[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":53},["ShallowReactive",2],{"blogpost-new-commons-incubator-launches-to-support-indigenous-led-language-and-cultural-data-commons-in-the-age-of-ai:en":3,"blogpost-related-new-commons-incubator-launches-to-support-indigenous-led-language-and-cultural-data-commons-in-the-age-of-ai:en":16},{"id":4,"brow":5,"cover_image":6,"date":7,"excerpt":8,"extension":9,"heading":10,"main_content":11,"meta":12,"slug":13,"stem":14,"tagline":8,"__hash__":15},"blogposts\u002Fblogposts\u002Fnew-commons-incubator-launches-to-support-indigenous-led-language-and-cultural-data-commons-in-the-age-of-ai.json","Announcement","https:\u002F\u002Fcms.thegovlab.com\u002Fassets\u002Ff287f8cf-3b13-4ec2-9208-626456b3fc7d","2026-06-18",null,"json","New Commons Incubator Launches to Support Indigenous-Led Language and Cultural Data Commons in the Age of AI","\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\">NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK — As artificial intelligence increasingly relies on language and cultural data, Indigenous communities face unprecedented opportunities and significant risks. While Indigenous languages and cultural knowledge can help shape more inclusive digital futures, too often communities have limited influence over how their data is collected, governed, used, or shared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\">To address this challenge, The GovLab, Microsoft, and UNESCO are launching the \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fnewcommons.ai\u002F\">New Commons Incubator for Indigenous Languages and Culture\u003C\u002Fa>, a new initiative designed to support Indigenous-led efforts to develop data commons that preserve, steward, and responsibly govern language and cultural resources in the AI era.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\">\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fincubator.opendatapolicylab.org\u002Ffiles\u002Fdata-commons-for-ai-blueprint.pdf\">Data commons\u003C\u002Fa> are shared governance frameworks that enable communities to collectively decide how their data is managed, accessed, and used while ensuring that benefits flow back to the communities themselves. By supporting the development of Indigenous-led data commons, the Incubator seeks to strengthen community agency, support language revitalization, and ensure that Indigenous peoples can participate in shaping the future of AI on their own terms.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\">The Incubator is a capacity-building initiative that provides mentorship, training, technical guidance, and proposal development support. Participants will receive an in-person opportunity to collaborate and network with other participants, followed by six months of workshops, one-on-one clinics, expert mentorships, and peer learning opportunities. The program is designed to help teams prepare stronger proposals and will end with a final showcase where participants present these to potential funders, partners, and collaborators.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\">The goal is not to create data commons directly but to equip Indigenous innovators and communities with the tools, governance frameworks, partnerships, and implementation strategies needed to transform promising ideas into actionable and fundable initiatives.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong> \u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Ch3 dir=\"ltr\">Building on Past Success\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\">The Incubator builds upon the success of the \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.newcommons.ai\u002Fblog\u002Fadvancing-data-governance-for-ai-innovation-insights-from-the-2025-new-commons-challenge-event\">2025 New Commons Challenge\u003C\u002Fa>, a global effort to advance new models of data stewardship and collective governance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\">The Challenge attracted more than 175 submissions from around the world, revealing a growing demand for approaches that enable communities to govern and benefit from their own data. A significant number of proposals focused on Indigenous languages and cultural knowledge, highlighting both the urgency of preservation and the opportunity to ensure these resources are stewarded responsibly in the age of AI.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\">Many proposals demonstrated tremendous promise but required additional support to become operational, sustainable, and investment-ready. The New Commons Incubator was created to address that need by helping participants refine governance models, strengthen technical and organizational foundations, and develop implementation roadmaps capable of attracting long-term support.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\">The initiative also contributes to the goals of the \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.unesco.org\u002Fen\u002Fdecades\u002Findigenous-languages\">International Decade of Indigenous Languages\u003C\u002Fa> (2022–2032), which seeks to preserve, revitalize, and promote Indigenous languages worldwide.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong> \u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Ch3 dir=\"ltr\">Calling interested communities to apply\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\">The Incubator begins with an open call for applications running from June 18 to August 14, 2026.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\">Applications must be Indigenous-led, demonstrate institutional or community support, and have a clear commitment to ensuring that benefits generated through the initiative are shared with Indigenous communities.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\">Interested applicants will submit concept notes outlining their vision, use case, and governance approach. Submissions will be reviewed by an international panel of Indigenous experts and leaders according to four criteria:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cul>\n\u003Cli dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">\u003Cstrong>Opportunity\u003C\u002Fstrong>: What challenge or use case does the proposal address?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003Cli dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">\u003Cstrong>Community Relevance\u003C\u002Fstrong>: How does the initiative serve Indigenous communities and priorities?