The Future Now
For Children Worldwide

The Future Now
For Children Worldwide

Fondation Botnar is creating a better tomorrow for all children by investing in emerging solutions today.

About

Fondation Botnar acts as a catalyst, connecting diverse partners and investing in scaleable AI and digital innovation to improve the health and wellbeing of children and young people in growing secondary cities around the world.

Our work

AI for child health and wellbeing

We see an opportunity to overcome the gap created by global shortages of health workers by investing in AI and digital solutions to accelerate the transformation of modern healthcare as it moves from the hospital to the home. We work with diverse partners to integrate these solutions into urban spaces.

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Cities fit for children

We are seizing the opportunity inherent in secondary cities to influence and support systemic transformation into smart urban areas fit for children. We see ourselves as a catalyst for change, bringing diverse local partners together with young people to transform secondary cities into thriving and safe urban spaces.

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Learning and entrepreneurship

We collaborate with a diverse range of international partners, funding research worldwide and creating learning hubs in key secondary cities where talent development, innovation and creativity are enabled. To sustain and scale proven solutions, we promote and engage in new business models and innovative financing.

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Our approach

Our approach is emergent and entrepreneurial, highlighting a vision and setting a clear objective for the foundation. Our journey is from a grant maker to a change maker. 

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Impact themes

We have a clear focus for investments. In order to create lasting impact we have selected four impact themes as the core areas where our funding allocation will be made over the coming years.

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Finance & governance

We are a member of SwissFoundations, and we commit to best practice governance in line with the principles and recommendations of the Swiss Foundation Code.

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The Botnar legacy

The foundation was founded in 2003 by Marcela Botnar to continue the philanthropy of herself and late husband, Octav. We remain true to our humble family roots by maintaining their philanthropic legacy and continuing a number of targeted legacy investments.

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The Feed

The Feed is made up of thought leadership, upcoming events, and latest news.
Find out what Fondation Botnar and the sector is saying about the future of healthcare.

The Botnar Healthy Cities for Adolescents Challenge

Fondation Botnar is launching a global initiative that aims to seek proposals for The Botnar Healthy Cities for Adolescents Challenge. The challenge aims to develop and strengthen sustainable and equitable community systems in secondary cities in specific countries.
Improving urban health through digital innovation

Our Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Stefan Germann, writes about the new direction for Fondation Botnar and the importance of improving urban health for young people.
The Botnar Road Safety Challenge

Fondation Botnar funds the Botnar Road Safety Challenge, a program that seeks to reduce road traffic deaths and accidents.
Social Inclusion Intervention: Romania

Fondation Botnar contributes to a partnership run by UNICEF which aims to develop a scalable package of support measures for the vulnerable children.

The Botnar Challenge

Fondation Botnar is launching #TheBotnarChallenge to foster collaboration between young people to find innovative solutions with AI and digital technology to improve the health and wellbeing of young people in Tanzania.
Macron on AI in healthcare

In an interview with WIRED, French President Emmanuel Macron describes his plans to enhance the country's AI efforts—and differentiate them from those in the US.