Intercultural Innovation Hub (IIH) 2026

Since 2011, the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) and the BMW Group1 have engaged in a historic partnership geared towards creating a new model for collaboration between the private sector and the UN system. 

Today, UNAOC and the BMW Group, with the support of Accenture, are expanding the collaboration and continuing the legacy in selecting innovative projects that encourage intercultural dialogue through the Intercultural Innovation Hub (IIH). 

UNAOC and BMW Group, supported by Accenture, mobilize their resources, time and networks to strengthen the selected projects. This model of collaboration between the UN and the private sector creates deeper impact, as all partners provide their respective expertise to ensure the sustainable growth of each project.

IIH seeks to address pressing intercultural challenges through social innovation by fostering connections across cultures, empowering non-profit organizations, and scaling up innovative approaches that contribute to more inclusive societies.

This year, we will select up to 10 projects focusing on any of these priority areas: 

• addressing xenophobia and hate speech;
• preventing violent extremism;
• promoting gender equality;
• using sport, art and culture as tools to drive social change and foster social inclusion;
• building inclusive and cohesive societies and using AI and new technologies at the service of humanity