Coronavirus Resources, Challenges and Funding Opportunities
- Hagit Freud
- Mar 18, 2020
- 13 min read
The whole world has been touched by the Coronavirus outbreak, having consequences on our health but also on our economics. Unfortunately, this crisis will have tremendous effects on the most vulnerable.
Our mission at Pears Program for Global Innovation is to enable technologies to positively impact the quality of life of people in developing countries, through supporting innovators and entrepreneurs to develop or adapt relevant technologies. We are determined to fulfil our responsibility. Our team is working remotely but we are available to support and consult in any way we can, to help startups face the crisis, and connect you to relevant actors. Kindly contact us and share with us how we can help your startup prepare for, manage, and help others through COVID-19's disruptions.
We are following the news and trends of the Coronavirus outbreak everywhere in the world.
Please check below a compilation of challenges and funding opportunities, webinars and articles of interest related of the Coronavirus outbreak.
Feel free to contact us for more information, assistance or any relevant matters. Yarden@pearsprogram.com, hagit@pearsprogram.com
Stay Healthy everyone!
Innovative Government: How to Finally Make the Public Sector More Innovative?
Creators IDEAtion Lab is happy to invite you to this webinar. It will cover everything you need to know about how to make governments use technology better and more efficiently, what are the best practices for startup-government collaboration and what can be learned from COVID-19 outbreak in terms of GovTech programs.
Date: 9.6.2020
Time: 15:00 CET | 16:00 IDT.
Register here
SOCAP is excited to announce a new suite of virtual offerings to stay connected, broaden and engage our community. These events will highlight critical topics and conversations where capital markets, businesses and individuals are creatively responding with market-based solutions to urgent challenges and will share inspirational stories from around the world. Check out the schedule here!
DevTalk - Online series check here
MIT Solve - Health Security and epidemics challenge at MIT. While scientists and drug developers are rushing to develop vaccines and treatments, there are a lot of existing tech solutions that address other critical aspects of health security—and we want to highlight these innovations and help them scale. This will complement the four Global Challenges that Solve launched on February 25 with over $1 million in funding. Apply before June 18th. Check out here!
Elrha is launching an urgent funding call for research proposals to support the COVID-19 response in humanitarian settings. This Call focuses on identified priorities related to the current COVID-19 outbreak in humanitarian settings in low and middle-income countries (LMICs). Proposals will be eligible for research that targets: Refugees or IDPs in camps or urban humanitarian settings, or conflict-affected people in humanitarian settings in LMICs Health systems and health care workers supporting the COVID-19 response in humanitarian settings in LMICs. More info here!
Openideo: The COVID-19 Reimagine Learning Challenge How might we help educators, parents, and students adapt to remote learning while also using this moment to radically reimagine what we need our education systems to be? Jump into the Challenge and share inspiration and/or ideas. This 2-week sprint will be open until May, 19th 2020. More info here. Submit your idea here!
Call for ideas for EdTech Responses to coronavirus (COVID-19) The EdTech Hub, mEducation Alliance, and Global Innovation Exchange (GIE) are launching a call for tech-focused ideas to respond to the learning emergency caused by COVID-19 school closures in low- and middle-income countries. Successful applicants will be invited to EdTech Pitch Days with a global network of potential funders, support in adapting and scaling in response to COVID-19, and connections for onward collaboration and funding. Apply before May 29th More info and apply Here
UNDP and Hackster.io: Global Innovation Challenge to tackle COVID-19 The fight against COVID-19 is at a crucial tipping point, so the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Hackster.io, an Avnet company and the largest online open-source technology hardware community, are taking action. The two organizations have partnered to launch the COVID-19 Detect and Protect Challenge to create open-source technology that developing countries can leverage in the fight against this global pandemic. A panel of judges will review and select the top 10 open source solutions on a rolling basis through 2020. Apply before June 30th More info and apply here
Marico Innovation Foundation is calling upon medtech entrepreneurs, corporates and innovators who can solve the med-tech challenges faced in the on-going COVID-19 crisis. Looking for Ventilator and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) solutions. Join in this audacious endeavour.here
IBM Call for Code - here COVID-19, which is caused by the novel coronavirus, has revealed the limits of the systems we take for granted in a very short period of time. Whether it's the massive increase in demand for information during a time of crisis, educating children when schools are closed, or helping communities best distribute limited resources, technology has a pivotal role to play. Through Call for Code, you can see your idea deployed by a global partner ecosystem. To participate, accept the challenge here.
