The Rockefeller Foundation announced the launch of a series of new online challenges to source innovative ideas that have the potential to create long-term impact in an increasingly dynamic and complex world. The Innovation Challenges, which run through May 25, seek to gather ideas from around the globe on three important topics: data collection and usage, irrigation efficiency, and farming.
As The Rockefeller Foundation marks its centennial, the search has begun for innovative ideas that will solve problems for the next 100 years. The Innovation Challenges are designed to discover and reward ideas that show unique promise for addressing global needs from a variety of geographies, perspectives, and contexts.
Fifteen finalists, five in each category, will be selected by a distinguished panel of judges and recognized at the 2012 Rockefeller Foundation Innovation Forum this summer. As many as nine out of 15 finalists will be selected by the Foundation to apply for up to $100,000 in grant support to further develop or implement their ideas.
“The Rockefeller Foundation’s centennial occurs at a time of great dynamism, change, and uncertainty in the world,” said Michael Myers, Director of The Rockefeller Foundation’s Centennial Initiative.
“We are challenging the world’s best thinkers and doers to offer their most innovative ideas for addressing the challenges facing humanity in the 21st century.”
The Rockefeller Foundation looks to attract global changemakers whose ideas could lead to new services, tools, and choices in the following three issue areas:
DECODING DATA: Ideas that create better ways to address urban challenges through the application of data.
IRRIGATING EFFICIENCY: Ideas that help reduce barriers—such as lack of investment, incentives, or political will and capacity—to implementing and scaling agricultural water use efficiency.
FARMING NOW: Ideas that encourage and help young farmers to become more productive, more resilient, and more profitable by addressing cultural perceptions, economic conditions, and/or climate change.