Harnessing AI and Cloud Computing to Combat Climate Change
Harnessing AI and Cloud Computing to Combat Climate Change
Why this Challenge?
AWS is the world's most comprehensive cloud platform, offering over 200 fully featured services from global data centers. Millions of customers—from fast-growing startups to enterprises and government agencies—trust AWS to reduce costs, increase agility, and accelerate innovation.
The Compute for Climate Fellowship, launched in 2023 by IRCAI (under UNESCO) and AWS, is a global R&D funding program empowering climate tech startups to harness advanced cloud computing and AI in the fight against climate change.
The Startup Challenge
Compute for Climate Fellowship
The Compute for Climate Fellowship is a global R&D funding program that empowers climate tech startups to leverage advanced cloud computing and AI in the fight against climate change.
Context / Need: The Fellowship was founded in 2023 by the International Research Centre on Artificial Intelligence (IRCAI), under the auspices of UNESCO, and Amazon Web Services (AWS). Each Fellow company accepted into the program builds a groundbreaking proof-of-concept (PoC) climate solution that is funded by AWS, with technical and scientific advisors from AWS and IRCAI. Winners will propose a proof-of-concept solution. They will “think big” and demonstrate innovation, leverage advanced cloud computing.
Expected Solutions: Show potential for significant global impact across at least one of the eight climate solution areas below.
Scope: Clean Energy Low-Carbon Transportation Sustainable Agriculture and Food Circular Economy / Manufacturing / Industry Sustainable Buildings Greenhouse Gas Management Carbon Removal Environment (water, pollution, biodiversity) and Climate Risk Indigenous Solutions to the Climate Crisis
Selection Criteria
Company maturity
Company must be privately held and founded within last 10 years
Team capabilities
Must have technical team capable of building with advanced cloud computing
Advanced computing services
Proposal must incorporate innovative use of advanced computing services 1. AI/ML and Generative AI 2. High-Performance Computing 3. Autonomous Computing 4. Spatial Computing 5. Simulation Technologies 6. Quantum Computing 7. Time series data analytics
Rewards
4-day passes to VivaTech
Get free access to VivaTech 2025, join AWS VIP events and meet with AWS Executives
AWS credits up to $200k & 3-month PoC build period
Unlock powerful cloud resources with substantial AWS credits to build and scale your solution & get dedicated time to develop your proof-of-concept with tailored technical assistance and milestone guidance
Access to advanced computing services
Leverage cutting-edge AWS technologies including high-performance computing, machine learning, and AI tools
Expert guidance from IRCAI and AWS mentors
Direct mentorship from industry leaders and technical experts who will help refine your solution and business strategy
Media and visibility opportunities
Including showcase across United Nations and international bodies. Gain global exposure for your innovation through high-profile platforms and connect with influential stakeholders in the climate tech ecosystem
Play an active role in our six business sectors
Your solution, product or service demonstrates that you can play an active role in LVMH's ecosystem and deliver on a large scale. Whether it be the creation process, the omnichannel customer journey, or operation and manufacturing, you support the Group's legacy of excellence and innovation in all areas of its 6 business sectors.
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Other Activities
Selective Retailing
Timeline
00:00:00:00
left to apply
left to apply
Applications open
Applications close
The winners are announced
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20/06/2026
9th edition of VivaTech
Jury
Lisbeth Kaufman
Lisbeth Kaufman
Head of Climate Tech
Head of Climate Tech
AWS
AWS
Davor Orlic
Davor Orlic
Chief Operation Officer
Chief Operation Officer
IRCAI
IRCAI
Fei Chen
Fei Chen
Director of Advanced Computing Solutions
Director of Advanced Computing Solutions
AWS
AWS
Aidan O'Sullivan
Aidan O'Sullivan
Associate Professor in Energy and AI
Associate Professor in Energy and AI
UCL
UCL
FAQ
Who can apply?
Can I apply for more than one Startup Challenge/Award?
What is the difference between a Startup Challenge and an Award?
Is applying for an Award or Startup Challenge free?
Your personal data is collected by Crédit Agricole S.A., 12 Place des Etats-Unis, 92120 Montrouge, as the data controller, so that you can participate in the Challenge organized from 18/03/2026 during the Vivatech event, called: “Digital Sustainability Training Modules”. In accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), you have the right, under the conditions provided by law, to access your personal data at any time, to exercise your right to data portability, to have it rectified, to request its erasure in compliance with legal obligations, to object to its processing, to define general or specific instructions regarding the fate of your personal data after your death, or to restrict its processing for legitimate reasons. You can access more detailed information on the protection of your personal data by consulting, in particular, Article 13: “Personal data protection” of the challenge rules.
Your personal data is collected by Crédit Agricole S.A., 12 Place des Etats-Unis, 92120 Montrouge, as the data controller, so that you can participate in the Challenge organized from 18/03/2026 during the Vivatech event, called: “Digital Sustainability Training Modules”. In accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), you have the right, under the conditions provided by law, to access your personal data at any time, to exercise your right to data portability, to have it rectified, to request its erasure in compliance with legal obligations, to object to its processing, to define general or specific instructions regarding the fate of your personal data after your death, or to restrict its processing for legitimate reasons. You can access more detailed information on the protection of your personal data by consulting, in particular, Article 13: “Personal data protection” of the challenge rules.