Action against Corona - Are you representing a startup, a project or an initiative that can improve the situation? For the sick, for the health care system, or for the billions of people whose lives are - or soon will be - affected around the world? The Norrsken Foundation is looking to accelerate solution to fight the coronavirus and its implications. It can provide grants or investments, and connect you with the right partners. They can highlight and raise awareness of your important work. Want to increase the likelihood of your success, and mitigate the damage caused by this global crisis. Check the opportunities here.
COVID 19 Solution Challenge from the Indian Government: "In order to involve the community in the fight against the Virus, we would want you to share your solutions to help fight #Coronavirus. Submitted solutions will be evaluated for adoption and those selected will be suitable rewarded." Apply here
Gates Foundation - COVID-19 Therapeutics Accelerator. The Gates fou,ndation is joining forces with Wellcome and Mastercard to beef up the response—backed by $125 million in both new funding and money already earmarked to tackle this epidemic. The money will be used to identify potential treatments for COVID-19, accelerate their development, and prepare for the manufacture of millions of doses for use worldwide. Read more here.
HealthIL - CounterCorona: HealthIL, the leading Digital Health ecosystem in Israel, is dedicated all of our efforts to help combat COVID-19 ("Corona Virus") by bridging the gap between the unique needs of health organisations dealing with this outbreak, and technological companies and startups that can potentially offer solutions – on a global scale. Submit your solution here!
Emergency funding of COVID-19 research among EDCTP 2020 calls for proposals EDCTP is publishing seven 2020 calls for proposals to support clinical research on poverty-related diseases, including neglected infectious diseases, and research capacity development in sub-Saharan Africa. The calls represent an investment of more than €80 million.. Call for proposals info and applications here
New fund for COVID-19. Here's what you need to know!
COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fundraiser for WHO with $10 Million Match. Donate here!
Frontier Tech 4 COVID Action: emerging market ventilation systems: They are looking for an existing, proven technology that can be rapidly adapted to be built in the UK. The winning technology will be adapted for manufacture and use in the UK through UCL’s Institute for Healthcare Engineering with GDI Hub, and will receive a licensing fee. Check out here!
Past challenges:
Applications welcome from startups and SMEs with innovative solutions to tackle Coronavirus outbreak The European Commission is calling for startups and SMEs with technologies and innovations that could help in treating, testing, monitoring or other aspects of the Coronavirus outbreak to apply urgently to the next round of funding from the European Innovation Council. More info and apply here!
Openideo: The COVID-19 Business Pivot Challenge How might businesses of all kinds rapidly adapt to support the immediate needs of the COVID-19 response, and enable a more just and resilient future? Jump into the Challenge and share inspiration and/or ideas. This 3-week sprint will be open until April 30, 2020. More info here. Submit your idea here!
Databases
CoronaTech - Submit here your Health or Non-Health solution to fight Covid-19 and help during quarantine in order to be listed on the Corona Tech Israel website developed by Start-Up Nation Central
Global Innovation Exchange, in partnership with USAID, DFAT and KOICA, has developed the COVID-19 Innovation Hub - a central database to celebrate, source and supply COVID-19 innovations across the globe. We encourage you to submit your innovation- following the instructions here.
- Swift action can help developing countries limit economic harm of coronavirus: World Bank Blog article here
- Coronavirus is coming for the world's poor. Here are six ways to help - World Economic Forum here
- World Economic Forum COVID-19 Action platform
Socialsuite is donating its impact monitoring technology to your organization for the purpose of monitoring the impact of COVID-19 on your people.
