SDG Innovation Accelerator for Young Professionals

A programme for ambitious talents who want to drive sustainability innovation and deliver tangible business solutions aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

About the Programme

The SDG Innovation Accelerator for Young Professionals gives ambitious talents the opportunity to collaborate, create business value, and drive innovation connected to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Over eight months, future changemakers are challenged to think differently, rethink traditional business models, and develop innovative solutions that strengthen both their company and society.

Each company participates with a team of 3–4 colleagues under the age of 35, who together act as “Innovators.” The programme is based on design thinking – a creative and iterative methodology that inspires participants to challenge assumptions, think outside the box, and develop practical solutions to real-world challenges.

The programme is conducted in English, but teams are free to use Swedish or other languages internally.

Programme Structure

Participants work in teams formed by their company. Ideally, teams bring together people from different departments and backgrounds, and preferably colleagues who have not previously worked together, to promote creativity and cross-functional collaboration.

Each team is also matched with an external mentor who acts as a sounding board and challenges them to think bigger and explore new perspectives.

Teams identify and define a challenge or opportunity linked to the SDGs that is specific to their company. Through a creative process based on design thinking principles, they develop innovative ideas, sustainable business models, initiatives, or products that enhance the company’s sustainability efforts, drive innovation, and create tangible business value.

The programme combines global webinars with four full-day workshops in Stockholm and/or Gothenburg, and concludes with a final pitch event in September 2026, where each team presents its project to a jury and audience.

Participants progress through five phases during the programme, following the design thinking framework:

  • 1. SDG Exploration

    Understanding the challenges businesses face today and exploring the key concepts of sustainable business and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

  • 2. Challenge Identification

    Identifying and prioritizing specific SDGs relevant to their company and mapping the company’s impact on those goals.

  • 3. Challenge Definition

    Learning to use SDG impact and assessment tools to frame an ambitious and high-impact business case.

  • 4. Solutions Development

    Learning how to generate new ideas and transform concepts into well-defined projects using practical innovation tools.

  • 5. Solutions Testing and Validation

    Refining and testing the final solution within the company and with external stakeholders to ensure real-world impact.

What You’ll Learn

The SDG Innovation Accelerator for Young Professionals provides you and your company with:

  • Knowledge on how to use innovation to tackle your current sustainability challenges

  • Insights on how to integrate the SDGs into corporate strategy through collaboration, innovation, and knowledge sharing

  • Increased employee engagement and professional development opportunities for your young talents

  • Access to a broad network of peers and leading sustainability experts

Timeline & Time Commitment

15 October 2025: Applications open

15 December 2025: Applications close (high demand expected – pre-register your interest to jenny.biver@globalcompact.se)

February 2026: Programme begins

September 2026: Programme concludes

The total time commitment is approximately 2–4 days per month, in addition to four full-day workshops. It’s important that participating companies allocate sufficient time and are committed to completing all parts of the programme.

What previous participants say about the programme

”I joined the accelerator to explore new ways of combining entrepreneurship and sustainability, and it has far exceeded my expectations. Throughout the programme, I discovered skills and ideas I didn’t know I had, and I now feel more confident in developing my own projects. The collaboration with colleagues from diverse backgrounds was incredibly valuable, and even the challenging discussions helped push us in the right direction. This experience has equipped me with tools and insights that I will carry into future work and initiatives.”

Ghai Siung Chong
SAS
Sweden

 

 

”I’m glad to have participated in the SDG Innovation Accelerator. It was a great mixture of local and global exposure to share a common journey, as all of us have improved our understanding of SDGs and SDG innovation and mapped out our challenges to solutions and to projects.”

Alannah Coupar
Phoenix Group
United Kingdom

 

 

”Participating in the programme has broadened my horizons, hightlighting the power of collaboration and multi-sectoral engagement. The accelerator experience has been instrumental in driving positive change and growth.”

Mikheil Mtiulishvili
Fireflies
Georgia

How to Participate

Participants work in teams of 3–4 young innovators, ideally from different departments within the same company – for example, product development, R&D, communications, supply chain, logistics, sales, sustainability, or strategy.

Each team must have a “champion” at the time of registration – a senior manager who supports the innovators and engages in the programme. The champion provides insights into the company’s sustainability strategy, priorities, and relevant data, such as from the sustainability report. Typically, this role is held by the Head of Sustainability or an equivalent position.

To participate, innovators should:

  • Be employed by a UN Global Compact Network Sweden member company

  • Have a strong drive and passion for innovation, sustainability, and new business models

  • Be 35 years or younger

Pre-register your interest with Jenny Biver at jenny.biver@globalcompact.se.

Application

Interest in the programme is high. We therefore encourage you to pre-register your interest by contacting Jenny Biver at jenny.biver@globalcompact.se.

The programme is free of charge for all corporate members of UN Global Compact Network Sweden.

Applications close on 15 December 2025.