GSMA Innovation Fund for Impactful AI

Artificial intelligence (AI) and other emerging technologies have the potential to contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and climate action by bringing innovative approaches to inclusive and sustainable development where it is most needed. While these technologies are already being deployed across many low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), there is not enough evidence of solutions that address the socio-economic and climate challenges of these contexts.

The GSMA Innovation Fund for Impactful AI will provide grants and venture building support to small and growing enterprises that leverage AI and other emerging technologies, in conjunction with mobile technology, to have a positive impact on the lives of people in LMICs. The fund is interested in solutions that demonstrate the transformative impact of innovative AI and supporting emerging technologies to tackle socio-economic and climate-related challenges.

The Fund has four objectives:

1. To de-risk innovation by testing innovative use cases, partnerships and business models that target low-income and vulnerable communities in selected geographies.
2. To improve the sustainability and scalability of these digitally enabled solutions.
3. To learn about the key enablers, risks and challenges of AI adoption for such solutions.
4. To increase awareness of the role and potential of AI in LMICs and influence the development of enabling environments for AI-based socio-economic and climate impact driven innovations.

The Fund is interested in solutions that demonstrate the transformative impact of innovative AI and supporting emerging technologies (eg computer vision, Internet of Things (IoT), remote sensing, drones, blockchain to tackle socio-economic and climate-related challenges.