Apply: $70,000 Seed Funding for Your Internet Access Ideas

By theGazetteNGR

Editorinchief

Posted: July 8, 2021 at 10:41 PM, Updated: September 21, 2022 at 7:47 AM

The COVID-19 epidemic compounded the already serious consequences of having 3.7 billion people worldwide who are not connected. Digital healthcare, eLearning possibilities, and Agritech services are not available to unconnected populations.

Furthermore, worldwide economic downturns are causing global food insecurity, forcing people without internet access to choose between keeping healthy and earning a living. Governments and charities are likewise faced with the problem of providing online services to their offline constituents.

IEEE Connecting the Unconnected Challenge is seeking innovative conceptual ideas or solutions from early-stage projects pursuing unique ways to increase affordable Internet access and usage for unconnected (or under-connected) populations in three categories:

Technology Applications to increase broadband connectivity and access
Business Models that result in increased affordability
Community Enablement which increases populationsâ€™ adoption of available broadband services

Individuals or group applicants can obtain up to $10,000 in funding for conceptual ideas or proof of concept pilots that bridge the digital divide.

Conceptual Ideas: Proposing novel ideas that have not yet been tested or demonstrated, but could result in significant innovative advances.
Proof of Concept Pilots: Showing demonstrated innovation with a basic proof-of-concept implementation and can show preliminary results.

The Challenge will culminate in the Connecting the Unconnected Summit on 3-5 November 2021, which will convene experts and thought leaders on the issue of internet connectivity.

Click to Apply: $70,000 Seed Funding for Your Internet Access Ideas