Call summary :

The IBM Sustainability Accelerator is now accepting proposals for technology-driven projects advancing resilient cities.

About the new cohort

In support of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 11 to make cities inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable, this year’s cohort will aim to find ways to foster urban resiliency in the long-term.

Nonprofit and governmental organizations are encouraged to submit a proposal for tech-driven projects that would benefit from:
- Hybrid cloud and AI solutions
- Sustainability software
- Data science-enabled insights
- Expert consulting and design services

Our differentiators
The IBM Sustainability Accelerator supports communities vulnerable to environmental challenges by taking on a new sustainability topic and cohort of organizations each year.
- Global scale, local impact
- Two-year program duration
- No cost for participants
- Focus on populations at risk

Why did IBM launch the IBM Sustainability Accelerator?

IBM believes that science, technology, and innovation can help tackle environmental issues while helping communities to address societal needs.
- According to the World Bank, climate-related disasters and natural hazards push 26 million people into poverty each year, putting these populations in need of technical, financial, and institutional resources that enable communities to respond to climate change, support climate adaptation and build resiliency.
- By uniting experts and technology, IBM wanted to find a way to scale and speed up solutions, such as for climate change mitigation, that support underrepresented communities most vulnerable to environmental threats through the lens of environmental justice.

At IBM, we believe that technology has the potential to transform lives when directed with purpose. That’s why we’ve designed this program to have a bigger, long-term sustainable societal impact with the power of science and technologies such as hybrid cloud and AI.

What sustainability topics is the IBM Sustainability Accelarator focused on?
The IBM Sustainability Accelerator has had fifteen engagements, each with a different non-profit or government organization, divided into 3 cohorts:
- sustainable agriculture,
- clean energy
- water management.

How does IBM select participating organizations?

IBM selects about five organizations each year – forming a cohort – to focus on addressing a specific sustainability issue area. The selection process includes a public RFP open to any nonprofit or government organization. Proposals are reviewed and evaluated for feasibility and impact, and vetted through standard IBM compliance processes. The selection process will include input from IBM’s experts across disciplines such as IBM Consulting, Research, Software, Corporate Environmental Affairs, and Corporate Social Responsibility. The selection criteria will consider the applicant’s level of support to communities who are especially vulnerable to environmental threats, and its strategic focus and transparency on measurement and reporting, among other factors.

What organizations are eligible for the IBM Sustainability Accelarator?
The IBM Sustainability Accelerator is open to nonprofit and government organizations globally.