About this opportunity
The maths on learning is sobering. More than 270 million children are out of school, one in five teachers does not meet minimum national qualification standards, and aid to education is on track to fall 30 per cent between 2023 and 2027. At the same time AI offers every learner an always available tutor and gives teachers powerful new support, while also threatening to let students skip the productive struggle where real learning happens.
The 2027 Global Learning Challenge asks how to close global education gaps while improving outcomes for every learner. Solve seeks human centred, tech based solutions from anywhere in the world, at prototype, pilot, growth or scale stage, and it defines technology widely enough to include low cost and offline designs as readily as frontier models.
Four directions stand out for 2027. Tools that strengthen how teachers teach by supporting judgement and relationships rather than automating them. Solutions that work in emergency or low resource settings, including low bandwidth, offline and low cost designs plus systems that build school and district capacity. Assistive technology and multilingual tools for learners with disabilities and learners using non dominant languages. And better assessment of what learners truly know and can do, through formative methods, diagnostics and early screening that flag a learner who is off track so a teacher can step in.
Across every area, Solve favours solutions that use AI to deepen rather than shortcut learning, that build connection instead of isolation, that are designed with or led by the communities they serve, and that strengthen public education systems. Selected teams receive a $10,000 Solver grant, an average of $40,000 in funding, access to a prize pool of more than $1 million and nine months of coaching and support. Applications opened on 22 September 2026 and close on 2 November 2026 at 12:00pm EST.
What you receive
- A $10,000 grant for every Solver team
- Access to a pool of more than $1 million in prize funding
- An average of $40,000 in funding following selection
- Nine month support programme with coaching and capacity building workshops
- In kind and pro bono resources including software licences and legal services
- Media exposure and peer connections across the global Solver community
Who can apply
- Innovators and organisations of any nationality and background
- Technology driven solutions that address global education gaps
- Solutions at prototype, pilot, growth or scale stage
- Previously selected teams may apply only with a new solution
Who should not apply
- Concept stage ideas, which Solve reviews only under the Indigenous Communities Fellowship
- A repeat submission of a solution previously selected by Solve
- Multiple solutions from one team lead to the same Global Challenge
Documents to prepare
- A description of the learning problem and the learners served
- Evidence of classroom or system uptake so far
- A plan for implementation, financial viability and scaling
- Background of the team and its relationships with schools or communities
How to apply
- Read the 2027 areas of interest on the challenge page at MIT Solve
- Download the reference version of the application questions before you begin
- Start the online application through the official MIT Solve application link
- Submit before 2 November 2026 at 12:00pm EST
Selection process
- Solve staff and community conduct an initial screening
- Expert reviewers score solutions against judging criteria and advance the highest scorers
- The Challenge Leadership Group evaluates semifinalists and names finalists, who are notified in February and pitch live
- Judges deliberate after the pitch and select the Solver class
Sources and verification
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Questions applicants ask
Does the solution have to use AI?
No. Solve wants technology in and around classrooms where there is a clear case for it, and rewards designs that deepen learning rather than shortcut it.
Are low bandwidth solutions in scope?
Yes. Work in emergency or low resource settings is a stated priority, including low bandwidth, offline and low cost designs.
When do applications close?
Submissions close on 2 November 2026 at 12:00pm EST, and most applicants report spending several hours completing the form.
Important disclaimer
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