Want to solve the climate crisis with AI? This $200K global fellowship is your launchpad

The fight against climate change is getting a major boost with the Compute for Climate Fellowship 2025, a program offering up to $200,000 in cloud computing credits to support startups and researchers using artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) for climate solutions. This is a game changer for innovators creating solutions for environmental problems.

The Compute for Climate Fellowship is a global initiative launched in 2023, led by Amazon Web Services (AWS) and NVIDIA, in collaboration with the International Research Centre on Artificial Intelligence (IRCAI) under the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The fellowship provides cloud computing resources to startups and researchers using AI and machine learning (ML) to tackle climate-related issues. If you are working on innovative projects that address climate challenges, this could be the funding opportunity you need.

For the 2025 cohort, AWS is expanding its commitment by increasing the number of fellows, offering AWS computing credits, and providing access to NVIDIA GPUs for AI development. This allows participants to build their climate-tech innovations without infrastructure limitations.

Past winners

This fellowship has previously supported innovative climate-tech solutions globally, startups and researchers to expand the reality of AI-driven environmental sustainability. Here are three past winners of the Compute for Climate Fellowship:

• Asoba built the first Virtual Power Plant (VPP) in Africa with an AI-driven platform
• Realta Fusion developed AI-powered fusion energy simulations to accelerate clean energy development
• Aigen (USA) developed Solar-powered robots for weed control, reducing the need for harmful herbicides

These innovators showcase how AI is driving impactful climate solutions.

Who can apply

The fellowship is open to:

• Startups, researchers, and SMEs working on AI-driven climate solutions
• Organisations focused on environmental sustainability
• Projects that align with key climate solutions such as carbon reduction and emission tracking, renewable energy optimisation, sustainable agriculture and water conservation, disaster prediction and response.

AWS and IRCAI are particularly looking for projects that align with tech, sustainability, and AI-driven research.

Benefits

Innovators looking to develop AI-driven climate solutions but facing financial restrictions will :

• Access up to $200,000 in cloud computing resources
• Leverage NVIDIA GPUs to power AI-driven climate solutions
• Get mentorship and networking opportunities with industry leaders
• Join a global network of innovators working on climate change

How to apply to the Compute for Climate Fellowship 2025

• Prepare your proposal – Outline your AI-driven climate solution, the proposal must address at least one of the key solution areas in the fight against climate change and clearly explain the problem you are addressing, your approach, and the expected impact
• Submit your application online – Once applications open, fill out the application form.
• Be sure to upload relevant supporting documents on the AWS Compute for Climate Fellowship portal. Wait for selection announcements to see if you’ve been chosen. Application
• Deadline: April 2025 (Exact date TBA—stay updated on AWS’s website)

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