Innovation

Overview

The State of Affairs

Innovations are needed to meet today’s pressing and persistent challenges. Our team drives innovation by connecting leaders, building artificial intelligence solutions, and pushing new frontiers to expand human opportunity.

By leveraging creative solutions and transformational partnerships, we propel a diverse portfolio of work to address climate change, human well-being, artificial intelligence for social good, and access to benefits.

Why it matters

0%%
of U.N. Sustainable Development Goal targets are directly benefited by digital technologies
$0TrillionTrillion
will be AI's contribution to the global economy by 2030
$0MillionMillion
in joint commitments to advance digital public infrastructure and data science for social benefit

Report
17 Rooms: Rejuvenating the Sustainable Development Goals Through Shared Action
Everyone agrees that we need more and faster progress across all the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). We need fewer promises and more results. The 17 Rooms initiative takes non-traditional approaches to help people with ideas and ideals drive action, gather insights, and forge the bonds of community that drive longer-term gains. We are deeply committed to growing a new type of enterprise that democratizes the SDGs so that people everywhere can take them into their own hands.
Download PDF

How We Respond

Our Strategy

1Connecting Leaders: We proactively attract and support thought leaders, often at pivotal moments in their careers, to develop new breakthroughs in advancing solutions. Recognizing that innovation requires breaking out of silos, we are known for creating unlikely partnerships.
2 Spurring Data-Driven Solutions: We leverage our research, analysis, funding, and partnering capabilities to ensure that the most advanced data science, artificial intelligence, and machine learning tools are deployed in ways that empower underserved communities, bridge knowledge gaps, prevent harm, and increase equity.
3Breaking out of Silos: The Foundation’s Innovation team works at the crossroads of culture, conversation, and cutting-edge solutions — where true innovation happens. With team members working at every stage of the innovation pipeline, we know how to mobilize the people and resources necessary to move from breakthrough ideas to scaled initiatives.

Current Actions

Initiatives

Data Science Products

Helping underserved communities through data-science tools

Innovation Global

New Frontiers

Scaling new ideas for positive social outcomes

Innovation Global

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Maximizing the benefits and minimizing the risks of Artificial Intelligence

Innovation Global

All Innovation Initiatives

Related Grants

View Innovation Focused Grants

News from the Frontlines

Impact Stories

Co-Develop Spearheads a Global Opportunity for DPI Adoption

Co-Develop, founded this year, is focused on implementing digital public infrastructure globally, justly and equitably.

Driver’s Seat Puts Data – and Power – in Gig Workers’ Hands

A driver-owned cooperative gives essential gig workers access to statistics through an app that help them maximize their earnings--putting the power of data directly in their hands.

“Dial 911” for Aid: How MobileAid Is Helping Deliver Cash to Thousands of the World’s Poorest

In the United States, when you face an emergency, you dial 911 and an ambulance will be sent to your house to help. What if people living in poverty all over the world could dial a number to have cash delivered to them in a crisis?

see all impact stories

Climate Data for Community Action

Watch the #RFBreakthrough: Climate Data for Community Action to hear experts from DataKind, Ecological Citizen’s Project & Initiative for Energy Justice discuss solutions using data to combat unequal access to energy, from grassroots to the policy level.

All Livestreams