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003Cli dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">\u003Cstrong>Resources and Readiness\u003C\u002Fstrong>: What assets, partnerships, and capabilities are available to support implementation?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003Cli dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">\u003Cstrong>Team\u003C\u002Fstrong>: Who will participate in and lead the work?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003C\u002Ful>\n\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\">Five to six teams will be selected to participate in the Incubator and receive dedicated support over several months to transform their concepts into robust and actionable proposals.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Ch3 dir=\"ltr\">A Coalition of Support\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\">The New Commons Incubator is made possible through the support of The GovLab, Microsoft, and UNESCO, together with a global steering committee of Indigenous leaders, practitioners, and experts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\">Stefaan Verhulst, Co-Founder and Chief Research and Development Officer of The GovLab, said:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\">\u003Cem>\"For too long, communities have been asked to contribute data without having meaningful influence over how that data is used, governed, or who benefits from it. The New Commons Incubator is about moving from extraction to stewardship and from participation to agency. We want Indigenous communities to help shape the future of AI, not simply be subjects of it. By supporting Indigenous-led data commons, we hope to advance new models of digital self-determination that ensure languages, cultural knowledge, and community priorities remain at the center of technological innovation.\"\u003C\u002Fem>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\">Guilherme Canela de Souza Godoi, Director of the Division for Digital Inclusion, Policies and Transformation at UNESCO, added:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\">\u003Cem>\"This initiative advances the objectives of the International Decade of Indigenous Languages by co-creating tools with Indigenous communities and supporting them to steward their own linguistic and cultural resources. Ensuring that communities can govern and benefit from their own data is essential to preserving cultural diversity and fostering inclusive digital transformation.\"\u003C\u002Fem>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\">Jennifer Hansen, Director, Data Policy & Strategy, Microsoft\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\">\u003Cem>\"We are proud to build on the success of last year's New Commons Challenge with an initiative specifically focused on Indigenous languages and cultures. We believe communities should have meaningful opportunities to steward and benefit from the data that increasingly shapes AI systems, and we look forward to supporting innovative Indigenous-led approaches that advance those goals.\"\u003C\u002Fem>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\">Steering Committee member Chantal Kamgne, Head of Research, EngageAfricaNLP and Managing Director, Localizzz, said: \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\">\u003Cem>“For communities in indigenous, low-resourced and underserved contexts, technologies can support access to knowledge, services, safety, and opportunity. However, Indigenous languages’ place in AI should not be guided or decided by dataset builders or developers alone, but by the people who speak them and live through them. Giving those communities governance, consent, and control in how their languages enter digital spaces and technology means creating processes and protocols that listen before they collect, model, or use language data. The Indigenous Language and Culture Data Commons Incubator works toward exactly that: technology that is more inclusive without stripping languages of the cultural codes, meaning, identities and values that make them worth preserving.”\u003C\u002Fem>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\">From a separate Steering Committee Member, Jenny Fewster, Director, Humanities, Arts, Social Sciences and Indigenous Research Data Commons, Australian Research Data Commons:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\">\u003Cem>“The Commons Incubator is important because it creates a space where communities, researchers, and infrastructure providers can work together to ensure that emerging technologies strengthen, rather than diminish, Indigenous authority over language and cultural knowledge. Supporting Indigenous data commons is not just about preserving the past, it is about creating the conditions for Indigenous languages, cultures, and knowledge systems to thrive into the future.\"\u003C\u002Fem>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\">\u003Cstrong>Join the Incubator\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\">Applications for the New Commons Incubator open on June 18, 2026.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\">Interested participants can find more information, including eligibility criteria, program details, and governance documentation, at \u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fnewcommons.ai\">newcommons.ai\u003C\u002Fa>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\">For inquiries, contact \u003Ca href=\"mailto:contactnewcommons@opendatapolicylab.org\">contactnewcommons@opendatapolicylab.org\u003C\u002Fa>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\">\u003Cem>The New Commons Incubator seeks not only to support individual projects, but also to advance a broader vision of digital self-determination; one in which Indigenous communities collectively govern the data, knowledge, and cultural resources that increasingly shape our shared digital future.