AWS Imagine Grant launches in UK to fund charity cloud-based tech projects

Amazon Web Services (AWS) is providing third-sector organisations in the UK the chance to apply for a grant price up $50,000 to assist them launch a cloud-based know-how challenge that would convey repeatable advantages to different charities in the identical area.

Any UK-registered charity can apply for the AWS Imagine Grant, which will even see recipients supplied with promotional credit price up to $16,000 and technical help from AWS know-how specialists to assist finesse their projects too.

The grant was introduced on the AWS Public Sector Summit in London on Tuesday 21 March 2023, and is the UK model of an analogous initiative the cloud large has run in the US since 2018, which has paid out greater than $6m in funding to 66 non-profits to-date.

“This grant is a go further, faster award available to any UK registered charity,” stated Chris Hayman, director of the UK public sector at AWS in the course of the Public Sector Summit’s opening keynote.

“The opportunities are limitless if you think about artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, internet of things, high-performance computing…you name it. This really is an opportunity [for these organisations] to make a step change in the way they deliver outcomes for their charity.”

During a follow-up interview with Computer Weekly on the summit, Hayman stated the programme will begin accepting entries for the initiative in May 2023, which might fluctuate from pilot projects, proof of ideas to present initiatives that use know-how in a “unique way”.

As examples, Hayman shared particulars of a few of the projects that had secured funding by the US model of the programme, together with a Texas-based meals financial institution that’s utilizing cloud applied sciences to optimise the best way they distribute provides to individuals in want of its companies.

Another beneficiary of the Imagine Grant in the US is an organisation referred to as Jacaranda Health, which is a Kenya-based non-profit that’s centered on ending preventable maternal and new child deaths.

The organisation secured its grant through the use of the AWS cloud to create a well being platform that makes use of AI to join moms with prenatal care info, in addition to referrals to healthcare amenities to allow them to entry therapy in a well timed method.

“For me, it’s a really inspiring way of [creating] innovation and ideas, so charities can [improve what they do] and their outcomes, so we are definitely keen to see what people make of it,” stated Hayman.

“And it’s not just promotional credits [recipients receive] – it’s cash funding, but also importantly access to AWS specialists and staff if they don”t essentially have the talents [to bring their projects to fruition]. We will help them.”

He added: “It can be the kernel of an idea that will go through a judging evaluation process, because by no means does it need to be an entirely, fully baked idea. There is going to be some iteration on [these ideas] for sure.”

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