- Coronavirus: WFP ready to rise to the challenge here
- Coronavirus and food security. IFPRI is curating a special series of blogposts analyzing the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on national and global food and nutrition security, poverty, and development. here
- When coronavirus came to Tanzania - The New Humanitarian here
- How Will COVID-19 Affect Women and Girls in Low- and Middle-Income Countries?Here
- COVID-19 Pandemic, UNDP here
- National relief Platform here
- World Bank Coronavirus actions and updates here
- Follow the cases in real time here!
- Coronavirus Innovation Map here
Past hackathons:
Ygal Arnon & Runway - #COVID19 VIRTUAL HACKATHON!
Application Deadline: Tuesday, March 24,2020 at 23:59 IST.
Application is OPEN to anyone working on ANY Coronavirus solution (technological, medical, policy related, etc) at any stage (from ideation to full-working project).
Details and registration here
Hackathon HackCorona -Online! This event is a unique cooperation between the Birthright Israel Excel, Science Abroad organisation, and 8200 alumni.. Register here!
The African Development Bank (www.AfDB.org) and partners are set to host an online #AfricaVsVirus Challenge from 16 to 19 April 2020. The 72-hour competition is a global hackathon – or “ideathon” – to develop effective solutions to the coronavirus pandemic. The Challenge is open to entrepreneurs, companies, civil society organizations and governments with bankable solutions or ventures to address the pandemic. The top pitches will be eligible to win thousands of dollars’ worth of financial, technical and skills-learning support to advance their implementation. Details on competition qualifications and methods of participation can be found here: www.AfricaVsVirus.com.
Lumiata COVID-19 Global AI Hackathon
Lumiata is inviting data scientists, machine learning practitioners, developers, health IT professionals, public health experts and others around the globe, to participate in the Lumiata COVID-19 Global AI Hackathon.
Lumiata Encourages participants to develop solutions for both current challenges posed by COVID-19 as well as longer-term concerns that will result following the immediate effects of the crisis. The challenge is to dream big and focus on tangible solutions that impact population health as well as business challenges.
Apply here before May 1st
𝗝𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝗡𝗔𝗟𝗔 𝗶𝗻 𝗮 𝗛𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗻!
𝘔𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯: 𝘏𝘦𝘭𝘱 𝘶𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘵𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘎𝘭𝘰𝘣𝘢𝘭 𝘚𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘩 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘦𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘴𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘢𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘰𝘯 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘰 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘊𝘖𝘝𝘐𝘋-19. More info and registration here
The potential danger of coronavirus is severe in communities that lack the infrastructure to control and contain it. Moreover, remote and rural communities in developing countries are not always connected to electricity or the Internet, which cuts them off from updated and relevant information.
Urgently, we must find a way to effectively transmit important disease prevention messages and stop transmission of COVID-19 as much as possible.
Past:
Openideo - COVID-19 COMMUNICATION INSPIRATION CHALLENGE. How might we rapidly inform and empower communities around the world to stay safe and healthy during the COVID-19 outbreak? Apply before 11:30pm PST on Tuesday, March 31, 2020. More information here
VC4A - Funding and Design Support for COVID-19 Projects: In light of the Coronavirus pandemic and its related consequences in other sectors of various economies across the globe, CcHUB is looking to fund and provide research and design support, via their Design Lab, for COVID-19 related projects. Apply before April 9th here!
Israel Innovation Authority - Call for Proposals for Projects in the Development, Piloting and Demonstration stages to cope with the Coronavirus. The Israel Innovation Authority, in cooperation with the Ministry of Health and the Headquarters for the National Digital Israel Initiative are issuing a Call for Proposals to Israeli technology companies (that are not one of Israel's health organizations) to submit R&D plans for systems, products, or technological solutions, including projects in the development, piloting and demonstration stages (as well as semi-commercial installation and implementation. and large-scale deployment in heath organizations) designed to deal with the challenges posed by the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic. Check out more and apply before March 26 here.
