UN Innovation Network

Name

UN Innovation Network

Legal name

United Nations Innovation Network

Website

https://uninnovation.network

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

International Innovation Collaboration Platform

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Support Services (61171), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

United Nations System & Specialized Agencies (BPADAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Group Work, Breakout & Collaborative Document/Workspace Tools (EDAFAGAE), Open Courseware & Course Modules (OCW) (EDAGAJAB), Open Multimedia OER (video, audio, podcasts, animations) (EDAGAJAF)

Keywords

• UN innovation collaboration
• Knowledge sharing network
• Innovation capacity building
• Innovation resource platform
• Cross-agency collaboration

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Network Operations (Non-Commercial): UNIN operates as a non-profit collaborative network without a commercial revenue model. The network is jointly chaired and funded by UNDP, UNICEF, and WFP. Membership is free and open to UN innovators and external partners. No products or services are sold.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

UNIN is an informal, collaborative community of UN innovators that operates a web-based platform aggregating innovation resources, tools, training materials, and best practices across the UN system. It hosts specialized UN Groups on five innovation topics (Behavioural Science, Digital, Blockchain, Innovation Scaling, Generative AI), curates an Innovation Library of webinars and publications, and offers a 21-tool Innovation Toolkit with a diagnostic assessment to help UN staff build innovation capabilities and advance Sustainable Development Goals.

Product overview

The UN Innovation Network (UNIN) operates a unified web platform that serves as a collaborative hub for UN innovators. The core platform is complemented by specialized resources including the Innovation Library (a repository of webinars and publications), the Innovation Training Library (a collection of courses and toolkits from UN Entities), and the UN Innovation Toolkit (a digital resource with 21 tools and diagnostic assessments). The network also hosts UN Groups on five specialized topics (Behavioural Science, Digital, Blockchain, Innovation Scaling, and Generative AI), showcases UN Innovation Projects, and facilitates challenges and calls such as the WFP Innovation Challenge, Humanitarian Innovation Programme, Digital@UNGA Awards, and Safeguards Accelerator.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• UN Innovation Network Platform A collaborative web platform serving as an informal community network for UN innovators to share expertise, resources, and best practices for advancing innovation within the UN System.
• Innovation Library A curated living library of innovation-related webinars and publications hosted by UNIN and UN Entities, covering new technologies and approaches applied to the Sustainable Development Goals.
• Innovation Training Library A curated collection of 99 courses and toolkits from across the UN System designed to support UN staff and others in building innovation capabilities, covering areas such as AI, data analytics, digital transformation, and strategic foresight.
• UN Innovation Toolkit A digital platform with 21 tools, step-by-step directions, worksheets, case studies, and a 27-question Diagnostic Assessment to provide actionable insight on users' readiness to innovate, identifying profiles such as Collaborator, Trailblazer, or Implementor.
• WFP Innovation Challenge An innovation challenge by the World Food Programme seeking innovative ideas to support WFP operations addressing food insecurity in 123 countries.
• The Humanitarian Innovation Programme A call for proposals looking for bold, partnership-driven projects that aim to improve humanitarian action through co-development and scaling innovative solutions.
• Digital@UNGA Awards Awards recognizing and celebrating outstanding digital initiatives, policies, partnerships, and leaders advancing inclusive, responsible, and people-centred technological development.
• Safeguards Accelerator A program supporting countries and implementing partners to turn global Digital Public Infrastructure principles into practical safeguards.

Quantifiable outcome

• 1 million users engaged through youth platforms like FunDoo
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• UNDPcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUNDP is one of three joint chairs and funders of UNIN. Provides strategic leadership and funding support for the network's operations and initiatives.
• UNICEFcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUNICEF is one of three joint chairs and funders of UNIN. Contributes innovation expertise and resources to the network.
• WFPcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWFP is one of three joint chairs and funders of UNIN. Provides innovation accelerator resources and humanitarian innovation focus.
• UN Entity Network (70+ Organizations)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner70+ UN Entities participate as organizational members, contributing resources, expertise, and innovation projects to the network. Includes entities such as ICAO, IFAD, ILO, IMF, WHO, UNESCO, UNHCR, UN Women, and many others.
• University College London (UCL)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with UNFPA on the GENAIE project to develop an automated content generation platform using cutting-edge AI technology.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Ashoka: Global network supporting leading social entrepreneurs with a fellowship program and changemaker ecosystem. Comparable as a large-scale, mission-driven community platform for social innovation practitioners.
• Nesta: UK-based global innovation foundation that designs and runs innovation challenges, funds, and research. Comparable as a mission-driven innovation intermediary curating tools, methods, and programs for public-good outcomes.
• Skoll Foundation: Foundation driving large-scale social impact by investing in and connecting social entrepreneurs. Comparable as a well-capitalized ecosystem builder for social innovation with curated programs and a global community.

Direct peers

• MIT Solve: MIT-run open innovation platform running challenge programs and curating a global community of solvers around SDGs. Comparable as an innovation challenge and content platform targeting sustainable development goals.
• UNICEF Innovation Fund: UNICEF's venture-style fund that invests in frontier technology startups serving children and development. Comparable as a UN-anchored innovation platform with curated portfolios and a focus on emerging tech.
• WFP Innovation Accelerator: WFP's Munich-based accelerator that runs innovation challenges and scales solutions for food security across 123 countries. A direct peer as a UN-affiliated innovation program that also feeds UNIN's challenge listings.
• NetHope: Consortium of 60+ global nonprofits and UN agencies collaborating on technology for international development. Comparable as a peer network pooling resources and convening humanitarian actors around shared tech capabilities.
• UNDP Accelerator Labs: UNDP's network of 90+ country-based labs testing frontier solutions for sustainable development. Comparable in serving as a UN system-wide innovation infrastructure with distributed local presence.
• Global Innovation Fund: Non-profit investment fund that backs innovative solutions for development challenges in low- and middle-income countries. Comparable as a development-sector innovation intermediary curating and scaling frontier solutions.

Emerging players

• Digital Public Goods Alliance: Multi-stakeholder initiative launched by UNICEF and UNDP to accelerate the development of digital public goods. Comparable as a sibling UN-anchored effort focused on digital infrastructure and standards for the development sector.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/UN_Innovation
• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/UNInnovationNetwork
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/un-innovation-network

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about UN Innovation Network