Join Amazon Web Services (AWS) and thriveGEO on October 8th in London to kick off the EMEA edition of the Generative AI for Geospatial Challenge.
This challenge brings together scientists, innovators, industry leaders, and the largest cloud resources to explore and expand the art of the possible for big-impact applications using geospatial data. Find out more about the challenge, get involved and help to to harness the power of cloud computing and geospatial information.
The Generative AI for Geospatial Challenge brings together leading geospatial researchers and some of the largest geospatial data providers to push the boundaries of what is possible in making the planet’s data more accessible and searchable. With the broadest and most comprehensive set of cloud services, AWS is at the forefront of this transformation, empowering customers to accelerate the development of highly scalable, cloud-native geospatial solutions. The Challenge is designed to inspire and support the development, commercialisation, and scaling of innovative geospatial applications.
To fuel this innovation, AWS is offering $650,000 in AWS credits, providing participants with the resources to think big and turn visionary ideas into reality.
Join the Generative AI for Geospatial challenge – EMEA!
The Challenge seeks bold ideas that explore and expand the possibilities for geospatial problem-solving using generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI). Any individual or organisation authorised to conduct business in Europe, Africa or the Middle East may submit an idea proposal to the Challenge. Proposals can be submitted from 8 October 2025 until 7 December 2025, 11:59 p.m. CET.
To kick off the challenge, AWS and thriveGEO are bringing together the leading minds in the geospatial industry and foundation model development for an exclusive event in London on October 8, 2025, from 12:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
The half-day event will feature inspiring keynote presentations and insightful expert-led panel sessions to help participants prepare for the Generative AI for Geospatial Challenge. Hosted at the Royal Geographical Society, the event will conclude with an overview of the Challenge, followed by a formal launch of the proposal submission period. Join us for a unique opportunity to collaborate, innovate, and shape the future of geospatial solutions with Generative AI.
Rebecca Meads & Joy Fasnacht (AWS)
Julia Wagemann (thriveGEO)
Welcome Remarks: Phil Cooper (AWS)
Keynote presentation: Samuel Barrett (LGND)
Keynote presentation: Nadine Alameh (LunateAI)
Julia Wagemann (thriveGEO)
Previous challenge participants: James Banting (Sparkgeo), Sasha Lepretre (LuxCarta)
Panelists:
Donna Lyndsay (Lyndsay Consulting), Andrew Pawloski (Element84), Eren Unlu (GlobeHolder AI), Faisal Ayman (GeoSA Innovation)
Panelists:
Kat Sempori (Iceye), Shikoh Gitau (Qhala), Javier de la Torre (Carto), Ahmad Aldhalaan (GeoTech), Ed Parsons (Geospatial Advisor)
Fireside chat, moderated by Nadine Alameh
thriveGEO / AWS
Location: The Gore, London
An initiative sponsored by thriveGEO and AWS challenging researchers and innovators to develop solutions to big problems using generative AI in geospatial applications, built on AWS solutions.
Innovators whose project ideas are selected through the challenge will receive access to credits for AWS cloud infrastructure (total worth: $650,000), networking opportunities, and possible technical support from AWS.
Participants must be an individual or company authorized to do business in Europe, the Middle East or Africa, that is building a generative AI application that uses geospatial data to solve critical challenges or who has an idea for such a solution. Women+ in Geospatial members and their collaborators focused on geospatial technologies and applications are encouraged to participate. All participants are encouraged to partner on their proposals with tech companies working in a related field or articulate a pathway to commercialization for their innovations.
The challenge will launch with an event on 8 October 2025 in London. Industry and government leaders will present on the state of the art in generative AI for geospatial and panels will lay out top challenges facing the field. The event will also explain the specifics of the challenge, such as the format of idea submissions, submission requirements, the timeline for submission, the criteria for assessment, and the Selection Committee. After the submission period concludes, ideas will be selected and awarded with AWS credits* and featured in future events and public recognition opportunities. The challenge cycle will conclude with a process for demonstrating and publicizing the solutions generated by awardees using AWS solutions.
* Credits can only be awarded to registered AWS accounts.
Submissions will be open from the Kickoff event through 7 December 2025. Awards will be announced in mid-January 2025 and the project development period for awardees will run until mid-April 2026.
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