USD 100 M AI for Climate and Nature Grand Challenge by the Bezos Earth Fund

The AI for Climate and Nature Grand Challenge is a global initiative from the Bezos Earth Fund, offering $100 million in funding to accelerate the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in addressing climate change and nature loss. The first round of the Grand Challenge focuses on sustainable proteins, power grid optimization, biodiversity conservation, and wildcard solutions.

Eligibility Criteria

• Eligible Applicants: U.S.-based 501(c)(3) entities and global academic institutions.
• Collaboration: Eligible applicants can collaborate with organizations worldwide to develop their proposals.
• Non-Affiliated Individuals: Proposals from non-affiliated individuals are not eligible.

How to Apply and Key Information

• Phase 1: Proposals
  • Submission Deadline: July 30, 2024, at 5:59 p.m. Eastern Time (9:59 p.m. UTC).
  • Submission Requirements: Proposals must articulate the proposed solution, problem addressed, near-term and long-term impacts, potential for scaling, resources needed, and approach to responsible development.
  • Evaluation: An expert review panel and multidisciplinary judging panel will evaluate submissions based on Phase 1 selection criteria.
  • Seed Grantees: Up to 30 awardees will receive $50,000 and participate in a virtual Innovation Sprint.
• Phase 2: Implementation Plans
  • Implementation Plans: Seed Grantees will develop detailed implementation plans and present them to the judging panel.
  • Evaluation: Judges will evaluate submissions based on Phase 2 selection criteria and recommend up to 15 awardees.
  • Post-Award Implementation:Up to 15 Implementation Grantees will receive up to $2 million to close the gap between concept and viability, and will test, iterate, and report on the effectiveness of their approaches over two years.

Additional Information

• Wildcard Solutions: The Grand Challenge encourages transformative ideas that don’t fit within the first-round focus areas.
• Future Rounds: The Bezos Earth Fund will announce more information on future rounds of the Grand Challenge at a later date.