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The new World Economic Forum report, “A Framework for the Future of Real Estate,” acts as a road map for industry change. Developed with global real estate chief executives, the framework provides a pathway to transform buildings and cities to become liveable, sustainable, resilient and affordable.

The framework includes the following case studies from industry:

Industry leaders have already taken decisive action towards transformation throughout the real estate industry. Gensler’s GC3 Commitment aims to achieve net zero by 2030 in all Gensler projects and JLL’s work with the Washington Metro will provide clean energy to more than 1,500 homes.

Swire Properties has joined the Business Ambition for 1.5°C campaign and Lendlease has pledged to harness digitization to be net carbon zero by 2025 and absolute carbon zero by 2040.

Majid Al Futtaim has become the first and only conglomerate in the world to achieve LEED Platinum certification for its entire portfolio of hotels.

Signify has embraced sustainability and resilience by developing and deploying UV-C disinfection systems, an energy efficient and chemical-free way to sanitize buildings.

Schneider Electric has set clear, measurable 2025 targets around sustainability to achieve 80% green revenues, deliver 800 million tons of saved and avoided emissions to their customers and have 1000 of their top suppliers reduce emissions by 50% from their operations.

Read more about the Framework for Action here.

On 1 April 2021, the Engage innovation hub of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) has announced the Transform Fund 4th Call for Innovation 2021, focusing entirely on supporting IsDB Member Countries’ response to recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic with the aim of building a stronger, more resilient, and prosperous future.

To address challenges related to COVID-19, this year the 4th Transform Fund Call for Innovation has been dedicated to support the development and transfer of innovative technologies that can contribute to building resilient value chains through boosting local manufacturing capacity of IsDB Member Countries for the production of COVID-19 related innovations.

The call provides funding opportunities through grant and equity ranging from US$ 100,000 to US$ 1 million to scientists, innovators, startups, researchers, public, not-for-profit, and biotechnology companies and research and development institutions across the globe, which have proposals that innovatively contribute to global security of COVID-19 vaccines.

The $500 million Transform Fund, launched in 2018, invests in testing early-stage innovative ideas and in scaling innovation by providing seed money for innovators, entrepreneurs, startups, SMEs, and institutions. IsDB Engage provides needed initial funding or growth capital to develop and commercialize innovations that will generate economic and social impact.

The call remains open for application submission from 1 April 2021 to 31 May 2021.

"Top innovators set aspirational goals aligned with corporate strategy, along with specific value creation targets that inspire teams to invent better ways to serve customers and society."

Read more about what it takes to innovate and close the innovation readiness gap in BCG's annual rankings.

Among the top 50 are a host of World Economic Forum partners, leading the way in setting clear ambitions, establishing the right paying fields, prioritizing performance management, pushing project management and developing talent and culture.