Khoch3 KlimaKarten receives support from Google.org for government innovation

Cologne, Germany, September 15, 2026: Today, Khoch3 KlimaKarten has been announced as a recipient of Google.org's $30 million Google.org Impact Challenge: AI for Government Innovation to support organizations building AI tools for public services. The funding has been awarded to 15 nonprofits, social enterprises and academic institutions around the world that are partnering directly with governments to use AI to improve public services for communities, from everyday essential services to complex societal challenges. Organizations will also participate in a dedicated Google.org Accelerator, receiving pro bono support from Google engineers and product experts to build human-centered AI tools. Google.org is excited to support Khoch3 KlimaKarten as they leverage AI towards driving societal impact for communities, and plans to continue funding meaningful initiatives that exemplify AI's ability to transform how public services function for social good.

Minister-President Hendrik Wüst: “North Rhine-Westphalia is a start-up state – and Khoch3 KlimaKarten impressively demonstrates what is possible when an entrepreneurial spirit, technical expertise, and a strong start-up landscape come together. The summer of 2026 clearly showed the consequences of increasing heat and extreme weather conditions: droughts, forest fires, low water levels, and heavy rainfall pose major challenges for our municipalities. The best protection against such extreme weather conditions remains resolute climate action and climate change adaptation. It is precisely at the local level that innovative and practical solutions are needed. With KomAdapt, the young Cologne-based start-up makes it possible to design climate change adaptation in our municipalities in a way that is more predictable, more efficient, and more sustainable. The fact that a start-up from North Rhine-Westphalia – founded only in 2024 and funded by North Rhine-Westphalian state and EU resources – is now receiving such international recognition is a tremendous distinction, both for the company and for North Rhine-Westphalia as hub of innovation and entrepreneurship. Khoch3 KlimaKarten is thus a beacon for the start-up scene in North Rhine-Westphalia. Warm congratulations to the entire team!”

“By making climate adaptation assessments fast and accessible, GECAA empowers governments all over Europe to get into action, foster resilience and improve quality of living. With support from Google.org, we can turn weeks of manual evaluation into minutes, for every municipality, independently of prior knowledge and budgets,” said Nils Derboven, Managing Director of Khoch3 KlimaKarten.

“AI holds incredible potential to transform public services, but there is often a gap between promise and practice,” said Maggie Johnson, Global Head of Google.org. “By equipping the 15 selected organizations with funding and pro bono support from Google's own AI experts, we are empowering the people closest to the problem to show what is truly possible. