COVID-19 Global South Artificial Intelligence and Data Innovation Program

Grant / Award
  • Canada
  • Apply Before : June 28, 2020

Opportunity Details

  • Opportunity ID 24867
  • Degree Non Degree Program/Certificate
  • Language Requirement Not Required
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Opportunity Description

About the program

International Development Research Center (IDRC), in partnership with the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA), is funding a COVID-19 Global South Artificial Intelligence and Data Innovation Program with a budget of up to CA$10 million. So, the goal of the Program is to support multidisciplinary research to boost understanding of how to develop and measure responsible artificial intelligence (AI) and data science approaches that are evidence-based and support response to and recovery from COVID-19 in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The application for the program is now open.

Quick details

Application deadline: 28 June 2020 (23:59 EDT)

Sponsor Organizations: International Development Research Center (IDRC) and SIDA

Duration: Two years

Type: Grant

Budget: CA$10million

Program(s): Technology and Innovation

Topic(s): Development, Health, Information, and Communication, Science and Technology

Region(s) under coverage:

Central Asia, Europe, Far East Asia, Middle East, North and Central America, North of Sahara, Oceania, South America, South Asia, South of Sahara, & West Indies

Program funding structure

The “artificial intelligence and data innovation” program will Support funding projects ranging from CA $500K to CA$1.25 million for two years (2020–2022). The project funds will be paid and managed by IDRC on behalf of the partnership. Therefore, the number of projects under support will depend upon the number, quality, evaluation, and ranking of qualifying proposals as identified by the review process.

Eligibility criteria

Research consortia and separate organizations may apply. Importantly, IDRC prefers projects coming from those organizations based in Low-and-Middle Income countries.

  • Qualified applicants are legal entities, such as accredited universities, NGOs, think tanks, or government-sponsored research organizations.
  • Consortia should determine the main applicant institution that will obtain and administer the funds because IDRC will not contract directly with additional organizations. And, the contribution and role(s) of consortia partners must be clearly explained in the proposal.
  • In addition, all organizations must show how they can carry out a research design, planning, and implementation in accordance with local laws and public health rules, including physical distancing measures.

Particularly, the program will accept to support research that is related to government responses in the areas below:

  • Anticipating transmissions and mitigating spread via policy and public health interventions;
  • Augmenting public health system responses for patient diagnosis, care, and management;
  • Maximizing AI and data science to realize and support gender-inclusive COVID-19 action;
  • Creating trust and fighting misinformation- and dis-information around COVID-19;
  • Enhancing data systems and information sharing about COVID-19; and
  • Supporting transparent and accountable AI, data, and digital rights governance around COVID-19 and epidemic responses.

Furthermore,

The multidisciplinary research undertaken and funded through this call has to:

  • Foster understanding of how to develop and rate responsible (inclusive, rights-based, ethical, and enduring) and evidence-based AI and data science paths that support COVID-19 response and recovery in developing countries, and to assure that those responses are gender-responsive and culturally suitable, community-specific, and centered on local necessities and contexts;
  • Lead to informing policies, both at organizational and national levels, that support and produce trust in AI and data science responses to pandemics and that reduce potential harms; and
  • Ultimately, enhance the capacity of health systems in developing countries in responding to epidemics using AI and data science techniques.

Additional information

In relation to this call, research consortia are specified as multidisciplinary research collaborations and networks composed of several organizations. So, research consortia demonstrating an ability to work across varying contexts and directly with governments are given priority. Participating applicants should have the financial stability to receive funds in a timely manner without being subject to prolonged approvals or country clearance. Please remember that more than 50% of organizations in a consortium must be located in low- and middle-income countries.

Evaluation process

The evaluation process is competitive, and a peer review panel made up of technical experts will assess the proposals.

Notification of result

IDRC will notify you of the result of the technical selection of a proposal by July 25, 2020.

How to apply?

If you are eligible for this opportunity, IDRC welcomes you to submit a proposal. All applicants must submit their proposals through the website of IDRC available in the link by the deadline indicated above.

For further information about the opportunity, refer to the main call announcement.

Application is closed.
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