The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, through the Grand Challenges Initiative, invites innovators, organizations, and institutions worldwide to apply for a new funding opportunity aimed at transforming maternal and child nutrition in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

This call seeks bold, scalable innovations that will dramatically reduce the cost of essential nutrient ingredients and prenatal supplements—ensuring that every mother and child, regardless of where they live, can access the nutrients needed to survive and thrive.

Malnutrition remains one of the most severe threats to maternal and child health in LMICs. Nutrient deficiencies during pregnancy and the first 1,000 days of life can lead to irreversible developmental challenges, higher mortality, reduced productivity, and long-term health issues.

Although proven nutrition interventions exist, high production costs and limited manufacturing capacity make many nutrient products unaffordable in vulnerable regions. The nutrients prioritized in this challenge are:

• Calcium

• Choline

• Omega-3 DHA (docosahexaenoic acid)

Despite strong global recommendations from WHO, EFSA, AAP, and other authorities, many pregnant women worldwide are unable to meet recommended intake levels due to cost barriers.

About the Low-Cost Nutrients Challenge

This initiative calls for transformative solutions—not incremental changes. Applicants are expected to propose innovations that reduce nutrient ingredient or product costs by at least 50% while maintaining high standards of safety, stability, and consumer acceptability.

Projects may target improvements in:

• Raw material science

• Biotechnology and fermentation

• Manufacturing processes

• Packaging

• End-to-end product innovation

The goal is to create sustainable, affordable nutrition solutions suited for LMIC health systems.

Focus Areas (Apply Under One Option)

Option A: Exceptionally Low-Cost Nutrient Ingredients

Develop low-cost versions of calcium, choline, or DHA ingredients.

Requirements:

• ≥50% cost reduction from current lowest market prices

• Meet pharmacopeial standards & ICH Q7 GMP

• Stable, allergen-free, and culturally inclusive (halal, kosher, vegetarian)

Option B: Low-Cost Prenatal Supplement (UNIMMAP + Calcium)

Develop a prenatal supplement costing less than US$2 per 180-day regimen.

Requirements:

• Informed by consumer research

• 3-month real-time and 6-month accelerated stability (ICH Q1 Zone IVb)

• Preferably WHO-GMP compliant

Option C: Advanced Prenatal Supplement (MMSplus)

Formulate an advanced prenatal supplement including:

• UNIMMAP MMS

• 500 mg calcium

• 100 mg nicotinamide

• 450 mg choline

• 200 mg DHA
  
  Requirements:

• Flexible dosage formats

• Consumer-informed product development

• Stability demonstrated under ICH Q1 Zone IVb

Funding Levels

Indirect costs should not exceed 10–15% of the total budget.

Eligibility

The challenge is open globally to:

• Nonprofit organizations

• For-profit companies

• Government agencies

• International organizations

• Universities and research institutions

Applicants must apply through a legally recognized corporate entity. Collaboration with LMIC partners is strongly encouraged.

What Successful Proposals Should Demonstrate

Successful proposals will demonstrate bold thinking, technical rigor, and a pathway to scale. Specifically, we are seeking proposals that will:

• Transformative cost-reduction strategies (≥50%)

• Clear technical roadmap and feasibility

• Scalable solutions supported by cost modelling (e.g., 3 million regimens/year)

• Strong team expertise

• Consideration for LMIC manufacturing and cultural inclusivity

• Consumer-informed product design

• Realistic and justified budgets

We encourage applicants to identify and build collaborations with organizations that bring complementary expertise. Where appropriate, the Foundation may facilitate connections among applicants working on related challenges

What Will Not Be Funded

Proposals based on the following will not be funded:

• Procurement or bulk purchasing strategies

• Minor, incremental improvements

• Delivery models without product innovation

• Nutrients/products outside the specified scope