Another call for proposal from the Israel Innovation Authority: Call for Proposals for R&D plans of projects in the Early (Ideation) Stages - to help with the challenges of the Coronavirus - More info and apply before March 26th here.
Past Webinars:
Boma to Host Online Global Summit on COVID-19
SAVE THE DATE: MARCH 23, 2020
Beginning on Monday, March 23, the Boma COVID-19 Summit will take place in 10 countries on 5 continents — and bring together a wide range of health experts, policymakers and business leaders for more than 20 hours of debate and discussion related to the virus. The summit will take place 100% online. Register now here!
Pitango Webinar - Navigating the Medical & Public Health Aspects of COVID -19.
Join Dr. Guy Ezekiel, Managing Partner at Pitango Health, in conversation with global Coronavirus experts: Susan Weiss, PhD. University of Pennsylvania, microbiologist & virologist; Coronavirus expert and Eyal Zimlichman, MD, Sheba Medical Center's Chief Medical Officer & CIO, leader in addressing COVID-19 in Israel. Tuesday, March 17, 2020, 4pm IST / 10am EST RSVP
How will COVID-19 impact crisis zones?
The New Humanitarian Online. Register here!
Mar 19, 2020 02:00 PM in Zurich
Webinar with WHO: Update on the COVID-19 Outbreak in the African Continent. Check out the summary of the talk here.
The Epidemiology and Economics of Coronavirus
Mon, Mar 30, 2020 2:00 PM - 6:00 PM EEST
This virtual conference event will seek to examine the implications of COVID-19 for public health and the SDGs, as well as make recommendations on science-based responses.
Sustainable Development Solution Network
Register here!
COVID-19 outbreak in the developing world
March 31 - 18:00 - 20:00
Join here
Openideo Webinar: COVID-19 Communication & Behavior Change
COVID-19 has quickly sparked one of the largest behavior change campaigns in history, upon which countless lives depend. To understand which COVID-19 messages are resonating with communities around the world, IDEO launched the COVID-19 Communication Inspiration Challenge, asking people to share their experience with COVID-19 communications thus far. Thousands of people participated from over 80 countries. With so many around the world working tirelessly to share COVID-19 communications at this time, IDEO is publishing a report with findings from this open call, as well as hosting a webinar on Tuesday, April 7, at 8AM PST to share and discuss the results with global communications leaders. Register here.
SID - Israel Finance Ministry: Corona in the developing world - financial effects
Join us to discuss the economic implications of the koruna crisis, in order to understand the challenges, and opportunities following the crisis.
6.04. - 16:00, join here
Tamar Golan Africa Center Webinar: Updates from the continent during the corona crisis
6.04 - 18:00, join here
DevTalk - Online series check here
6.04 - 18:00: The role of communities in fighting the Covid-19 pandemic - Greece Case study (IsraAID)
Tel Aviv University: Corona Crisis 2020 - Learning from the present COVID-19 crisis while looking at the future of disaster management
6.04 - 18:00, join here
#GoodAfterCovid19: The Millennial Edition
Registration; here
Date: Tue, April 21, 2020
Time: 9:00 AM – 10:30 AM CDT
Covid-19 Disruption in Agriculture
Lessons from Ethiopia: Digital tools to mitigate COVID-19 on agribusiness
COVID-19 is disrupting agriculture and food supply chains by causing a shortage of labor, transport restrictions, quarantine measures and enhanced border controls. The World Bank Group is exploring how digital technologies can mitigate these challenges.
The webinar will feature representatives from government and private sector sharing their respective efforts to manage the crisis, with a focus on the positive impact of digital technologies.
Registration here
Date: April 22, 2020
Time: 14:00 – 16:00 IL time
How Can Partnerships Create Rapid Innovation During COVID-19 Crisis?
What can we learn from these new partnerships and the innovations they are creating? How can new best practice be established? Can we inspire others to take action and what can we learn from these examples now, that can help us make innovation partnerships the “new normal” in a post-COVID world?
Great speakers from AB Indev, Business fights poverty or Endeva.
