Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has launched a solve initiative where it has invited ideas from across the world for solutions in four areas youth, skills, and the workforce of the future; brain health; sustainable urban communities and women and technology.

To send ideas and entries from India for the MIT Solve initiative, Hyderabad-based startup incubator T-Hub organized Solve-a-thon where it invited students, entrepreneurs and individuals from across the country to apply for the solve-a-thon, where the ideas were to be discussed and the best of them to be sent to MIT Solve initiative.

The purpose was to seek ideas, conduct design workshops to generate and refine solutions for the challenge.

As part of the ‘youth, skills, and the workforce of the future’ challenge, ideas are being invited to solve the issue, ‘How can disadvantaged youth learn the skills they need to prepare them for the workforce of the future and thrive in the 21st century?’

The youth, skills and the workforce of the future challenge is an initiative of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Solve initiative and the Atlassian Foundation, and seeks innovative ideas that will prepare young people for the workforce of the future.

The Atlassian Foundation is offering up to US$1 million to winning ideas from charities impacting disadvantaged youth worldwide.

The Australian Government too, will contribute up to AU$1.4 million in grant funding to the best ideas that will have impact in developing countries in the Indo-Pacific region.

“We particularly encourage applications that address the needs of women and girls, and people with a disability,” said Ishara Davey, Second Secretary and Consul for South India, who inaugurated the T-Hub Solve-a-thon.

Under the brain health challenge, ideas are being invited to solve the issue, How can every person improve their brain health and mental resilience?

Under sustainable urban communities, ideas need to look at how can urban communities increase their access to sustainable and resilient food and water sources?

Finally, under women and technology, solutions must look at how can women and girls of all socioeconomic backgrounds use technology to fully participate and prosper in the economy?

At the Solve-a-thon organized at T-Hub, 71 participants had the chance to speak to like-minded innovators to expand and refine their ideas. 

After a day of workshops, discussions on refining ideas further, 10 teams applied for the MIT Solve initiative from India.

While the 10 entries were sent with T-Hub’s help, the applications are open to all until August 1.

This article has been produced with inputs from T-Hub as a part of a partner program.