Innovation Lab

Welthungerhilfe's Innovation Lab is a space where the organization's employees can present and try out new ideas. Every year, a jury selects one winning idea.

Finding and developing innovative solutions that bring us closer to 'One Planet – Zero Hunger'. © Welthungerhilfe

Franziska Atwii Team Innovation

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Innovative ideas for #ZeroHunger

After years of decreasing hunger, the global population suffering from hunger is rising again. Environmental degradation, climate change, social inequalities, and conflicts are increasing, threatening the livelihoods of millions. Thus, when, if not now, is the time to take action?

Patricia Niewels Team Corporate Partnerships

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With the help of innovative and creative solutions that make our world a better place, we aim to achieve our goal #oneplanet #zerohunger.

There are so many great ideas within our organization inspired by the problems we witness within the communities where we work. To give these ideas the chance to grow big, Welthungerhilfe (WHH) has created a space, where our organization's employees can present and test these ideas and exchange them with colleagues around the globe – #InnoLab!

Within the Innovation Lab, WHH colleagues can refine, iterate and advance their ideas in a short timeframe with facilitation from the Innovation Unit. A jury, made up of both external and internal WHH colleagues, rates the presented ideas and selects one winning idea.

Next steps after the Innovation Lab

We see the Innovation Lab as a vehicle for our incubation and acceleration portfolio. The winning idea will be added to this innovation portfolio, where it will be refined and jointly developed with our Innovation Unit. Additionally, the winning team receives €20,000 in funding to financially support the further development of the idea.

The ideas that were not selected as winners of the Innovation Lab are of course still followed up and shared within the organization aiming at finding a place within WHH to develop them further.

How can new technologies be used to solve local development challenges?

This year's #innolab2023 is all about (new) technologies, such as artificial intelligence, robotics, virtual reality or classic apps. Teams from all Welthungerhilfe countries will work together with technology partners from Germany on innovative technological ideas for Zero Hunger.

Over the course of several months, the teams will further develop their ideas online, in the field with potential target users, and in Germany with the technology partners and in the Welthungerhilfe office. They will learn innovative working techniques and technologies and build a prototype. This will be presented to all Welthungerhilfe colleagues at the end of the entire event in October. After several months of intensive work, the winning team will be selected at a live-streamed event. Which team had the best idea of how new technologies can be used to solve local development problems in the end? Which team was able to convince the jury with its prototype and presentation and will receive the prize of 20,000 euros for further idea refinement?

Call for action

Are you interested in supporting the Innovation Lab? That would be much appreciated! Especially this year's #innolab2023 - Tech Edition offers a wide range of possibilities: Starting with financial support for individual teams, or collaboration with you as a tech partner, to full support, both technical and financial.

We have compiled overviews of support opportunities for this year's Innovation Lab:

Feel free to contact us, and we will find the right path for you.