Artificial intelligence is already shaping how people seek health information. People are asking AI about HIV. About risk. About testing. About privacy.

The question is not whether AI will influence HIV prevention. The question is: Who shapes it - and how?

Burnett Foundation Aotearoa is launching the Burnett Innovation Challenge to explore how AI can responsibly support HIV prevention and care - without compromising dignity, privacy or cultural sovereignty.

We are not waiting to see what AI does to us, we are shaping what AI does for us.

Why this matters

HIV has never been a simple public health issue. It sits at the intersection of:

• Sexuality
• Culture
• Migration
• Misinformation
• Power
• Stigma

AI now enters that intersection. AI systems can:

• Amplify bias
• Spread misinformation
• Expose vulnerability

Or they can be designed differently.

Aotearoa is closer than ever to achieving zero HIV transmission. Biomedical tools are highly effective. The remaining barriers are social, behavioural and digital - including stigma and trust.

Responsible innovation could help us get there.

What is the Innovation Challenge?

The Burnett Innovation Challenge will fund two selected concepts to develop AI-enabled tools that operate safely within high-trust environments. Each selected team will receive:

• Seed funding (approximately $30,000 per concept)
• Access to epidemiological insight and domain expertise
• Structured engagement with community-informed perspectives
• Clear ethical and privacy guardrails
• Respect for Māori and Pacific data sovereignty

This is not about surveillance. It is about building trust-led innovation grounded in care.

Who we’re seeking

We are looking for a small number of serious innovators who understand that complexity is not a barrier - it is the design brief. We welcome:

• AI and tech founders
• Digital health startups
• Engineers and data scientists
• UX and product teams
• Social impact technologists
• University labs and research groups

If you are building responsibly in AI and want to work where public health, stigma and technology collide - we want to talk with you.

Solutions developed through this Challenge may have applicability beyond HIV - into mental health, sexual health and other high-trust domains globally.

Applications are now open for the innovation challenge!

• Download our Application Guide.
• Apply here.
• Got a question? Email us at [email protected]

Our commitments

Trust is fragile. Innovation must strengthen it - not undermine it. Throughout this challenge, we are committed to ensuring that:

• Our services and support for clients remain unchanged.
• Community voice is embedded from the beginning.
• Privacy and dignity are non-negotiable.
• Te Tiriti and data sovereignty principles are foundational.
• Zero HIV transmission in Aotearoa remains our goal.

FAQs

How is the development funding of up to $30,000 (GST exclusive) structured?

Development funding is intended to support a short, focused prototype phase between June and July 2026.

Funding will generally be provided in stages rather than as a single upfront payment. This is likely to include:

• an initial payment following contracting and project commencement
• one or more milestone-linked payments during development
• a final payment following delivery of agreed prototype outputs

The exact structure will be confirmed with selected teams during contracting.

Who owns the intellectual property developed through the Innovation Challenge?

Partners retain ownership of intellectual property developed through the Challenge.

Burnett Foundation Aotearoa requires a perpetual, non-exclusive licence to use funded solutions for mission-related purposes. These include prevention, testing engagement, treatment support, stigma reduction, education, community outreach, and service delivery.

This approach allows partners to continue developing and commercialising their solutions beyond the Challenge.

What happens if a proposed solution uses open-source technology?

Solutions that incorporate open-source components are welcome.

The requirement for a perpetual, non-exclusive licence applies to the solution as delivered and to the partner’s original contribution. It does not override the licence terms of third-party open-source software.

Applicants should ensure that any open-source components used are compatible with this type of deployment environment.

Can applicants independently recruit Burnett clients or community members for testing?

Applicants should not independently recruit Burnett clients or priority community participants during the application stage.

This reflects the sensitive nature of the work and Burnett’s responsibility to ensure engagement is safe, appropriate, and consistent with privacy and cultural expectations.

If a proposal is selected, Burnett may support appropriate engagement with relevant communities where this is needed for development and testing.

Teams that already have established relationships with relevant communities are welcome to describe these in their application.

What level of functionality is expected from prototypes by the end of the development phase?

The Innovation Challenge supports early-stage prototype development, not production-ready deployment.

A strong prototype will typically demonstrate:

• a clear working concept
• a credible technical approach
• meaningful progress toward real-world usability
• appropriate consideration of privacy, safety, and trust
• a realistic pathway toward further development or deployment

In many cases this will involve a functioning coded prototype or early deployable tool. In some cases, a high-fidelity interactive prototype may be appropriate if it clearly demonstrates feasibility and intended user interaction.

Assessment will consider whether the proposed outputs represent a realistic and valuable step toward a usable solution within the scope of seed-stage support.

Can international teams apply?

Yes.

International teams are welcome to apply. However, proposals must demonstrate a strong understanding of the Aotearoa context and how the solution will operate safely and appropriately within it.

Partnership with New Zealand-based organisations or advisors may strengthen an application.

Do applicants need to attend a briefing session to apply?

No.

Briefing sessions are optional and are intended to help applicants understand the Challenge and ask questions. Attending a session is not required in order to submit an application.

How many teams will be selected?

The Challenge expects to support a small number of high-potential teams.

The final number selected will depend on the strength and suitability of proposals received.

Does Burnett Foundation Aotearoa take equity in funded projects?

No.

Funding provided through the Innovation Challenge does not involve equity investment.

Burnett may explore opportunities to support future development pathways with selected teams, but participation in any future investment activity would be subject to separate discussion and agreement.

Can existing products apply?

The Challenge is designed to support new ideas or early-stage solutions.

Proposals based on existing platforms or tools may be suitable where the Challenge funding enables meaningful new functionality aligned with the Challenge objectives.

Fully developed commercial products without a clear development component are unlikely to be competitive.

What kinds of solutions are out of scope?

Solutions that involve:

• surveillance-style monitoring
• enforcement or eligibility decision-making
• unsafe or extractive data practices
• marketing-only approaches
• activity without a clear AI or advanced data component

are unlikely to be suitable for this Challenge.