Call for Applications: AI4D Innovation Scaling Challenge 2025 (up to $100,000) – YOA

Deadline: September 4, 2025

Applications are open for the AI4D Innovation Scaling Challenge 2025. The Lab for Ethics, Policy and Scaling of AI (LEPSAI), of the African Center for Technology Studies (ACTS) invites eligible AI innovators to categorical their curiosity in collaborating within the AI4D Innovation scaling problem.

This challenge is meant to help deployed and in-use AI improvements that promise vital social influence and display readiness to scale. The innovation or answer should display readiness to scale past the present consumer base. Solutions have to be past the proof-of-idea section and be deployed beneath actual-life circumstances. Earlier-stage ideation-solely ideas won’t be thought-about right now.

Responsible AI can deal with Africa’s improvement challenges, however scaling actual-world options responsibly is crucial. Artificial Intelligence for Development (AI4D) is a programme, supported by Canada’s International Development Research Centre and the UK authorities’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, that goals to foster protected, inclusive and accountable AI ecosystems that empower individuals and speed up progress on crucial improvement challenges. AI4D helps accountable AI ecosystems the place specialists throughout Sub-Saharan Africa are enabled to develop their very own options to these challenges and mitigate AI dangers by means of protected, inclusive, rights-based mostly and sustainable AI functions and insurance policies.

Benefits

Successful candidates will obtain:

• Seed funding of $100,000 USD relying on the stage of improvement.
• Scaling of Responsible AI options (SRAIS) collaboration/technical help from a world community of specialists.
• Networking alternatives with like-minded innovators, researchers, trade leaders, coverage makers and different funders.

Eligibility

Eligible candidates embrace the next:

• Individual researchers and innovators.
• AI startups and MSMEs/SMEs.
• Research establishments and Universities which are engaged in AI Research and Development.
• Consortia comprising a number of stakeholders working collaboratively on AI options.

Application

Applicants ought to fill the template supplied on submittable HERE. The template shall represent of:

• Applicant profile: Background info, together with related expertise and skill to develop an AI answer.
• Project Concept Note: A concise description of the AI Innovation Scaling, focused challenges, targets, implementation plans, and anticipated outcomes.
• An preliminary self-administered accountable AI and scaling evaluation.

For extra info, go to AI4D Innovation Scaling Challenge.