Registration: here
Date: APRIL 22, 2020
Time: 14:00 - 15:00 IL time
24 Hour Webinar: Happiness & Sustainability Around the Earth
Sustainable Development Solution Network invites you to join our networks around the world, around the clock as we broadcast for 24 hours on the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day. This webinar will explore the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through the lens of well-being and happiness. Learn about solutions being developed in your region, engage with experts around the globe, and celebrate happiness and well-being with your fellow global citizens.
Date: April 22nd
Time: 24 hours
ACCESS TO FOOD & BASIC NEEDS FOR THOSE LIVING IN INFORMAL SETTLEMENTS
AVPA and the Sankalp Dialogues invite you to join a COVID-19 webinar Series.
Registration: here
Date APRIL 23, 2020
Time: 11:00 IL time
COVID-19 Webinar Series: Session 2
SDSN's virtual conference will examine the implications of COVID-19 for public health and the SDGs, as well as make recommendations on science-based responses. Over the course of 3 hours we will discuss successful public health interventions, how to ensure responses promote health equity and reduce inequality, and look at different scenarios for ending isolation and returning to normal. ISGlobal (Spain), Fiocruz (Brazil), and the Public Health Foundation of India will speak.
Registration: here
Date: Monday, April 27, 2020
Time: 8:00 am to 11:00 am New York / 2:00 pm
Tracking National Progress: 2019 Europe Sustainable Development Report
In this webinar participants can expect to learn how this report can support mainstreaming the SDGs in EU policy processes in a post COVID-19 world; how to use and interact with the interactive dashboards; and regional sustainable development priorities and policy recommendations.
Registration: here
Date: April 29, 2020
Time: 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM IDT
Global Digital Development Forum
Please register here for the Global Digital Development Forum on May 6th, 2020, co-organized by USAID, Chemonics, Digital Impact Alliance, IntraHealth International, CRS/ICT4D Conference, TechChange and Save the Children.
Register today Here Date: May 6th
Time: 6-22:00 GMT
AVPA-Sankalp Dialogues: Covid-19 Webinar Series
SERIES 04: ACCESS TO EDUCATION DURING THE COVID-19 GLOBAL PANDEMIC
The webinar will showcase how a wide range of stakeholders are responding to the global pandemic, share knowledge and look for solutions that work for Africa, and connect implementers with prospective funders.
Today, May 7th, 11:00AM IL time
Register here!
Join Melina Sanchez, Cecile Blilious and Leehe Skuler for this event to learn about the global impact tech industry. How do investors define impact tech? How big is the industry and what are the drivers of success? What is the future outlook of tech companies who are doing well by doing good?
Date: May 12
Time: 19:00 - 21:00
Register here
ICT4D WEBINAR SERIES
This webinar series features experts from public, private and civil society to discuss vital themes around the use of information and communication technology for development (ICT4D).
Speakers and partners from past and future ICT4D Conferences share their practical knowledge, present new and relevant technologies, answer questions, and engage in a learning environment that is both innovative and informative.
Date: May 19, 2020
Time: 17:00 - 18:00 IL time
Register here
AI Ethics Webinar Series
NetHope, USAID, MIT D-Lab, and Plan International are working together to deliver a set of webinars to equip the social impact sector with the information it needs to implement AI responsibly and ethically.
Date: May 21, 2020
Time: 18:00 - 19:00 IL Time
Register here
Women and Diversity: UK-Israel Women Leading Innovation Network
The webinar will focus on what is done or should be done in the public sphere in order to put diversity and inclusion at the heart of digital, data and technology innovation.
Date: May 21, 2020
Time: 17:00 - 18:00 IL Time
Register here
AVPA AND SANKALP DIALOGUES : COVID-19 WEBINAR SERIES
SERIES 06: ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE HEALTHCARE FOR COVID-19 PATIENTS
Date: May 21, 2020
Time: 11:00 IL Time
Register here
THE URBAN VISION AND SANKALP DIALOGUES
FUTURE OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING
Date: May 21, 2020
Time: 9:00 IL Time
Register here
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