The SDG Innovation Challenge 2023 for young Professionals

Applications are now open for the SDG Innovation Accelerator for Young Professionals, an opportunity for UN Global Compact participating companies to empower young talent within their organisations to collaborate and accelerate business innovation toward the SDGs (SDGs).

The SDG Innovation Accelerator for Young Professionals is an opportunity for UN Global Compact participating companies to empower young talent within their organisations to collaborate and accelerate business innovation toward the SDGs (SDGs).

This nine-month programme empowers future business leaders and changemakers to create and drive innovative solutions through new technologies, initiatives, and business models while meeting their company’s sustainability goals.

The programme brings together entry- to mid-level managers (aged 35 and under) from various business units to generate bold yet viable solutions that can benefit the company and the SDGs.

Requirements

35-year-old or younger high-performing employees at a UN Global Compact participating company interested in business model innovation, sustainability, and disruptive technologies
This year, young professionals working for companies that are members of the UN Global Compact can now form a team of up to four people and self-nominate for the Accelerator.

Participant Benefits

• Engage in accelerated learning opportunities that include online and in-person workshops, case studies, company visits and forum discussion
• Connect with other businesses and collaborate on innovative projects relative to your company and industry
• Build work relationships through coaching, mentoring and peer-to-peer networking opportunities
• Learn from some of the brightest minds working on sustainability and innovation from around the world
• Be part of a global network of leading young professionals from some of the top companies across every continent

Company Benefits

• Apply SDG innovation to solve real sustainability challenges your company is facing
• Integrate the SDGs into your company’s business strategy through collaboration, innovation and knowledge sharing
• Increase your employee engagement and professional development opportunities
• Tap into an expert network of leading professionals from some of the top companies across the globe
• Gain global recognition for participation in the programme

The Accelerator takes participants through a design thinking approach to innovation by focusing on the SDGs. Participants run through each of the below five phases of the programme, equipped with resources, tools and methodologies that will guide them through the process of identifying a challenge, designing and testing solutions, and validating these solutions for business value and SDG impact.

Timeline:

Call for Nominations: 19 October 2022 – 13 January, 2023
Programme Begins: Late January 2023
Program Ends: September 2023
SDG Innovation Summit: September 2023

How to Apply:

If you are interested in applying, click here to apply for the SDG Innovation Challenge 2023

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