\u003C\u002Fem>\u003C\u002Fp>",{},"new-commons-incubator-launches-to-support-indigenous-led-language-and-cultural-data-commons-in-the-age-of-ai","blogposts\u002Fnew-commons-incubator-launches-to-support-indigenous-led-language-and-cultural-data-commons-in-the-age-of-ai","e-cS8RKfVoDHub5wbazHn8mfSK-_5OP06eQE5aXkB0U",[17,19,30,41],{"id":4,"brow":5,"cover_image":6,"date":7,"excerpt":8,"extension":9,"heading":10,"main_content":11,"meta":18,"slug":13,"stem":14,"tagline":8,"__hash__":15},{},{"id":20,"brow":21,"cover_image":22,"date":23,"excerpt":8,"extension":9,"heading":24,"main_content":25,"meta":26,"slug":27,"stem":28,"tagline":8,"__hash__":29},"blogposts\u002Fblogposts\u002Fadvancing-data-governance-for-ai-innovation-insights-from-the-2025-new-commons-challenge-event.json","Blog Post","https:\u002F\u002Fcms.thegovlab.com\u002Fassets\u002F6b3ea4ea-0679-43f0-a266-148da15ab830","2025-10-09","Advancing Data Governance for AI Innovation: Insights from the 2025 New Commons Challenge Event","\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\">In today’s data-driven world, the promise of artificial intelligence for the public good depends not just on algorithms, but on the quality and governance of the data they rely upon. For communities facing crises—whether for disaster response, public health, or local planning—the right data can enable faster, fairer, and more accountable decision-making. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\">Yet too often, this information remains siloed, fragmented, or inaccessible. The idea of data commons offers a way forward: Pooling datasets under shared governance to ensure that AI innovation is not only technically sound, but also trustworthy, equitable, and aligned with community needs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\">On September 25th, 2025—at an event in New York City—the \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fopendatapolicylab.org\u002F\">Open Data Policy Lab\u003C\u002Fa>, in collaboration with \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.microsoft.com\u002Fen-us\u002F\">Microsoft\u003C\u002Fa> and in partnership with \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.directrelief.org\u002F?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Branded&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=627399536&gbraid=0AAAAADEzrS_btF6ocIyLHfCS9Vxfc5vmk&gclid=Cj0KCQjw0NPGBhCDARIsAGAzpp3sz1KhR00FD9QvmxsQjXCTXjQBCrPiIHzKK2YU4MIQ4Vb6_WA8qZoaAuklEALw_wcB\">Direct Relief\u003C\u002Fa>\u002F\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.crisisready.io\u002F\">CrisisReady\u003C\u002Fa> and the \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fhls.harvard.edu\u002Flibrary\u002Fabout-the-library\u002Flibrary-staff\u002Finstitutional-data-initiative\u002F\">Institutional Data Initiative at the Harvard Law School Library\u003C\u002Fa>, with serving \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.unesco.org\u002Fen\">UNESCO\u003C\u002Fa> as an international observer, announced the winners of the \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.newcommons.ai\u002F\">2025 New Commons Challenge\u003C\u002Fa>. The initiative awarded two projects $100,000 each to advance the creation of data commons that accelerate responsible AI innovation in disaster response and localized decision-making.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\">The event convened global leaders, policymakers, technologists, and community practitioners to explore how data sharing can unlock new opportunities for AI in the public interest. In what follows, we provide a summary of the winners and the discussions that took place during the event.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Ch3 dir=\"ltr\">Opening Remarks: Building Data Commons for the Public Good\u003Cbr>\u003Cbr>\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\u003Ccenter>\u003Cimg src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcms.thegovlab.com\u002Fassets\u002F180496d0-2ec1-4e7d-9b07-67acd4981c09.jpg?width=594&height=396\" alt=\"Teresa Hutson delivers opening remarks\">\u003C\u002Fcenter>\n\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\">Teresa Hutson, Corporate Vice President of Microsoft’s Trusted Technology Group, opened the event by underscoring the importance of diverse, high-quality data for responsible AI innovation. She noted that data is not inherently valuable on its own, it becomes impactful when responsibly shared and reused. Highlighting Microsoft’s Open Data campaign and collaborations with The GovLab, Harvard’s Institutional Data Initiative, and European-led projects, she emphasized the need to expand access to datasets that reflect cultural and linguistic diversity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\">Despite this progress, Hutson cautioned that many AI models remain limited by biased or fragmented data, particularly in under-resourced languages and regions. She argued that the solution lies in developing data commons—shared pools of data governed for reuse, interoperability, and accountability. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\">Framing the New Commons Challenge as a step forward, she invited participants to see themselves as stewards of data that can fuel AI solutions for disaster response, localized decision-making, and the broader public good.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Ch3 dir=\"ltr\">Framing the Challenge: Data Commons as Missing Infrastructure\u003Cbr>\u003Cbr>\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\u003Ccenter>\u003Cimg src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcms.thegovlab.com\u002Fassets\u002F48b180df-b532-4bf3-9f76-d75402f61c4d.png?width=607&height=405\" alt=\"Stefaan delivers remarks on the New Commons Challenge Showcase\">\u003C\u002Fcenter>\n\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\">Stefaan Verhulst, Co-Founder and Chief Research and Development Officer of The GovLab, followed by setting the stage for the New Commons Challenge. He described data commons as the “missing infrastructure” for Public Interest AI—essential to scaling solutions for humanitarian response, local decision-making, and other pressing societal needs. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\">While the world is awash in data, much of it remains inaccessible or unusable for the public good. Data commons, he argued, provides both the governance and technical frameworks to make high-quality, context-specific data available in ways that respect community expectations. Without such commons, the promise of “AI for good” risks being limited or unsustainable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\">He went on to explain how this realization led The GovLab, in partnership with Microsoft, Direct Relief\u002FCrisisReady, Harvard’s Institutional Data Initiative, and UNESCO, to launch the first-ever New Commons Challenge six months earlier. The goal was to identify and support pioneers advancing data commons in practice. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\">The response, he noted, was overwhelming: 170 applications from 51 countries, with more than 150 reviewed in detail and 44 invited for further consideration. From this process, two winners and several honorary mentions emerged—demonstrating that the idea of data commons is not abstract but already being built by a growing global community.