UNDP Serbia, in cooperation with UNICEF and WHO, has announced the Clean air challenge to call proposals for innovative products and technological solutions to reduce air pollution in Serbia and improve air quality.
As part of the innovation challenge, UNICEF is especially looking for solutions to mitigate/reduce air pollution’s impact on children. Category number 5, unlike the first four, also accepts individual applications and is primarily intended for young people, university students, NGOs and the private sector. It is also essential that the solutions proposed in this category are in line with the principles of digital development adopted by UNICEF, including open-source principles.
Exposure to air pollution has serious negative implications to human health, length, and quality of life. The Serbian Environment Protection Agency’s data show that the levels of air pollutants exceed the limit values in a number of cities/municipalities, including: Valjevo, Uzice, Smederevo, Belgrade, Pancevo, Kosjeric, Kragujevac, Kraljevo, Bor, Novi Sad, Sremska Mitrovica, Subotica. Children and young people are particularly vulnerable to the effects of air pollution, which threatens their survival, development, and physical and mental health. On the other hand, the reduction of air pollution brings measurable benefits.
To contribute to improving the quality of the air that we all breath, we have invited legal entities to propose innovative ways of producing or procuring innovative products, technological solutions, and new value chains related to the following categories:
1. Individual heating/combustion units (in households, public buildings) improved in terms of reduced emissions of pollutants, improved efficiency of energy-use, multifunctionality, etc.;
2. Devices, software or methods for air quality monitoring, data processing and publication of results, preferably in open data format.
3. Exceptionally novel and effective Air purifiers (individual or collective air purifying).
4. Other equipment or advanced processes that contribute to the reduction of air pollution from the following sectors: transport, agriculture, industry, utilities (communal hygiene of public spaces, waste management, etc.).
5. Solutions focused on mitigating/reducing air pollution impact on children. This category also accepts individual proposals and is mainly intended for young people, university students, and the private sector.
Solutions proposed under this category (no. 5) need to are aligned with Principles for Digital Development adopted by UNICEF, including Open Source Principles (this does not apply to other categories no. 1-4). The principles of digital development are available here.
The selected proposals, pending the availability of funding, could be offered:
1. An Innovation award, for an especially well thought-through and mature project idea;
2. Technical assistance to develop a good idea and find financing on financial or capital market;
3. Equity co-financing, for exceptionally well designed and prepared ideas, which require minimum engagement from UNDP and which are free from financial, environment or regulatory risk;
In addition to this, UNDP, supported by UNICEF and WHO, will provide guidance and assistance for further development of the selected proposals, as appropriate, and promote the project outputs as examples of good practices.
The upcoming deadlines are:
Early bird deadline: 20 October 2020
2nd phase deadline: 20 November 2020
Please read the whole Challenge here, and the application form is available here