STI FORUM APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

The Call will be open and accepting applications till Tuesday, March 9, 2020. Innovations will be submitted to the Call using GIE's innovation profiles and will be publicly featured in GIE’s searchable Innovation Directory here.

The 3-step process of submitting your innovation for consideration:

Before you apply, confirm that you meet the criteria for consideration described above.

Step #1: Add/Update your innovation on GIE via the STI Forum site
See instructions here on how to add or update an innovation profile.

Step #2: Submit your innovation for consideration for the STI Forum 2019
Fill out this form for submission as soon as possible. You can then continue to update your profile until March 9, 2020.

Step #3: Strengthen Your Innovation Profile
Reviewers will only do additional research to validate the facts presented in your application. Your innovation profile must demonstrate that it meets the Call criteria. Review the below list of actions and tips for each criterion.

STI FORUM APPLICATION: ACTIONS & TIPS

Innovations will be submitted to the Call using GIE's innovation profiles and will be publicly featured in GIE’s searchable Innovation Directory here. This brings additional exposure and opportunities for all innovators who are submitting their applications for the Call.

The below actions and tips serve as application instructions and suggestions respectively for the Call.

	CRITERIA FOR CONSIDERATION	ACTIONS & TIPS FOR APPLICANTS
1	You haven't already submitted an innovation for consideration for the STI Forum 2020. Only one innovation should be submitted per person. Each innovator, scientist, entrepreneur, or sustainability change agent is only allowed to submit one innovation for consideration. If more than one innovation is submitted, all applications will be declared ineligible.	Action: Only submit ONE innovation via the Submission form in step 2 of the application process noted above.
2	Your innovation has not been showcased at past STI Forum events. See the list here. If your innovation has already been featured at past events, it will not be selected again this year.	Tip: You can update your innovation profile by logging in here or explore the other benefits of GIE for social entrepreneurs.
3	Your innovation is aligned with one or more of the six “entry points” identified in the Global Sustainable Development Report: Strengthening human well-being and capabilities Shifting towards sustainable and just economies Building sustainable food systems and healthy nutrition patterns Achieving energy decarbonization and universal access to energy Promoting sustainable urban and peri-urban development Securing the global environmental commons	Your GIE innovation profile should clearly demonstrate 1 or more entry points that your innovation aligns with using fields such as: Problem and Solution - What is the key problem you’re solving and what is your solution or approach to it? Mission & Vision - What is the key change you seek in this world? Innovation Description - How does the innovation work? Important: Profiles with the limited information that require additional research may not be considered for the Call. Actions: Fill in the relevant innovation profile fields, with information that best represents your innovation publicly. Add any specific comments to the reviewers in the submission form when asked about the entry points.
4	Innovations should embody “systems thinking” in the context of one or more of the entry points listed above. The above 6 entry points represent systems where strategic interventions can help address some of the trade-offs or tensions among goals that could hinder progress in achieving the 2030 Agenda. For example, increasing food security without undermining terrestrial biodiversity will require policies and actions that work across sectors and constituencies. Considering food and nutrition as a system can help lead toward these solutions. You can review the Global Sustainable Development Report to learn more about this. For example, you can use Box 1 - 2: Interactions among Sustainable Development Goals on page 6, to see the trade-offs and co-benefits to be harnessed across multiple SDGs that might be relevant to your innovation.	Same as above, your GIE innovation profile should clearly demonstrate that your innovation embodies systems thinking in its approach and implementation using relevant fields such as: Innovation Description - How does the innovation work? Competitive Advantage - How is your innovation better than current alternatives? Milestones: Key Partnerships - Which key partnerships such as with local governments do you have? Action: Update the relevant fields. Tip: You can use the same fields to demonstrate qualifications for multiple criteria.
5	The innovations should emphasize concrete action and transformative results.	Your innovation must demonstrate an emphasis on concrete action and transformative results. On GIE this means your innovation must be at ‘Stage 4: Transition to Scale’ or later stages. Update your profile to demonstrate that you meet this criterion. Actions: Select the stage for your innovation. Explain why you selected the stage in the ‘Stage Description’ field directly below. Update other areas of the profile such as the Milestones section with Funds Raised or Recognitions from reputable ecosystem actors, Key Partnerships, and/or early evidence of the impact that show the potential for transformative results. Tip: Throughout your profile, include external links where asked, mention proof of necessary regulatory approval, attach third-party evaluations and other information that help demonstrate the legitimacy and success of your innovation.
6	Innovations should also be especially targeted at assisting the poorest, most vulnerable and marginalized.	Action: Fill in the Target Beneficiaries field to explain whom you aim to serve with your innovation.
7	Innovations are encouraged from diverse backgrounds, including women, youth, indigenous peoples, entrepreneurs from developing countries, and open collaborative networks.	Actions: Fill “The Team Behind the Innovation” section fully including the information about your executive team. Review your innovation profile Settings (at the top of the page) and fill in the point of contact, owner, managers and innovation registration information.

REMINDER: Reviewers will only do additional research, to confirm facts. Hence, your profile should have all the information you want to include for consideration. Please revisit the list above to confirm that you’ve taken the necessary actions to demonstrate that you meet all the criteria via your innovation profile.

FINAL CHECKLIST

In summary, complete the following GIE innovation profile fields to strengthen your chances for consideration:

A website URL and relevant social media links
Stage and supporting Stage Description
Milestones that show the validations and achievements your innovation has
The entire section for “The Team Behind the Innovation”
Settings section including the point-of-contact, owner (and managers if applicable) and registration.
A combination of the following fields must help explain your innovation and demonstrate that you meet the criteria for the Call:

Problem and Solution - What is the key problem you’re solving and what is your solution or approach to it?
Mission & Vision - What is the key change you seek in this world?
Innovation Description - How does the innovation work?
Competitive Advantage - How is your innovation better than current alternatives?
Target Beneficiaries - Who does your innovation ultimately serve?

And, don’t forget to submit the form in Step 2 above for consideration!