Out of the 250 expressions of interest received in response to the Global Call, eligible proposals will now undergo thorough evaluation by the Selection Committee, in collaboration with the ISC Secretariat, until the end of June 2024.
The Committee, which has refined the selection process and criteria for the Pilot Science Missions, will assess the proposals and make recommendations to the Secretariat regarding shortlisted applications. These shortlisted candidates will then be invited to matchmaking events with funders, starting in September. By mid-October, shortlisted consortia will be asked to submit full bids, which will once again be thoroughly assessed by the Selection Committee.
The Oversight Committee will make the final decision on which Pilot Science Missions to fund, based on the recommendations of the Selection Committee. This includes final approval of funding disbursements for the 18-month co-design phase.
Between January 2025 and June 2026, up to five Pilot Missions will test the visionary model developed by the Global Commission on Science Missions for Sustainability and unveiled at the 2023 UN High-Level Political Forum in the document titled “Flipping the Science Model: A Roadmap to Science Missions for Sustainability.”
Selected Pilots will illustrate how collaborative efforts involving scientists, policymakers, non-governmental organizations, communities, and the private sector can lead to innovative solutions for complex sustainability challenges. These efforts will pave the way for adapting and expanding the model, demonstrating the value of collaborative transdisciplinary efforts in fast-tracking the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and accelerating societal transformation toward sustainability.
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