UN SOLUTIONS SUMMIT
United Nations
September 2019
Lifting innovators advancing the
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
WHAT IS THE SOLUTIONS SUMMIT?
Solutions Summit is an annual catalytic gathering at United Nations Headquarters in New York during UN General Assembly high-level week at the end of September. This initiative lifts up and advances the work of exceptional teams already developing innovative solutions that address the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It shows that people already have extraordinary solutions in progress to our most complex challenges. The gathering serves as a catalyst to convene resources and talent around solution-makers. The first Solutions Summit in 2015 immediately followed the adoption of the SDGs by all UN Member States.
WHAT ARE THE OUTCOMES
During the Solutions Summit, a group of selected global innovators give a ‘lightning talk’ outlining their breakthrough efforts to an audience of senior policymakers who have the means to pave solid regulatory foundations, investors who care deeply about long-term change and impact, industry leaders who are able to deploy quickly and at scale, fellow entrepreneurs who can share wisdom on starting up, and members of the general public, including youth, who bring additional creative insight. This special event involves in-person accelerator sessions and social media interaction with the selected solution-makers.
WHO IS ORGANIZING THE EFFORT?
Solutions Summit is led by the United Nations, UN Foundation, shift7, and the Global Innovation Exchange.
Our 2018 acceleration partners include:
Accelerate2030, Acumen, Equal Innovation, UN Equator Prize, Humanitarian Tracker, MIT Solve, Salesforce, SDG Philanthropy Platform, Skoll Foundation, Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN), Startup Bootcamp, University of Denver, Unreasonable Group, Walker Impact, World Bank Connect4Climate
Thank you to the UN Solutions Summit 2018 sponsors for supporting travel for the solution-makers, and event production:
AIA, Barclays, Ericsson, Google, Schmidt Ventures, Consensys
SOLUTIONS SUMMIT 2018
We received more than 1000 applications for Soutions Summit 2018: 616 projects and 385 for the Selection Committee. We convened a Youth Selection Committee to review youth project proposals, and a Selection Committee of members ages 31+ to review projects from applicants ages 31+. From short-lists determined by the two Selection Committees, we selected the following final 10 solutions for 2018:aQysta Barsha Pump
Beacon of Hope UAE
BeeLine Reader
D-Kimia Innovative Diagnostic Solutions - Egypt
Cyber Harassment Helpline - Pakistan
GIResilience Project - Mexico
Logistimo - India
Powerstove - Nigeria
Recode - Brazil
SEAB Energy - Flexibuster & Muckbuster
SOLUTIONS SUMMIT 2017
Afghan Institute for Learning - Mobile Literacy EducationSonbola Group - STEM For Refugees Program
Fundación Paraguya - Poverty Stoplight
YCAB's Premise for Change
SunCulture - solar powered irrigation
Alternative Indigenous Development Foundation (AIDFI)
Chipsafer
GiftedMom
PharmaChk
Global Vision 2020 - USee Vision Kit
MUrgency Inc. - Global Emergency Response Network
SOLUTIONS SUMMIT 2016
Solutions Summit 2016 highlighted projects that advance the objectives of the UN Summit for Refugees and Migrants, the UN Habitat III Conference, the UN Climate Change Conference, the Open Government Partnership, and the UN Oceans Conference.
Humanitarian Tracker
REFUNITE
Atmocean
Darewin / Great Whale Conservancy
BenBen
AIME
ayzh
doctHERs
ECOLOO Group
Red Dot Foundation (Safecity)
SOLUTIONS SUMMIT 2015
The first Solutions Summit in 2015 immediately followed the conclusion of the UN Sustainable Development Summit, and featured projects advancing the SDGs:
Floating Fab Lab
African Design Centers
Newborn Foundation
African Prisons Project
Biocarbon Engineering
PlanetOS
ColdHubs
AbzeSolar
Baidu Recycle
Read about them in this article by Megan Smith, shift7 CEO and 3rd U.S. CTO.
Watch the event video.
