This global competition is open to ‘students and entrepreneurs of all ages, genders, backgrounds, geographies and industries. Individuals or teams should pitch their innovative technologies or data solutions that address postharvest food waste. The Challenge will take place in three locations: London on November 14 (at the London Science Museum), and Amsterdam and San Francisco both on November 19.  Up for grabs are a grand prize of $50,000, a $5,000 regional prize – just for making it to the finals; with the winner also receiving a VIP pass to a 6-month incubator programme led by industry veterans. 

The World Food Programme (WFP) is launching its first-ever call for applications in Iraq. The PALM (Promoting Adaptation through Localized Methods) Iraq Innovation Challenge, open to for-profit and not-for-profit organisations with a ‘legal established entity registered in Iraq’, or with an ‘operational presence in Iraq, whether through a subsidiary, in-country office, distributors, or partnership’. The challenge is seeking ‘impactful and fit-for-purpose solutions to strengthen the capacities of local communities to adapt to climate change and improve livelihood opportunities’. The selected innovation teams will be ‘eligible to receive up to US$25,000 equity free grant from WFP’, have the opportunity to take part in an innovation coaching workshop held in Iraq in Jan 2025, and participate in a three-month WFP Sprint Programme (Feb – April 2025) to pilot the solutions and receive operational support’.

National Braille Press is now accepting applications for the 2025 Louis Braille Touch of Genius Award. The Touch of Genius Prize for Innovation is an annual prize of $10,000 awarded to a project, or projects, that show the most innovative idea in the field of braille and tactile literacy. Projects can involve software and apps for education, professionals, or gaming, or a tactile/braille hardware device that promotes learning and literacy.

The biotope basecamp call is open to biotech startups and will take place in Belgium and online from 26 November to 13 December. The programme is designed to help turn biotech innovations into viable businesses and is targeted at startups that are “set to make a big impact in agriculture, food or nutrition’.

Open to startups in central and eastern Europe (CEE) this €25 million fund offers up to €250k to early-stage startups. More than 30 startups will be supported annually through the AIP Seed 2.0 early-stage investment fund, which is targeting the most promising young companies from the CEE. Through its unique model the fund will evaluate and respond to startups within a week.

‘This four-year global competition invites innovators and teams from anywhere on the planet to create and demonstrate solutions that can pull carbon dioxide directly from the atmosphere or oceans, and sequester it durably and sustainably. Funded by Elon Musk and the Musk Foundation, this $100M competition is the largest incentive prize in history.‎’