This project envisions a shift from centralized innovation hubs to decentralised, community-driven innovation. By bringing together technology innovators, scientists, corporate partners, and underrepresented community members in hands-on local and regional programmes, UNLEASH fosters collaboration that reflects real-world challenges and lived experiences. Through skill-building, mindset transformation, and network development, these programmes lay the foundation for sustainable solutions with clear pathways to market.
UNLEASH is integrating its offerings into a year-round innovation journey with a strong local and regional focus. The journey begins with 2-day Hacks—intensive innovation sprints that tackle local inequalities in health and food systems. Selected participants advance to a week-long Innovation Lab, where they refine their ideas within a broader regional context, with special emphasis on India and East Africa. To sustain growth beyond these events, participants will gain continued access to tailored resources and learning through the UNLEASH Innovation Hub.
As part of this effort, UNLEASH is also establishing academic partnerships that enable direct collaboration between researchers and communities, unlocking technology transfer opportunities and advancing locally relevant solutions.
The project aims to engage 3,000 young innovators from low- and middle-income countries (LMICs)—including scientists and community changemakers. Together, they are expected to co-create solutions that impact an estimated 66 million lives, addressing health and food system inequities through context-driven innovation
