Young international innovators visit the Apple Developer Academy and the Federico II Agritech Center

Thirty-five winners of the “Youth4Climate” program arrived in Naples to learn more about the work carried out by the University of Naples Federico II and to engage with students. The Apple Developer Academy Unina and the Agritech Research Center were the two stops of the day.

A lively dialogue took place between the researchers—who focused in particular on topics such as energy, food, agriculture, climate, peace, and security—and the students of the Academy, established through a collaboration between Federico II and the Cupertino-based company at its San Giovanni a Teduccio campus.

The meeting began with a focus on digital innovation for sustainable development and digital tools to support climate action. Innovation, entrepreneurship, and international collaboration were at the heart of the discussion.

Next up was the Agritech Research Center; the program included a tour of the laboratories and research facilities, focusing on how science, artificial intelligence, and precision agriculture contribute to more resilient and sustainable food systems.

The discussion between the researchers and the Youth4Climate winners explored opportunities for international collaboration, research partnerships, and technology transfer to accelerate climate solutions.

Youth4Climate is an initiative of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in Rome. For this edition, it invited young people aged 18 to 29 to submit their proposals in a wide range of areas related to the environment and climate: architecture for climate adaptation, climate, peace and security, food systems, oceans and the blue economy, sustainable energy, and sustainable fashion and textiles. This opportunity was open to young people from all 158 countries in the UNDP program to apply for grants of up to $30,000 each. A total of 2,600 proposals were successfully submitted from over 130 countries.

The team, led by Agostino Inguscio, UNDP Coordinator, and Stefania Farina, UNDP Strategy and Partnerships, was welcomed by Giorgio Ventre, Scientific Director of the Apple Developer Academy Unina, and Francesco Dell’Aglio, Senior Mentor at the Academy.

Since its first Call for Solutions in 2023, Youth4Climate has mobilized over 7,000 eligible proposals from young innovators in more than 130 countries and has awarded grants to 200 youth-led initiatives in 69 countries, for a total of $5.5 million (awarded directly to the young people). Half of these are led by young women, and many by young people from indigenous communities and Small Island Developing States (SIDS).

In addition to visiting Federico II University, the group of program winners will travel to Milan, Venice, Bologna, and Rome.