Science for
Social Good

Applying artificial intelligence, cloud and deep science to scale social impact.

Applied science can help solve the world’s toughest problems and inspire business innovation

Launched in 2016, IBM Science for Social Good partners IBM Research scientists and engineers with academic fellows, subject matter experts from a diverse range of non-governmental organizations (NGOs), public sector agencies, and social enterprises to tackle emerging societal challenges using science and technology. The Science for Social Good program is built on the premise that applied science and technology can solve the world’s toughest problems by accelerating the rate and pace of solutions through the scientific method.

28

Projects

IBM Science for Social Good has executed 28 projects, from detecting new epidemics and diseases and understanding the causes of opioid addiction recognizing hate speech, and accelerating scientific discovery. 

19

Partnerships

IBM Science for Social Good has partnered with 19 organizations. Partners include innovative NGOs, social enterprises, and government agencies. 

9

Patents Pending

While working to solve some of the toughest challenges facing our world, novel solutions resulted in 9 pending patents.

47

Published Papers

IBM Science for Social Good has generated 47  published research papers since its launch in 2016. Many of the papers have been accepted by major research conferences. 

36

Fellowships

IBM Science for Social Good has awarded 36 fellowships since 2016 and contributed over 13k hours advancing partner projects.  

114

IBM Volunteer Scientists

IBM Researchers from our 12 global labs volunteer their time to support the IBM Science for Social Good projects by working with both the student fellows and partner organizations.

Explore our projects

New projects for 2019

The IBM Science for Social Good program is pleased to announce its 2019 partnerships and projects. This year's projects aim to tackle multiple pressing social issues ranging from healthcare to poverty.

PROJECT NAME PARTNER ORGANIZATION(S) EXPLORE
Prescribing Guidelines for Addressing the Opioid Epidemic Watson Health, Truven Health Analytics
Causal Pathways Out of Poverty CityLink Center
Repurposing Drugs for Cancer Treatment Cures Within Reach for Cancer
Fairness in AI-based skin cancer diagnosis IBM Research
Trustworthy AI Pentathlon IBM Research

All projects

Since 2016, IBM Science for Social Good has executed 28 projects, from understanding disease epidemics, to creating antimicrobial peptides, to modeling hate speech, to developing cognitive counselors that guide people out of poverty. We've done so by relying on more than 110 of our researchers who have volunteered their unique skills, expertise and passions to these projects. We've also contributed 47 scientific papers and awarded 36 Social Good student fellowships.

PROJECT NAME PARTNER ORGANIZATION(S) EXPLORE
Prescribing Guidelines for Addressing the Opioid Epidemic Watson Health, Truven Health Analytics
Causal Pathways Out of Poverty CityLink Center
Repurposing Drugs for Cancer Treatment Cures Within Reach for Cancer
Fairness in AI-based skin cancer diagnosis IBM Research
Trustworthy AI Pentathlon IBM Research
Fair Financial Inclusion and Transfer Learning IBM Research
Optimized Fairness Pre-Processing IBM Research
Winning Video Games “Morally" IBM Research
Cognitive Disease Hunter Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies
Ask Nature for Design Inspiration Biomimicry Institute
Food Assistance Best Practice: The Digital Experience St. John’s Bread & Life
Simpler Voice: Overcoming Illiteracy Literacy Coalition of Central Texas
Cognitive Policy Advisor Pardee Center for International Futures
Open Discovery Platform for a Multiple Sclerosis Cure Accelerated Cure Project for Multiple Sclerosis
Cognitive Financial Advisor for Low-Wage Workers Neighborhood Trust Financial Partners
Neurology-as-a-Service Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
Using AI for Smarter, Sustainable Development United Nations Development Programme, International Center for Advocates Against Discrimination
Demystifying Social Entrepreneurship Echoing Green
Changing Behaviors to Conserve Energy International Center for Appropriate and Sustainable Technology
Recognize Hate Speech United Nations Global Pulse
Creating New Antibiotics of Last Resort IBM Research
Hunting Zika Virus with Machine Learning Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies
What Works in Global Development? Clinton Global Initiative
Disseminate the Best Treatment for Diarrhea Clinton Health Access Initiative
Real-Time Understanding of Humanitarian Crises ACAPS (Assessment Capacities Project)
How to Foster Innovation IBM Research
Trusted Models and Results IBM Research

Partner with us

Projects are conducted in collaboration with partner organizations who work with us to define the problems and commit to using the results. If you are an innovative NGO, social enterprise or government agency facing challenging problems and would like to work with us to tackle them using artificial intelligence, please contact us. 

Contact us at good@us.ibm.com

Become an IBM Science for Social Good Student Fellow

The Science for Social Good program is built on the premise that applied science and technology can address the world’s biggest challenges. IBM Science for Social Good offers summer fellowships for graduate students and postdoctoral fellowships.

Benefits

  • Collaborate with and learn from renowned researchers
  • Work on an important problem for the social good
  • Hone your data science skills
  • Complete a project to showcase in your portfolio
  • Have fun and bond with other fellows
  • Receive a competitive stipend

Requirements

  • Bachelor’s Degree (or higher)
  • At least 2 years of experience in predictive modeling, machine learning, data science, data mining, pattern recognition, design, mobile development or visualization.

Learn more about IBM Research

At IBM Research, we invent things that matter to the world. We power the breakthroughs that define industries in the age of information technology, such as cloud and blockchain, for almost 75 years. We tackle the toughest challenges facing the world today with tools built on artificial intelligence and other foundations. And we create technologies like quantum computing that will transform both business and society tomorrow.

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