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Ch3 dir=\"ltr\">The Award Ceremony\u003Cbr>\u003Cbr>\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\u003Ccenter>\u003Cimg src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcms.thegovlab.com\u002Fassets\u002Fff71ad2e-e26b-4b56-8916-782a9f3f9845.jpeg?width=554&height=739\" alt=\"The New Commons Challenge Awards\">\u003C\u002Fcenter>\n\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\">Following these remarks, Teresa and Stefaan announced the winners of the New Commons Challenge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\">CERTI Amazônia Institute received the award for Enhancement of a Data Commons. Their Amazon Rainforest Evolution Index transforms environmental data into AI-ready tools to track deforestation and land-use change in Brazil’s Legal Amazon—a region covering nine states and roughly 61% of Brazil’s territory, empowering sustainable development decisions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\">NYU Peace Research and Education Program is the award winner of the Development of a Data Commons category. Their initiative, Malawi Voice Data Commons, developed in collaboration with Ushahidi, UNDP, and Mozilla Foundation, enables rural Malawians to report emergencies in native languages, creating multilingual, AI-ready datasets for humanitarian response and language preservation. The pilot will take place in Malawi with plans to scale across Sub-Saharan Africa.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\">The two teams presented on their winning proposals and discussed how they would use the funding to support their data commons initiatives.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\">The Challenge also announced several honorable distinctions, including:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cul>\n\u003Cli dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.newcommons.ai\u002Fwinners\u002Fquerido-diario\">Open Knowledge Brazil’s Querido Diário\u003C\u002Fa>: Open Knowledge Brasil’s initiative converts municipal gazettes into AI-readable datasets, advancing transparency, civic oversight, and inclusive governance across Brazil.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003Cli dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.newcommons.ai\u002Fwinners\u002Fknow-your-city-academy\">Slum Dwellers International’s Know Your City Academy\u003C\u002Fa>: Slum Dwellers International and Arkology Studio are building a data commons for 5,000+ informal settlements in 18 African countries, integrating oral histories and structured data to promote peer learning and inclusive data practices.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003Cli dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.newcommons.ai\u002Fwinners\u002Fplace-hub-in-nigeria\">PLACE Foundation’s PLACE Hub in Nigeria\u003C\u002Fa>: Funded by ThisisPLACE, PLACE is replicating its proven model in other regions to Abuja, Nigeria to expand its community-driven spatial data infrastructure to enable responsible AI for urban planning, disaster response, and infrastructure development in Nigeria.   \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003Cli dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.newcommons.ai\u002Fwinners\u002Fadvancing-climate-justice-the-climate-mobility-case-database\">Global Strategic Litigation Council’s Advancing Climate Justice\u003C\u002Fa>: The Climate Mobility Case Database: Tens of millions are displaced annually by the climate crisis. The Climate Mobility Case Database uses AI to distill complex global case law on climate displacement into accessible, multilingual knowledge. By distilling lessons learned from courts across the world, this open platform equips communities, practitioners, and policymakers with the tools to defend rights, strengthen advocacy, and drive policy reform for at-risk and climate-displaced people worldwide. Developed by the Global Strategic Litigation Council, in collaboration with Earth Refuge, the Raoul Wallenberg Institute, and the Zolberg Institute.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003C\u002Ful>\n\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\">More information on each awardee and honored participant can be found \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.newcommons.ai\u002Fblog\u002Fbuilding-the-future-of-public-interest-ai-certi-amazonia-institute-and-nyu-peace-research-announced-as-winners-of-the-new-commons-challenge\">here\u003C\u002Fa>.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Ch3 dir=\"ltr\">Fireside Chat: Data Commons for AI Innovation and Global Impact\u003Cbr>\u003Cbr>\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\u003Ccenter>\u003Cimg src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcms.thegovlab.com\u002Fassets\u002F9c7e9e71-3eab-4f9e-a2b8-c5a53db88638.jpg?width=607&height=405\" alt=\"The fireside chat with Isabel De Sola Criado\">\u003C\u002Fcenter>\n\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\">The award ceremony was then followed by a fireside chat between Stefaan G. Verhulst, Co-Founder and Chief Research and Development Officer of The GovLab, and Isabel De Sola Criado, Head of the Coordination Unit at the UN Office for Digital and Emerging Technologies. Their conversation explored how data commons can accelerate AI innovation, scale public-interest impact, and support global digital strategies. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\">Below is a summary of the main themes discussed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Ch4 dir=\"ltr\">(1) Data Commons as Global Infrastructure\u003C\u002Fh4>\n\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\">Verhulst opened the discussion by positioning data commons as the “missing infrastructure” for public interest AI. He emphasized their role in making high-quality, context-specific data accessible in ways that respect community expectations. Criado agreed, situating data commons within the broader framework of the UN’s Global Digital Compact (GDC), which she described as a milestone in renewing the global digital agenda. She highlighted that data governance—one of the GDC’s five pillars—explicitly references data commons as a tool for closing digital divides and preventing a future AI divide.