The gap between what people learn and what employers need is widening faster than institutions can adapt. As AI reshapes jobs and industries, workers are being forced to upskill at an accelerating pace. New research from the IBM Institute For Business Value shows that 67% of executives surveyed believe that job profiles are getting shorter, and that 57% expect that most of the skills currently required by employees will be obsolete by 2030. At the same time, Pearson’s estimates that slow or unclear education-to-work transitions cost the U.S. economy an estimated $1.1 trillion annually.
While millions of people are turning to online courses and certifications to keep pace with the labor market, many education and labor market institutions lack the data infrastructure, tools and capacity to adapt at the same pace. Employers continue to face skills gaps, learners struggle to understand which skills matter most, and public institutions often operate under resource constraints that make modernization difficult. This IBM Impact Accelerator initiative aims to address these challenges by supporting organizations working on how people can learn, upskill and find meaningful work amid rapid economic and AI-driven change.
“Education and labor market systems are under pressure to adapt faster than ever before, yet many lack the resources to do so,” said Justina Nixon-Saintil, vice president and chief impact officer, IBM . “With this global call, IBM is supporting organizations that are using AI to close the gap between learning and work in real time, while strengthening the pathways that connect education to skilled jobs.”
The new cohort will support work that applies AI to systemic challenges in teaching, learning and labor market preparation. Potential projects include AI-powered teaching and assessment tools and personalized learning and career guidance assistants that support learners at various stages. Areas of focus may include data platforms that connect learners to real-world opportunities and simulation or governance environments that help educators and policy makers test and refine responsible AI practices, including forecasting educational needs.
Selected organizations will receive a two-year, no-cost technology and implementation grant, including access to IBM offerings such as IBM watsonx, IBM Granite models, IBM Cloud, IBM Quantum, Red Hat open source technologies, and support from IBM’s ecosystem of researchers, designers and consultants. The group also benefits from the involvement of strategic partner EY, which shares IBM’s commitment to advancing AI-powered solutions for environmentally and economically challenged communities. Non-profit organizations, government agencies and government-owned corporations, and non-profit public or private colleges and universities are eligible to apply. Applicants must be able to work with IBM for a period of two years and conduct project work in English.
The proposal period is now open. Proposals can be submitted via this proposal submission portal until March 25, 2026. Full eligibility requirements, FAQs and application guidelines can be found on this website in the IBM Impact Accelerator Education and Workforce Program Request for Proposals (RFP). Questions can be directed to impact.accelerator@ibm.com.
Launched in 2022, the IBM Impact Accelerator is a social innovation program that offers grants in the form of IBM resources, including AI technology, hybrid cloud solutions and an expert ecosystem, to enhance and expand nonprofit and government initiatives. In 2024, IBM announced it would provide up to $45 million over five years in cash and in-kind donations of technology and services to support populations facing environmental and economic threats around the world. Including the latest Supply Chain Modernization cohort, the program has supported 25 organizations and its projects have directly benefited approximately 2.5 million people in the areas of sustainable agriculture, clean energy, water management and resilient cities.
About IBM
IBM is a leading provider of global hybrid cloud and AI solutions and expert consulting, helping clients in more than 175 countries harness insights from their data, optimize business processes, reduce costs and gain a competitive advantage in their industries. Thousands of public and private organizations in critical infrastructure sectors such as financial services, telecommunications and healthcare rely on IBM’s hybrid cloud platform and Red Hat OpenShift to deliver their digital transformations quickly, efficiently and securely. IBM’s breakthrough innovations in AI, quantum computing, industry-specific cloud solutions and consulting provide our clients with open and flexible options. All this against the backdrop of IBM’s long-standing commitment to trust, transparency, accountability, inclusivity and service.
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