Geneva AI Initiative

The Geneva AI Initiative is a program by the EPFL AI Center in collaboration with the Swiss Data Science Center (SDSC) designed to help Geneva-based Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and International Organizations (IOs) integrate artificial intelligence (AI) into their missions.

Strengthening AI capabilities within International Geneva

Building on the success and insights of the first phase, this new edition focuses on capacity building — guiding organizations from learning to action through hands-on training, expert support, and the possibility of project funding.

The initiative connects humanitarian, development, and policy organizations with AI experts and resources from EPFL and its partners, enabling them to develop responsible, impactful AI projects.

Deadline: 7 November 2025 (17:00 CET).

Program overview

Participants will follow a three-step journey:

AI Fundamentals Course (DASHI – 4 days)
An accessible introduction to AI concepts, strategy, and practical use cases — designed for professionals in the humanitarian and international sectors.
Project Scoping & Proposal Development
Tailored one-to-one support from EPFL and SDSC experts to help each organization define a concrete AI use case and prepare a high-quality proposal.
Potential for Project Funding
An independent review will identify the most promising proposals for funding and implementation (12-month projects).

Selected participants will also receive complimentary access to the AMLD Intelligence Summit 2026 where they will present their project ideas in a private workshop on 12 February 2026 alongside other applicants and AI experts. This session will provide constructive feedback and opportunities to build partnerships for proposal development.

Eligibility

Open exclusively to NGOs and IOs based in Geneva.
Applicants should hold roles enabling them to demonstrably champion AI initiatives within their organization.
Up to 25 organizations (1 participant per organization) will be selected.
The course and mentoring program are free of charge (see call document for details).

Timeline

Call opens: 8 October 2025
Online information session: Second half October (TBD)
Application deadline: 7 November 2025 (17:00 CET)
Notification of acceptance: Early December 2025
DASHI course: 22, 23 and 29, 30 January 2026
AMLD workshop: 12 February 2026
Proposal submission deadline: 30 April, 2026
Funding decision: 31 May 2026
Project start: within 2 months after award

How to apply

To apply, please complete the online application form (link below) by 7 November 2025 at 17:00 CET.

Contact

For enquiries, please contact: epflai@epfl.ch