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Ch4 dir=\"ltr\">(2) The Global Digital Compact and Data Governance\u003C\u002Fh4>\n\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\">Criado explained that the GDC sets out interlocking priorities: bridging digital divides, strengthening the digital economy, promoting a safe and open online space, advancing data governance, and ensuring responsible AI. Data commons, she argued, are a concrete way to deliver on these goals, especially the fourth pillar on data governance. She noted that building ethical AI requires ethical data governance and that commons provide an example of how to manage data responsibly while creating broad societal value.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Ch4 dir=\"ltr\">(3) Diverse Needs Across Member States\u003C\u002Fh4>\n\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\">Verhulst invited Criado to share what she hears from UN member states and civil society about the challenges of advancing data governance. She explained that needs vary widely depending on political, economic, and development contexts. Some countries focus on strengthening basic data infrastructure or passing privacy laws, while others grapple with capacity-building and accountability. Many developing states, she noted, feel overwhelmed by competing digital priorities, from connectivity to skills development, making the case for starting with strong data governance as a foundation for broader digital transformation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Ch4 dir=\"ltr\">(4) Aligning Data and AI Governance\u003C\u002Fh4>\n\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\">The discussion also highlighted the deep interconnection between data governance and AI governance. Verhulst stressed that AI governance cannot advance without solid systems for data access and oversight. Criado echoed this point, noting ongoing UN initiatives such as the Global Dialogue on AI Governance and the Secretary-General’s High-Level Advisory Body on AI. Both efforts recognize data commons as essential to ensuring that AI systems are equitable, transparent, and accountable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Ch4 dir=\"ltr\">(5) Incentives, Trust, and the Role of Intermediaries\u003C\u002Fh4>\n\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\">Criado concluded by underscoring the importance of incentives and trust in building sustainable data commons. She observed that organizations and governments often ask, “What’s in it for me?”—making it critical to clearly articulate the benefits of sharing data. Trusted intermediaries, she argued, can play a vital role in bringing diverse stakeholders together, ensuring decisions are made transparently and equitably. She also highlighted the need for commons that address urgent issues such as human rights, online safety, and protecting women and girls, noting that these areas remain underdeveloped despite their importance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Ch3 dir=\"ltr\">Closing Remarks: Celebrating Digital Progress and Partnerships\u003Cbr>\u003Cbr>\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\u003Ccenter>\u003Cimg src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcms.thegovlab.com\u002Fassets\u002F4c5812ed-c0cc-4dba-81c6-4be5670fc545.png?width=607&height=405\" alt=\"Closing remarks of the New Commons Award Showcase\">\u003C\u002Fcenter>\n\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\">The event concluded with reflections from Alex Wong, Senior Advisor for Strategic Engagement and Initiatives at the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), and Robert Opp, Chief Digital Officer at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Wong emphasized that amidst ongoing debates about governance risks, it is equally important to celebrate the power of digital innovation. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\">He pointed to the breadth of initiatives showcased during UNGA’s “Digital at UNGA” program—spanning agriculture, healthcare, youth, and climate change—as evidence of how technology is reshaping societies. He highlighted the New Commons Challenge as part of this momentum, underscoring the role of companies like Microsoft in committing significant new investments to AI skills and education.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\">Opp built on these reflections by stressing that data is the fundamental foundation of digital transformation. He noted that as countries invest in digital infrastructure, interoperability and trusted data governance are what make it possible to deliver better public services, inform policymaking, and foster private-sector innovation. In the AI era, he argued, this becomes even more critical: data must be accurate, representative, and responsibly governed for models to advance sustainable development safely. Opp closed by emphasizing the importance of collaboration and partnerships, highlighting how ITU and UNDP’s joint efforts demonstrate the value of combining technical expertise with a human development lens. He situated this work within a broader year of milestones—including the anniversaries of ITU, the UN, UNDP, and the World Summit on the Information Society—reminding participants that collective efforts today will shape the digital future for decades to come.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\">***\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\">Have any questions or are interested in collaborating? Reach out to us at \u003Ca href=\"mailto:newcommons@opendatapolicylab.org\">newcommons@opendatapolicylab.org\u003C\u002Fa>. \u003C\u002Fp>",{},"advancing-data-governance-for-ai-innovation-insights-from-the-2025-new-commons-challenge-event","blogposts\u002Fadvancing-data-governance-for-ai-innovation-insights-from-the-2025-new-commons-challenge-event","tCPm39ciPEVZsbNxhzHGSVkb29UALbZV6eI35vKR0W0",{"id":31,"brow":32,"cover_image":33,"date":34,"excerpt":8,"extension":9,"heading":35,"main_content":36,"meta":37,"slug":38,"stem":39,"tagline":8,"__hash__":40},"blogposts\u002Fblogposts\u002Fbuilding-the-future-of-public-interest-ai-certi-amazonia-institute-and-nyu-peace-research-announced-as-winners-of-the-new-commons-challenge.json","Press Release","https:\u002F\u002Fcms.thegovlab.com\u002Fassets\u002Fb667ce08-93c5-4849-a1d4-6a42a9f2ebed","2025-09-26","Building the Future of Public-Interest AI: Certi Amazônia Institute and NYU Peace Research Announced as Winners of the New Commons Challenge","\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\">\u003Cstrong>New York, September 25, 2025\u003C\u002Fstrong>—Artificial Intelligence is only