Code for Earth, ECMWF’s annual innovation programme, has entered its next phase, the Coding Phase, following the evaluation of all submitted proposals.
Run every year since 2018, Code for Earth brings together innovators to collaborate with a community of experts in Earth sciences, computer science, artificial intelligence, and machine learning, developing open-source solutions using ECMWF data and technologies.
Participants are invited to tackle a range of challenges aimed at improving how Earth system data are accessed, analysed, visualised, and communicated, with the goal of addressing some of today’s most pressing environmental, atmospheric, and climate issues. This year’s edition has attracted a strong set of proposals reflecting these objectives, highlighting innovative approaches to using and interpreting Earth system data.
Athina Trakas, ECMWF Innovation Actions and Partnerships Specialist and lead of the Code for Earth Coordination Team, said: “We are really happy with the number of proposals that we received this year and with the quality and diversity of ideas put forward.
"Code for Earth continues to bring together a vibrant community of innovators and experts from across computing, data science, and the Earth sciences. This year, the introduction of the Africa Stream, supported under the EU’s ArcX activity, has further broadened participation and strengthened regionally relevant innovation. We are looking forward to seeing how the selected teams develop their solutions over the coming months.”
Partners and support for the 2026 edition
The programme is organised by ECMWF with support from the Copernicus Climate Change Service, the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service, Destination Earth and the EU’s Africa Regional Centres of Excellence Programme (ArcX), in line with the EU’s Global Gateway strategy.
In 2026, the programme is further strengthened through support from key challenge partners – ENTSO‑E, AfriClimate AI, and ICPAC/IGAD Climate Prediction and Application Centre – reflecting the collaborative nature of the programme. Working closely with ECMWF colleagues, challenge partners help to co‑design and support joint challenges, bringing complementary expertise and broadening the scope and real‑world relevance of the programme.
After reviewing all submissions, the evaluation phase has now been completed and 14 proposals were selected to move forward into the Coding Phase. Until the end of August, selected teams will work closely with mentors from ECMWF and challenge partners to develop and refine their solutions as open-source projects.
Looking ahead to the final event
The programme will conclude with the Code for Earth Final Day, which will take place at ECMWF in Reading, UK, in September 2026.
During this celebratory conclusion to the 2026 edition, participating teams will present their work and demonstrate how their projects could contribute to future environmental, atmospheric, and climate-data applications within ECMWF, partner organisations and the wider open-source community.