The International Rescue Committee (IRC, Korean representative Eun-young Lee), a global humanitarian organization that rescues hope in times of crisis, was selected in the non-profit category as one of the 'World's Most Innovative Companies of 2025' announced by the American economic magazine Fast Company on the 18th (local time).
Fast Company annually publishes a list of the 'World's Most Innovative Companies', selecting companies that have shown the most innovative performance in 58 sectors, including AI, sustainability, education, healthcare, and climate response. This year, 609 companies were included. Among them, the International Rescue Committee ranked highest among humanitarian organizations and was ranked 6th in the non-profit sector, along with global innovative companies such as OpenAI, Nvidia, and Duolingo.
Fast Company highly praised the International Rescue Committee for maximizing the efficiency and effectiveness of humanitarian aid to flood-stricken areas in Nigeria through the AI and data-based 'Anticipatory Action Program' developed in collaboration with Google. In fact, the International Rescue Committee accounts for only 3% of the global humanitarian aid budget, but conducts 25% of research analyzing the effectiveness of humanitarian aid and 33% of research evaluating the actual impact of aid. In this way, it is seeking the optimal humanitarian aid method based on scientific research and data, and is taking the lead in establishing global standards.
In addition to the climate crisis preemptive response program that has recently drawn attention, the International Rescue Committee is providing various innovative humanitarian solutions using AI and cutting-edge technologies. Representative programs include ▲'Signpost', an AI-based digital support platform that provides real-time reliable information on safe evacuation routes, legal support, and medical services to forced migrants; ▲'VR&P (Virtual Reception and Placement)', a remote system that provides housing, job, and education information to refugees in the U.S. to help them settle down; ▲'aprendIA', an AI education chatbot that provides personalized learning opportunities to students in crisis areas; and ▲'Dioptra', a solution that helps analyze the cost-effectiveness of humanitarian aid programs.
“With growing needs and shrinking budgets for humanitarian assistance, innovation is no longer an option but a necessity,” said Dr. Jeannie Annan, the International Rescue Committee’s Chief Research and Innovation Officer and co-founder of its research lab, Airbell Impact Lab. “The International Rescue Committee is committed to leveraging cutting-edge technologies to deliver humanitarian assistance in more effective and efficient ways, and we are honored to be recognized for this effort.”
Eunyoung Lee, Korea representative of the International Rescue Committee, said, “This selection shows that innovative approaches using data and AI are becoming more important in humanitarian aid amid rapidly changing international situations, including the US suspension of foreign aid.” She added, “We will continue to work with companies, government agencies, and research institutes with technological capabilities to advance technology-based humanitarian aid solutions and do our best to provide practical assistance to more people even within a limited budget.”
Meanwhile, the International Rescue Committee previously won the Best Design Award in the Europe, Middle East and Africa category at the '2024 Innovation by Design Awards' selected by Fast Company for the early childhood education program 'Ahlan Simsim' in collaboration with Sesame Workshop. The program, which began in 2018, has been providing early childhood development and playful learning to children in the Middle East at risk, and to date, 29 million children have learned how to regulate emotions such as fear through the Arabic version of Sesame Street. This is evaluated as one of the largest early childhood education programs in humanitarian history, contributing to expanding early learning opportunities and eliminating education gaps.
More information about the International Rescue Committee's innovative humanitarian solutions can be found on its official website .
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