as good as the data it draws upon. For public-interest uses—from emergency response to localized decision making— high-quality, representative, and responsibly governed datasets are essential. Yet too often, the data needed for humanitarian interventions or local problem-solving is fragmented, inaccessible, or not aligned with community needs and expectations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\">Data commons address this gap. By pooling datasets under clear governance rules — with shared purpose, stewardship, and safeguards — they create trusted infrastructure for responsible AI. Unlike ad-hoc data projects, commons are designed for reuse, interoperability, and accountability, ensuring that AI solutions are not just technically sound but also socially licensed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp style=\"margin-left: 40px;\">“The future of AI in the public interest depends on more than algorithms — it depends on the data we choose to share, how we govern that data, and whether communities see value in its reuse.” — Stefaan Verhulst, The GovLab\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp style=\"margin-left: 40px;\">“From disaster relief to public health, the fastest path to impact is making frontline data findable, trustworthy, and reusable.” — Andrew Schroeder, VP of Research & Analysis, Direct Relief\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\">That is precisely the objective of the \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.newcommons.ai\u002F'\">New Commons Challenge\u003C\u002Fa>: to accelerate the creation of data commons that fuel AI-driven solutions while respecting community expectations and maximizing public value.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\">The Challenge awards two initiatives with $100,000 each to develop data commons that fuel responsible AI innovation as it relates to disaster response and localized decision making. It is an initiative by the \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fopendatapolicylab.org\u002F\">Open Data Policy Lab\u003C\u002Fa> (a collaboration between Microsoft and The GovLab) and was conducted in partnership with \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.directrelief.org\u002F\">Direct Relief\u003C\u002Fa>\u002F\u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fcrisisready.io\">CrisisReady\u003C\u002Fa>, the \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fhls.harvard.edu\u002Flibrary\u002Fabout-the-library\u002Flibrary-staff\u002Finstitutional-data-initiative\u002F\">Institutional Data Initiative at the Harvard Law School Library\u003C\u002Fa> and \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.unesco.org\u002Fen\">UNESCO\u003C\u002Fa> (international observer).\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\">On Thursday, September 25th at an event in New York, the winners of the 2025 New Commons Challenge were announced. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\">Certi Amazônia Institute and NYU Peace Research and Education Program have been named as the winners of the New Commons Challenge: \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\"> \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Ccenter>\u003Cimg src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcms.thegovlab.com\u002Fassets\u002F2a37a334-8a50-40e7-876b-289be218afa3.jpg?width=729&height=486\" alt=\"Presentation on the Amazon Rainforest Presentation\">\u003C\u002Fcenter>\n\u003Cp> \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\">CERTI Amazônia Institute received the award for Enhancement of a Data Commons. Their \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.newcommons.ai\u002Fwinners\u002Famazon-rainforest-evolution-index\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Amazon Rainforest Evolution Index\u003C\u002Fa> transforms environmental data into AI-ready tools to track deforestation and land-use change in Brazil’s Legal Amazon—a region covering nine states and roughly 61% of Brazil’s territory, empowering sustainable development decisions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\">“The Amazon is changing before our eyes. With the Amazon Rainforest Evolution Index, we’re transforming disparate data into a shared commons that communities, scientists, and policymakers can all use. Our goal is to empower sustainable choices that protect both the forest and the people who depend on it.” — \u003Cem>Executive Director, CERTI Amazônia Institute\u003C\u002Fem>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Ccenter>\u003Cem>\u003Cimg src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcms.thegovlab.com\u002Fassets\u002Fcf41aa9a-3e6d-4a2b-b0eb-a0a946881eff.png?width=648&height=432\" alt=\"Presentation from the Malawi Voice Data Commons\">\u003C\u002Fem>\u003C\u002Fcenter>\n\u003Cp> \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\">NYU Peace Research and Education Program is the award winner of the Development of a Data Commons category. Their initiative, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.newcommons.ai\u002Fwinners\u002Fmalawi-voice-data-commons\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Malawi Voice Data Commons\u003C\u002Fa>, developed in collaboration with Ushahidi, UNDP, and Mozilla Foundation, enables rural Malawians to report emergencies in native languages, creating multilingual, AI-ready datasets for humanitarian response and language preservation. The pilot will take place in Malawi with plans to scale across Sub-Saharan Africa.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\">“When floods approach or violence erupts, language barriers can be deadly. The Malawi Voice Data Commons allows rural Malawians to report emergencies in their own languages while preserving cultural heritage. By making these voices AI-ready, we are ensuring that humanitarian response is faster and more inclusive.” — \u003Cem>Katerina Siira and Marine Collins Ragnet Co-Program Leads, NYU Peace Research and Education Program\u003C\u002Fem>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\">The \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.newcommons.ai\u002Fprize\u002F#judges\">judges\u003C\u002Fa>, composed of diverse experts across technology, civil society, academia, and international organizations also provided four honorary distinctions. These included:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\">\u003Cem>\u003Cstrong>Development of a Data Commons:\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fem>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cul>\n\u003Cli dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">\u003Cstrong>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.newcommons.ai\u002Fwinners\u002Fquerido-diario\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Open Knowledge Brazil’s Querido Diário\u003C\u002Fa>: \u003C\u002Fstrong>Open Knowledge Brasil’s initiative converts municipal gazettes into AI-readable datasets, advancing transparency, civic oversight, and inclusive governance across Brazil.