IBM opens global RFP for AI-driven education and workforce solutions.

IBM has launched a global RFP for the next IBM Impact Accelerator cohort to back AI projects in education and workforce development, with proposals due March 25, 2026.

IBM has opened a global request for proposals (RFP) for the next cohort of its IBM Impact Accelerator, focused on AI for education and workforce development. The program invites nonprofits, government organizations and academic institutions to collaborate on solutions that help people learn more effectively, navigate career transitions, and access jobs. IBM framed the initiative as a response to widening gaps between what people learn and what employers need as AI reshapes jobs and industries. The RFP is open now and proposals can be submitted until March 25, 2026. Key details: - Eligible applicants include nonprofits, government entities and government-owned enterprises, and nonprofit public or private colleges and universities. - Selected organizations will receive a two-year, pro bono technology and implementation grant that includes access to IBM watsonx, Granite AI models, IBM Cloud, IBM Quantum, Red Hat open-source technologies, and support from IBM researchers, designers, and consultants. - The cohort will include participation from strategic ally EY, and applicants must be able to engage with IBM for a two-year period and conduct project work in English. - IBM cited research from the IBM Institute for Business Value that 67% of executives say job roles are becoming shorter-lived and that 57% anticipate most current employee skills will be obsolete by 2030; the article also cited a Pearson estimate that slow education-to-work transitions cost the U.S. economy about $1.1 trillion annually. - The Impact Accelerator, launched in 2022, has supported 25 organizations and reported projects that directly benefited about 2.5 million people; IBM announced a 2024 commitment of up to $45 million in cash and in-kind donations over five years to support affected communities. Summary: The RFP aims to support projects that apply AI to systemic challenges in teaching, learning and workforce preparation, including personalized learning tools, assessment systems, career-guidance assistants and data platforms. Selected organizations will receive pro bono IBM technology and implementation support over two years; proposals are due March 25, 2026. The program builds on previous Impact Accelerator cohorts and IBM’s broader commitments to support nonprofit and government initiatives with AI and hybrid cloud resources.