The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is inviting innovators, startups, companies, research institutions, NGOs, universities, and multidisciplinary teams from around the world to participate in two groundbreaking innovation challenges designed to tackle some of the most pressing development issues in Asia and the Pacific.

The Laundry Transformation Challenge and the Urban Dengue Control Innovation Challenge are seeking scalable, affordable, and inclusive technological solutions capable of improving lives while creating measurable social, environmental, and economic impact.

Selected innovators will have the opportunity to receive grant funding of up to USD 450,000 per pilot project, collaborate directly with ADB and government partners, validate their innovations in real-world environments, and gain international visibility.

Whether your innovation addresses sustainable laundry technologies or next-generation dengue control, these challenges offer an exceptional opportunity to scale your solution while contributing to sustainable development across the region.

About the ADB Innovation Challenges

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) regularly launches innovation challenges aimed at identifying transformative technologies that address critical development problems throughout Asia and the Pacific.

The 2026 challenges focus on two major issues:

1. Transforming laundry systems to reduce women’s unpaid work while protecting water resources.
2. Developing bio-enabled and digital technologies to improve dengue control in Sri Lanka with potential expansion across Asia.

Both initiatives emphasize innovation that is:

• Affordable
• Inclusive
• Environmentally sustainable
• Scalable
• Evidence-based
• Capable of generating measurable impact

Successful applicants will pilot their technologies under real operating conditions with support from ADB and strategic local partners.

Challenge 1: The Laundry Transformation Challenge

Overview

The Laundry Transformation Challenge seeks innovative technologies capable of transforming the way laundry is performed across Asia and the Pacific.

Millions of households still rely on manual handwashing, particularly in lower-income communities where washing machines remain inaccessible or impractical.

More than half of the population across Asia and the Pacific continues to wash clothes by hand, with women performing the overwhelming majority of laundry-related work.

Laundry remains an invisible but enormous burden that consumes time, affects health, limits economic participation, and contributes significantly to environmental degradation.

ADB is looking for solutions that can fundamentally rethink laundry systems while reducing water consumption, minimizing pollution, and improving livelihoods.

Why This Challenge Matters

Across Asia and the Pacific:

• Over 50% of people still wash clothes by hand.
• Women spend approximately 20% of their productive time performing laundry.
• Manual washing contributes to physical strain and repetitive injuries.
• Untreated greywater containing detergents and microfibers pollutes rivers and lakes.
• Growing urbanization is increasing pressure on already stressed water resources.

Innovative laundry technologies could significantly improve gender equality, public health, environmental sustainability, and household productivity.

The Challenge Question

ADB asks innovators:

How can innovative technology create more inclusive laundry systems that reduce women’s unpaid workload while decreasing water consumption and pollution across Asia and the Pacific?

Solutions may address one or multiple aspects of laundry transformation.

Learn more and Apply Here

Challenge 2: Urban Dengue Control Innovation Challenge

Overview

The Urban Dengue Control Innovation Challenge seeks innovative bio-enabled and digitally-powered technologies capable of transforming dengue prevention in Sri Lanka’s rapidly growing urban areas.

Despite years of investment in mosquito control, dengue remains a serious public health challenge.

ADB is looking for technologies capable of generating strong evidence through pilot implementation, paving the way for city-wide and national expansion.

Why This Challenge Matters

Sri Lanka continues to experience dengue incidence rates of approximately:

• 300–400 reported cases per 100,000 people annually.

This remains three to four times higher than the country’s national target.

Conventional mosquito control methods—including spraying, larviciding, and community clean-up campaigns—have struggled to provide sustainable results due to:

• Insecticide resistance
• Urban population growth
• Climate change
• Operational challenges
• Limited public health resources

ADB believes a new generation of technology-enabled solutions can transform urban dengue management.

The Challenge Question

ADB asks innovators:

How might bio-enabled and digitally-powered technologies deliver cost-effective, scalable urban dengue control solutions suitable for deployment throughout Sri Lanka and eventually across Asia and the Pacific?

Learn more and Apply Here

Who Should Apply?

Both innovation challenges welcome multidisciplinary teams and organizations capable of developing scalable solutions.

Potential applicants include:

• Startups
• Technology companies
• SMEs
• Universities
• Research institutions
• Non-governmental organizations (NGOs)
• Engineering firms
• Health technology innovators
• Environmental innovators
• Social enterprises
• Innovation hubs
• Multidisciplinary teams
• Independent innovators
• Public-private partnerships

Teams may consist of 1–10 members.

Benefits of Participating

Selected innovators will receive numerous advantages beyond financial support.

These include:

1. Grant Funding

Successful proposals may receive:

• Up to USD 450,000 per pilot project.

Applicants should note that:

• A 10% co-financing contribution is required.

2. Pilot Your Innovation

Participants will have the opportunity to:

• Test solutions under real-world conditions.
• Validate performance in new markets.
• Generate field evidence supporting larger deployment.

3. Collaborate with ADB

Successful applicants will work alongside:

• Asian Development Bank experts
• National governments
• Local implementing partners
• International development stakeholders

4. Build Strategic Networks

Participants gain exposure to:

• Government agencies
• Investors
• Development organizations
• Policy makers
• Industry experts

5. Increase Visibility

Innovators will receive international recognition for their work among key stakeholders throughout Asia and the Pacific.

6. Drive Real Impact

Selected projects have the potential to improve:

• Public health
• Women’s economic empowerment
• Water conservation
• Environmental sustainability
• Urban resilience
• Community livelihoods

Application Timeline

Laundry Transformation Challenge

Concept Note Submission

29 June – 31 August 2026

Full Application and Pilot Pitch

11 September – 23 October 2026

Winners Announced

November 2026

Urban Dengue Control Innovation Challenge

Concept Note Submission

Deadline: 14 August 2026

Full Application and Pilot Pitch

7 September – 9 October 2026

Selected Technology Providers Announced

November–December 2026

Pilot Implementation

January 2027

Information Sessions

Laundry Transformation Challenge

ADB will host an online information session on:

24 July 2026

Time: 4:00 PM Manila Time (GMT+8)

Applicants can attend to:

• Understand the challenge requirements
• Learn about evaluation criteria
• Ask questions directly to the challenge team

Urban Dengue Control Innovation Challenge

Applicants who missed the live webinar can watch the recorded information session featuring:

• Asian Development Bank
• National Dengue Control Unit of Sri Lanka

The recording provides:

• Challenge overview
• Technology guidance
• Frequently asked questions
• Application insights

Why You Should Apply

Innovation has the power to solve some of society’s biggest challenges.

Whether you are developing sustainable household technologies or advanced public health solutions, these ADB Innovation Challenges provide an opportunity to transform your innovation into a real-world solution with regional impact.

Participants will benefit from funding, expert collaboration, pilot implementation opportunities, and international recognition while contributing to healthier communities, gender equality, environmental sustainability, and stronger urban resilience.

If your team has an innovative solution capable of creating lasting impact, this is an excellent opportunity to demonstrate its value on one of the world’s leading development innovation platforms.

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