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003Cli dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">\u003Cstrong>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.newcommons.ai\u002Fwinners\u002Fknow-your-city-academy\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Slum Dwellers International’s Know Your City Academy\u003C\u002Fa>:\u003C\u002Fstrong> Slum Dwellers International and Arkology Studio are building a data commons for 5,000+ informal settlements in 18 African countries, integrating oral histories and structured data to promote peer learning and inclusive data practices.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003C\u002Ful>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong> \u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\">\u003Cstrong>\u003Cem>Enhancement of a Data Commons\u003C\u002Fem>\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cul>\n\u003Cli dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">\u003Cstrong>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.newcommons.ai\u002Fwinners\u002Fplace-hub-in-nigeria\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">PLACE Foundation’s PLACE Hub in Nigeria\u003C\u002Fa>: \u003C\u002Fstrong>Funded by ThisisPLACE, PLACE is replicating its proven model in other regions to Abuja, Nigeria to expand its community-driven spatial data infrastructure to enable responsible AI for urban planning, disaster response, and infrastructure development in Nigeria.   \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003Cli dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">\u003Cstrong>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.newcommons.ai\u002Fwinners\u002Fadvancing-climate-justice-the-climate-mobility-case-database\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Global Strategic Litigation Council’s Advancing Climate Justice\u003C\u002Fa>: T\u003C\u002Fstrong>he Climate Mobility Case Database: Tens of millions are displaced annually by the climate crisis. The Climate Mobility Case Database uses AI to distill complex global case law on climate displacement into accessible, multilingual knowledge. By distilling lessons learned from courts across the world, this open platform equips communities, practitioners, and policymakers with the tools to defend rights, strengthen advocacy, and drive policy reform for at-risk and climate-displaced people worldwide. Developed by the Global Strategic Litigation Council, in collaboration with Earth Refuge, the Raoul Wallenberg Institute, and the Zolberg Institute.\u003Cstrong>\u003Cbr>\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003C\u002Ful>\n\u003Ch3 dir=\"ltr\">What’s Next\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\">The New Commons Challenge is not only about recognizing innovators — it is also about building a broader ecosystem for data commons. The next phase will include:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cul>\n\u003Cli dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">\u003Cstrong>Incubator Support: \u003C\u002Fstrong>Providing the winning teams with mentorship, technical assistance, and peer learning opportunities to refine and scale their data commons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003Cli dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">\u003Cstrong>Repository of Examples: \u003C\u002Fstrong>Expanding our open, living library of data commons projects worldwide, offering policymakers, practitioners, and funders a resource to learn from proven models.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003Cli dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">\u003Cstrong>Blueprint for Developing a Data Commons:\u003C\u002Fstrong> Operationalizing practical guidance on how to design, govern, and sustain data commons in ways that align with community expectations and serve the public interest.\u003Cbr>\u003Cbr>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003C\u002Ful>\n\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\">Together, these efforts will ensure that the Challenge goes beyond awards — laying the foundation for a global movement of data commons that unlock responsible AI for societal good.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\">For more information about the New Commons Challenge and the 2025 awardees, visit \u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fnewcommons.ai\">newcommons.ai\u003C\u002Fa> or email us at \u003Ca href=\"mailto:newcommons@opendatapolicylab.org\">newcommons@opendatapolicylab.org\u003C\u002Fa>. \u003C\u002Fp>",{},"building-the-future-of-public-interest-ai-certi-amazonia-institute-and-nyu-peace-research-announced-as-winners-of-the-new-commons-challenge","blogposts\u002Fbuilding-the-future-of-public-interest-ai-certi-amazonia-institute-and-nyu-peace-research-announced-as-winners-of-the-new-commons-challenge","1xcmUJxQsFaTHZ0WTtEBOSu0ONfsH8mea2cU5gKyeSo",{"id":42,"brow":43,"cover_image":44,"date":45,"excerpt":8,"extension":9,"heading":46,"main_content":47,"meta":48,"slug":49,"stem":50,"tagline":51,"__hash__":52},"blogposts\u002Fblogposts\u002Fsignals-of-demand-what-the-new-commons-challenge-tells-us-about-the-need-and-opportunity-of-data-commons.json","Phase 1","https:\u002F\u002Fcms.thegovlab.com\u002Fassets\u002Fb6d6aaa1-ef2c-499b-b2db-fc9b7dd0f139","2025-06-12","Signals of Demand: What the New Commons Challenge Tells Us About the Need and Opportunity of Data Commons","\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\">Last week, we closed applications for our \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fblog.thegovlab.org\u002Fthe-new-commons-challenge-advancing-ai-for-public-good-through-data-commons\">New Commons Challenge\u003C\u002Fa>—an open innovation challenge seeking to foster the use of data commons for the development of AI for local decision-making and humanitarian response.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\">The response to the New Commons Challenge has been a powerful signal of the growing interest in data commons as a catalyst for public interest AI and locally grounded impact. Between April and June, we received \u003Cstrong>173 submissions\u003C\u002Fstrong> from around the world. