Dentons, the world’s largest law firm, has partnered with ekipa, an open innovation platform, to launch an AI Challenge to develop an innovative AI-based tool to monitor and summarize ESG regulations applicable to the real estate development sector.  The challenge calls on students, researchers, professionals, startups, and SMEs from anywhere in the world to submit their innovative solutions.
As the ESG-related regulatory environment is becoming increasingly complex and is continually changing, real estate investors, developers, and financing institutions find it increasingly challenging to navigate through the ‘regulatory jungle’ and ensure they fulfill their compliance obligations and achieve their sustainability goals.

The solution to be developed should focus on the needs of the various stakeholder groups in real estate development projects – including investors, developers, builders and financial institutions.  It should consider the full range of ESG regulation applicable to large commercial real estate development projects (office buildings, shopping malls, logistics warehouses, etc.) – from sustainable finance, to the environmental impact, to fair labor practices and anti-modern slavery, to name just a few.

“ESG issues are currently at the forefront of corporate thinking, as a source of risk but also opportunity. The regulation around ESG is coming thick and fast and finding global answers to what is required is increasingly challenging,” said Andrea Miskolczi, Europe Director of Innovation. “Without a doubt, digitization and AI can help businesses progress their sustainability efforts, and this AI Challenge that we are launching with ekipa seeks to discover such solutions and bring them to market. We are excited to see what ideas our participants will bring and are ready to leverage our expertise with the winning team to make a change for a more sustainable world.”

The complete brief and participation requirements are available here.