Apply for the AI for Earth Innovation Grant 2026 by Microsoft and LDF. Funding and cloud support for open-source AI projects tackling climate, biodiversity, agriculture, and water challenges worldwide.
AI for Earth Innovation Grant is a collaborative initiative by Microsoft and the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation (LDF) to fund projects that leverage artificial intelligence for environmental impact. This grant supports organizations in creating open-source machine learning models, datasets, and algorithms to address urgent environmental challenges.
This program empowers nonprofits and academic institutions to deploy AI solutions that tackle climate change, biodiversity loss, agriculture sustainability, and water management, while providing the necessary technical and computational resources.
Who Should Apply
Eligible applicants include:
- Nonprofits and research institutes
- Universities and academic labs
- Organizations with a demonstrated AI or environmental science background
Applicants must have at least one technically skilled team member capable of delivering the project. Collaborative proposals, including partnerships across sectors and geographies, are strongly encouraged.
Funding and Support
Selected projects receive:
- Grants up to $100,000 for 1-year projects
- Microsoft Azure cloud credits for computational resources
- Access to AI for Earth APIs, tutorials, and tools
- Guidance and support from the AI for Earth team
All models and datasets must be open-source and publicly accessible to maximize impact and research usability.
Grant Priorities
Projects must apply AI to one or more of the following areas:
- Biodiversity Conservation:
- Wildlife tracking and ecosystem health monitoring
- Protected area management and restoration
- Combat illegal trade and poaching
- Sustainable supply chain management
- Climate Change:
- Extreme weather and climate modeling
- Climate resilience and adaptation planning
- Carbon sequestration monitoring
- Pollution and air quality reporting
- Agriculture:
- Sustainable land use and food systems
- Climate-resilient farming techniques
- Natural resource conservation
- Food recovery initiatives
- Water Management:
- Water quality monitoring and sanitation
- Drought and flood management
- Water-use efficiency and supply planning
Projects prioritizing implementation, scalability, and measurable impact in underserved regions will be given special consideration.
Requirements
- Solutions must be open-source and deployable on Microsoft Azure
- Training datasets must be publicly available
- Solutions should include documentation, model performance summaries, and example use cases
- Projects should demonstrate plans for sustainability beyond the grant period
Application Timeline
- Application Opens: May 21, 2026
- Deadline: September 30, 2026, 11:59 PM PST
- Review Period: 2–3 months after application close
- Project Start: January 2027 (expected completion December 2027)
Submit application here: AI for Earth Innovation Grant
Conclusion
The AI for Earth Innovation Grant 2026 provides a unique opportunity for organizations to leverage AI to address pressing environmental challenges. With financial support, cloud computing resources, and technical guidance, applicants can create high-impact, open-source AI solutions that promote sustainability, conservation, and climate resilience globally.
Apply now to contribute to a greener, AI-powered future.
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