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\">Although the Challenge focused on two priority areas—humanitarian response and local decision-making—the proposals spanned a wide range of data types and use cases.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\">As we move into Phase Two, we are leveraging the current review process as a listening exercise—helping us gauge the appetite for and potential of data commons around the world. What kinds of initiatives are resonating most with AI, data and other practitioners? Where is this momentum coming from—and what can it tell us about the emerging future of collaborative data governance?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong> \u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Ch3 dir=\"ltr\">Geography\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\">Of the 173 submissions, 154 are eligible for the current Phase One review. These entries span 51 countries from across the world and reflect the widespread global interest in data commons initiatives. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\" style=\"text-align: center;\">\u003Cimg src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcms.thegovlab.com\u002Fassets\u002Fd5a80a7d-d077-48bd-b7a7-2a38bd39a2af.png?width=512&height=311\" alt=\"Submissions by Region\">\u003Cbr>\u003Cem>A summary of which regions applicants submitted proposals from\u003C\u002Fem>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\" style=\"text-align: center;\">\u003Cimg src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcms.thegovlab.com\u002Fassets\u002Fb1f49dff-37d7-4241-9c50-82a0126445b3.png?width=512&height=375\" alt=\"Submissions Map\">\u003Cbr>\u003Cem>A mapping of the cities that applicants indicated they were submitting proposals from\u003C\u002Fem>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cem>\u003Cstrong> \u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fem>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\">Award Type\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\">Submissions fall into two categories: 103 entries (67%) for Award 1, focusing on creating a new data commons, and 51 entries (33%) for Award 2, focusing on enhancing an existing data commons. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\">All applicants have to be affiliated with an established organization, and submissions primarily come from non-profits, start-ups, and research organizations (universities or research institutions).\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Ch3 dir=\"ltr\">Applicants \u003C\u002Fh3>\n\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\" style=\"text-align: center;\">\u003Cimg src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcms.thegovlab.com\u002Fassets\u002F0ff4f380-ceb3-4dd4-a9f4-bd1f3d481e59.png?width=512&height=317\" alt=\"Submissions by Entity Type\">\u003Cbr>\u003Cem>A breakdown of the types of entities that submitted proposals\u003C\u002Fem>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Ch3 dir=\"ltr\">Data and Submission Type\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\">Nearly all submissions involve multiple types of data, but the most common dataset types included:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cul>\n\u003Cli dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">Text or unstructured data (language and linguistics, legal data, research and education, news and media, biomedical data)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003Cli dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">Structured data (e.g. national statistics, sensor networks, administrative data)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003Cli dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">Imagery (e.g. knowledge graphs, spatial images, artwork, data visualizations, geospatial datasets)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003C\u002Ful>\n\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\">Many submissions also incorporated audio and video data, signaling a clear broadening of the types of data being considered for use in data commons. This trend reflects a growing recognition that multimodal data can offer valuable insights, especially when designing AI systems responsive to local needs and contexts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\">The New Commons Challenge is specifically interested in data commons that support disaster response or local decision-making. Around \u003Cstrong>75 submissions \u003C\u002Fstrong>focused exclusively on supporting local decision making. Of the\u003Cstrong> 69 total submissions\u003C\u002Fstrong> focused on humanitarian response, the vast majority also discussed how their data commons would support local decision making in crisis response or prevention. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong> \u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Ch3 dir=\"ltr\">Next Steps: Phase Two\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\">After we conclude our review of Phase One concept notes, selected applicants will be invited to submit a full proposal outlining their use case and implementation. An \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fnewcommons.ai\u002Fjudges\">interdisciplinary group\u003C\u002Fa> will assess proposals for feasibility, innovation, and impact potential. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\">Of the shortlisted applications, two teams will each receive $100,000 in funding, along with mentorship, networking opportunities, and global exposure to support the execution of their data commons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\">Decisions will be finalized in the coming months. To learn more about The New Commons Challenge, you can visit \u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fnewcommons.ai\">newcommons.ai\u003C\u002Fa>. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp> \u003C\u002Fp>",{},"signals-of-demand-what-the-new-commons-challenge-tells-us-about-the-need-and-opportunity-of-data-commons","blogposts\u002Fsignals-of-demand-what-the-new-commons-challenge-tells-us-about-the-need-and-opportunity-of-data-commons","With over 170 applicants spread across six continents and countless sectors, it’s clear that there is an urgent need for resources to develop data commons.","wc8M3Ze_IHd4ZZGM_pTzNI9uszvf2mevDW89D0mDpas",1781723909372]