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    Working to address the challenges of our time

    CONTENTS

    From Challenges to Solutions

    Our Path to Meaningful Change

    At the BMW Foundation, we’re dedicated to delivering real-world change alongside dedicated leaders and experts. That's why we lead by example, initiating and steering solution processes. We focus our work around three key elements:  
    Challenges, Initiatives, and Solutions.     Start with the CHALLENGEEvery journey begins with a clear, pressing question — a Challenge.  
    We believe that the right solutions can have a huge impact on specific problems, which are rooted in our focus areas:

    • Energy Transition & Climate Change 
    • Urbanization & Infrastructure 
    • Education & Qualification 
    We choose Challenges we can realistically tackle, then set measurable goals to guide our work. 

    Power it with INITIATIVES    Once a Challenge is defined, we activate and align our Initiatives — like ERLG, the Collaborative Action Platform Brazil, or RESPOND — to work toward solutions. These initiatives are our tools for change, connecting the right people, platforms, and ideas. Deliver Tangible SOLUTIONS We’re not in this for good intentions alone. Every Challenge is designed to lead to solutions — concrete, scalable outcomes that move society forward. Think innovations in cleantech, cross-industry partnerships, and new ways of collaborating to make an impact that will advance society as a whole and make it more future-proof. This approach helps us stay focused, flexible, and bold. It aligns everything we do with our mission to promote the right solutions by connecting visionary leaders and building momentum where it matters most. It’s not about doing more — it’s about doing what matters, better.

    our challenges

    Tackling What Matters, Measuring What Counts

    With the first Challenge “International collaboration to develop energy transition and infrastructure solutions” the BMW Foundation aims to facilitate international collaboration that accelerates the net-zero transition, bringing about change more quickly and more cost-effectively.

    Challenge 1International collaboration to develop energy transition and infrastructure solutions

    Challenge 1

    Urban spaces are centers of social interaction and development and play a crucial role in building a future-proof society

    Challenge 2Future Urban Living: Making urban spaces more resilient against climate change and livable for all

    Challenge 2

    Education and qualification are the key to social cohesion and economic prosperity, since they guarantee opportunities for all social groups.​

    Challenge 3Integrating young people into the job market through career orientation & strengthening of relevant skills
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    Achieving tangible impact

    The Start-to-Impact (S2I) Process

    Start to Impact—or S2I—is how we move from idea to action. It’s our way of making sure the bold challenges we take on don’t just spark discussion, but lead to measurable, lasting impact. We want to turn big questions into real-world change.Here’s how it works: From the moment we define a challenge, we guide the entire journey—bringing together the right leaders and experts, creating the space for deep collaboration, and ensuring that progress stays on track. We don’t build the solutions ourselves—but we make sure the people who can are in the room, connected, and moving forward.

    LEADERSHIP COLLABORATION AND CONTINUOUS IMPACT MEASUREMENT ARE MAINTAINED THROUGHOUT THE S2I PROCESS

    1. Defining the initiative
    Laying the foundations for the success of the initiative​
    2. Mobilizing the team
    Building a multidisciplinary team
    3. Identifying & shaping solutions
    Prototyping and testing of solutions, complete with a milestone plan for implementation
    4. Implementing solutions
    Carrying out and scaling the initiative’s solution, complete with an exit strategy for long-term impact ​
    5. Completion & exit
    The BMW Foundation’s contribution ends while the solution’s self-sufficiency and visibility are ensured.​
    Why S2I? Too often, efforts toward impact stop at good intentions. S2i is different.  
    It ensures: 
    • Process security – clear steps, strong momentum 
    • Content continuity – challenges stay front and center until results are delivered 
    • Trusted collaboration – a platform where leaders from business, policy, science, and civil society come together to co-create 
     We act as the convener, the moderator, the catalyst. Our strength lies in designing the collaboration—not doing everything, but making everything possible.  What makes it powerful? 
    • We start with a clear challenge 
    • We activate the brightest minds 
    • We guide the process until impact is achieved 
    From cleantech innovation to sustainable cities and future-ready education—S2i ensures that our thematic focus areas don’t just guide our work, but connect our entire ecosystem, from flagship programs to global events.  This is how we help scale ideas into action. This is Start to Impact.