The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations were formally adopted by the United Nations in 2015. It aims to completely solve the development problems of the three dimensions of society, economy and environment from 2015 to 2030 and turn to a sustainable development path. SDGs call on all countries (whether the country is poor, wealthy, or middle-income) to act to protect the planet while promoting economic prosperity. The goal states that long-term commitment should be made to eradicate poverty, achieve good health and well-being, achieve quality education, gender equality, clean drinking water and sanitation, affordable and clean energy, innovation and infrastructure, reduced inequalities, sustainable cities and communities, climate change and environmental protection, etc.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is a disruptive technology that can change society, and an enabling technology that can promote social progress. The realization of the global SDGs should be promoted through the development of AI. This is a common goal of the global AI industry, academia, governments, NPOs and NGOs. AI research institutions, universities, and industries have a responsibility to promote the sustainable development of society, economy, and environment through AI.

To this end, we are launching the Artificial Intelligence for Sustainable Development Goals (AI4SDGs) Research Program, with support from relevant institutions, and companies with a common vision for sustainable development.

Beijing Academy of AI (BAAI) will serve as a management agency for the organization of AI4SDG research program funding, advisory committee, executive committee, and project formulation, launch, and review.

Industries can choose to support two types of projects. The first category is technical research and development, with 500,000 RMB (or equivalent USD, EUR, etc.) and an execution period of 2 years. The second category is research and analysis projects, with 200,000 RMB (or equivalent USD, EUR, etc.) per project, with a one-year implementation period. The research results (research reports, papers, software codes, etc.) will be released on the AI4SDG Think Tank, and open to everyone. The software results should be open source.

The participant corporations can decide the type and number of projects to be funded each year according to their own situation. Funded enterprises can submit research directions to the Executive Committee, but corporate funding and recommended directions are not necessarily tied. All funded enterprises have the right to obtain the intermediate results of all topics, and have the opportunity to discuss further cooperation with the subject undertaking after the project ends.

As the management organization, BAAI does not charge any fees. The BAAI will be responsible for compiling the global annual report of artificial intelligence for sustainable development (AI4SDG), together with the project outputs and release them on the Annual BAAI Conference.

We look forward to companies that are responsible, concerned and contributing to global sustainable development as co-contributing units, claiming and donating related directions, and working together with Beijing Zhiyuan Artificial Intelligence Research Institute to promote artificial intelligence innovation for global sustainable development!