Deadline: 26-Sep-22
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Citi Foundation will host Youth Co:Lab, a program supporting youth-led social innovation and entrepreneurship, in Japan again this year!
They’re calling for innovative business ideas with an aim to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as part of the Social Innovation Challenge Japan 2022.
The Social Innovation Challenge is open to applications from high school students to those under 35 years of age and invites a wide range of business ideas focused on achieving the SDGs. This year, following the SDG principle of ‘Leave No One Behind’, the Social Innovation Challenge 2022 will also shed a spotlight on businesses that help difficult-to-reach members of the community access support and services.
Winners from the Japan contest will have the opportunity to join the Springboard Programme and the top teams who participated in the Springboard programme will be able to showcase their businesses during the Youth Co:Lab Regional Summit which will take place in Spring 2023.
Prize Details
- Awards for the Social Innovation Challenge Japan 2022 include Youth Co:Lab Japan Excellence Award, Leave No One Behind Award, Audience’s Choice Award, among others.
- All award-winners will have an opportunity to join the Springboard programme and receive mentoring sessions from Citi.
- The top teams who participated in the Springboard programme will be able to showcase their businesses during the Youth Co:Lab Regional Summit which will take place in spring 2022.
Eligibility Criteria
- You must be older than 15 and younger than 35 years old on 12 July 2022 (Those who were born between 13 July 1987 and 1 April 2007)
- Japanese national, or a resident of Japan who has lived in Japan for more than 3 years
- You have a business plan that is either in an idea stage, preparation stage, or in operation for less than three years.
- Application and final presentation at the Social Innovation Challenge Japan 2022 can be done either in English or Japanese. Springboard Programme as well as Youth Co:Lab Asia-Pacific Summit will be held in English.
- Application can be submitted as an individual or in a team. If you are applying as a team, the lead representative of the team must meet the eligibility requirements.
Judging Criteria
- SDG contribution: Impacts on society and environment
- Business idea: innovative approaches of the solution
- Business model: Feasibility and sustainability of the business model
- Passion and vision as an entrepreneur
- Since the Springboard programme and Youth Co:Lab Regional Summit will be held only in English, They will consider your skill and willingness to communicate in an English-speaking environment for the selection of participants to the Springboard programme and the Asia-Pacific Summit.
For more information, visit https://www.undp.org/ja/japan/news/youth-colab-social-innovation-challenge-japan-2022-applications-open-sdgs-business-idea-contest