the 2024 European Digital HealthTech Conference

19-03-2024

Register for a unique conference exploring the challenges of bringing health technologies to the market and their solutions from 14 to 15 May 2024 in Luxembourg. A call for speakers is also open until 16 April.
Read more

All news

Close