Innovation Calls

Innovation Calls aim at finding and operationalizing innovative solutions to National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs) hydrometric challenges, and provide benefits for the following actors: 

• NMHSs: to complement and substitute traditional approaches, technologies and data sources by innovative solutions in a cost-effective and sustainable way Innovators: to operationalize their solutions 
• Academia: to apply hydrological research for direct societal benefits 
• Citizens: to increase the understanding, involvement and ownership of hydrological information and its application to operational system/policy development 

Innovation Calls are a good mechanism to address specific needs identified by NMHSs through the operationalization of innovative solutions developed by selected entities. Award budgets of CHF 50,000 to CHF 150,000 are often sufficient to attract solution providers to operationalize their innovative technologies and approaches in NMHSs. Operational uptake of effective low-cost technologies, partial self-manufacturing, local production and services, and open-source solutions to instigate collaboration are the main criteria for deploying this activity. The innovative solution should demonstrate benefits in Low to Middle Income Countries (Least Developed Countries and Small Island Developing States are however given preference in the evaluation process). Regarding the applicants (no individuals), start-ups and small enterprises from developing countries are especially targeted.