Join Amazon Web Services (AWS) and thriveGEO for the EMEA edition of the Generative AI for Geospatial Challenge.
This challenge brings together 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 harness the power of cloud computing and geospatial information.
Don’t just observe the future of geospatial AI—build it. Join us. Innovate with us. Lead with us.
We’re proud to introduce the 14 selected teams for the GenAI for Geospatial Challenge – EMEA Edition.
These projects span Europe, Africa, and the Middle East, applying generative AI and geospatial data to real-world challenges across climate, infrastructure, ecosystems, health, and more.
Climate resilience planning requires understanding uncertainty, not just predictions. This project develops probabilistic, data-driven scenario planning tools using Earth observation data to support better long-term decisions.
AI training data often lacks local African context. This project builds a context-aware geospatial data engine that enables GenAI applications tailored to local environments and decision-making needs.
Deforestation threatens cocoa farming and livelihoods in Ghana. This project uses cloud-native EO and AI methods to monitor forests and support sustainable agriculture and traceability.
Maritime trade faces growing risks from illicit and untracked activities. This project builds a next-generation marine intelligence copilot to assess dark fleet risk using AI-driven geospatial analysis.
Generative AI tools for geospatial intelligence are often fragmented. This project explores a cognitive framework for multidimensional spatial intelligence, enabling richer interpretation of EO data.
Existing geospatial foundation models overlook real-world decision workflows. This project develops next-generation models designed to support operational planning and infrastructure-scale use cases.
Industrial insurers struggle with outdated, static risk models. This project builds an AI-driven risk assessment platform that integrates geospatial intelligence to support dynamic insurance decisions.
Nature-related risks are difficult to quantify at scale. This project applies geospatial foundation models to forecast ecosystem service risks and support nature-positive investment decisions.
Marine developers and regulators lack fast, accessible biodiversity intelligence. This project creates foundational ocean species embeddings to support offshore renewable planning and environmental monitoring.
Methane emissions are difficult to detect and monitor consistently. This project develops an AI-powered methane mapping solution using satellite data to support climate accountability.
Community health infrastructure is often poorly mapped and fragmented. This project applies cloud-native geospatial methods to support health network mapping and local-scale planning.
Cities in hot regions lack hyper-local insights to address extreme heat. This project uses GeoAI to support thermal downscaling and climate-resilient urban routing.
Data on past floods and wildfires is scattered and hard to reuse. This project builds a global catalog of disaster footprints to support climate-smart planning and risk analysis.
Organisations hold vast geospatial datasets that are under-utilised. This project develops a visual-vector integration system enabling spatially aware, tool-augmented AI assistants.
We’ll be spotlighting each team and their work throughout the Build and Show phases — stay tuned.
All proposals have been evaluated based on the following criteria:
Will the idea proposed result in an improvement to the human condition or society in which we live?
Does the idea demonstrate an understanding of the state-of-the-art and optimize the use of existing innovations for using generative AI in a geospatial application?
Does the idea proposed have a clearly identifiable market and pathway to commercialization?
Does the idea proposed have the potential for widespread adoption?
How well does the idea proposed integrate data types or concepts that clearly demonstrate its status as a geospatial application, product, or solution?
Does the composition of the team provide confidence that the proposed idea will be executed successfully?
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.
Draft your bold and innovative idea and submit your proposal!
Our jury evaluates all submissions and at the end, the winning teams will be announced.
This is the phase when the innovation is happening. The selected teams are working on their idea with the cloud credits received from AWS.
Outcomes from the challenge will be celebrated and presented at a selected geospatial industry event.
We are looking for bold, high-impact applications working on ground-breaking ideas. Your proposal will be evaluated by a high-calibre judging panel that has deep expertise across GenAI, geospatial, cloud-computing, foundation models, as well as business and product development.
Global Tech BD, Amazon Web Services
Founder, LunateAI
Chief Science Officer and Co-Founder, LGND AI and Co-Founder, Clay
Data Solutions and Ecosystem Lead, AMINI and Founder, Africa-Centered Scientific Publication ,Afrokwary’
Co-Founder, thriveGEO and Founder and Director, Women+ in Geospatial
EO Digital Innovation Engineer, European Space Agency
Watch the recording of our introductory webinar.
There, you learn everything you need to know about the challenge, including:
Following an exceptional response to the GenAI for Geospatial Challenge – EMEA Edition, we’re proud to introduce the 14 winning teams selected from across Africa, Europe, and the Middle East.
Their projects explore how generative AI and geospatial data can support real-world decision-making: from climate resilience and urban systems to data infrastructure and market intelligence. Together, they reflect where innovation in this space is already taking shape.
Read more about the teams, the problems they’re tackling, and the themes shaping this next phase of the Challenge.
To kick off the challenge, AWS and thriveGEO brought together the leading minds in the geospatial industry and foundation model development for an exclusive event in London on October 8, 2025.
The event featured 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 concluded with an overview of the Challenge, followed by a formal launch of the proposal submission period.
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