Building Tomorrow Scholarship 2025: supported by Holcim to attend the One Young World Summit 2025

About the Scholarship  

Safely unlocking the potential of artificial intelligence is crucial to ensuring the sustainable development of urban environments in a rapidly evolving world. Optimised efficiency, precision, and the use of disruptive technologies have the potential to propel the construction industry forward at an unprecedented rate, but these technologies must also ensure the sustainability and resilience of these advancements. Energy optimisation, waste reduction, and eco-friendly design are some of the many areas in which AI can help mitigate the environmental impact of urban environments. Equally, as the impacts of climate change intensify, proactively identifying risks through predictive analytics and fortifying infrastructure against natural disasters become essential.

At Holcim, we are committed to pushing the boundaries of innovation to shape the future of building and make it work for people and the planet. However, we acknowledge that these technologies must be deployed responsibly to ensure that development remains sustainable and equitable, and to mitigate potential societal risks. Collaborative efforts involving all sectors are crucial to establishing regulatory frameworks and ethical guidelines to harness AI for sustainable development effectively.

In line with this, Holcim is pleased to partner once again with One Young World to offer the Holcim Scholarship, this year focusing on broadening the conversation around AI and its uses in promoting sustainability and urban resilience. The programme will enable an interdisciplinary cohort of five young leaders to participate in the upcoming One Young World Summit 2025 in Munich as part of Holcim’s global delegation. In particular, this scholarship will support young leaders who are making an impact in one of the following areas: 

• Deploying disruptive AI technologies for sustainable construction e.g. improving operational efficiency, material selection, waste management, environmentally-friendly building designs, or energy efficiency. 

• Employing AI solutions for urban resilience e.g. in disaster prediction and management, traffic management systems, infrastructure maintenance, or climate adaptation planning. 

• Ensuring the responsible deployment of AI in urban development, e.g. by establishing regulatory and policy frameworks, community engagement and awareness initiatives, or fostering interdisciplinary collaboration.

What is One Young World? 

We stage an annual Summit where the most valuable young talent from global and national companies, NGOs, universities and other forward-thinking organisations are joined by world leaders, acting as the One Young World Counsellors.

Delegates participate in four transformative days of speeches, panels, networking and workshops. All delegates have the opportunity to apply to give keynote speeches, sharing a platform with world leaders with the world’s media in attendance. As well as listening to keynote speakers, delegates have the opportunity to challenge world leaders, interact and be mentored by influencers. Delegates make lasting connections throughout the Summit, celebrating their participation at social events and the unforgettable Opening and Closing Ceremonies.

After each Summit, the delegates, who are then known as One Young World Ambassadors, work on their own initiatives or lend the power of the One Young World network to those initiatives already in existence. Of those in employment, many returns to their companies and set about creating change from within, energising their corporate environment.