Applications are now open for the 2025 UN Global Artificial Intelligence Challenge Tourism. The UN Secretary-General’s report highlights the need for accessible technologies and AI solutions that bridge the digital divide. This vision drives the UN Tourism Global Artificial Intelligence and Deep Tech Challenge for Start-ups and Scale-ups, which aims to drive innovation in the tourism sector with practical and high-impact AI applications across the tourism value chain.
CATEGORIES
1. Brand, Promotion and Marketing
2. Smart Destinations and Deep Technologies
3. Education and technology
4. Efficiency and operations
Evaluation Criteria
Participating start-ups will be evaluated according to the following criteria:
Ease of value capture
Scalability
Potential impact on business
Product/technology maturity
Maturity of the team and the organization
Preparing for partnerships
Contribution to selected Sustainable Development Goals
Benefits
Benefits for winning startups include, but are not limited to:
Presentation at the UN Tourism Demo Day
Acceleration program at SPARK, the Innovation Sphere of Les Roches
Access to over 90 venture capitalists
Access to leading companies and over 150 countries
Personalized mentoring programs
Possibility of pilot project with collaborators from the private sector and institutions
Plug and Play will offer a registered profile on Playbook, an invitation to participate in our Silicon Valley Summit, and access to talent and synergies with their Portfolio.
Application Process
Applicants are encouraged to take the following steps to ensure their submission meets the Challenge criteria:
Review Challenge Guidelines: Carefully read and understand the Challenge Terms and Conditions available on our website to ensure compliance with all requirements.
Category Selection: Carefully select the category under which your application will be evaluated. Ensure that your project is aligned with the specified objectives of the chosen category.
Prepare a Pitch Deck: Develop a concise and compelling pitch deck in English, limited to 15 slides maximum, which clearly presents the problem, solution, impact and business model of your project.
Compilation of Information: Provide a complete list of your organization’s web address, social media handles, and essential contact information to facilitate effective communication.
Application Submission: Once your documents are prepared and verified, complete the Application Form in English. The form is available on our official website and must be submitted before the indicated deadline.
Timeline:
Submission deadline : March 2025
Announcement of finalists : April 2025
Final Presentation : To be determined
Impact : Continuous
Method of Application
For More Information,
Visit the Official Webpage
Application Deadline: March 31st, 2025.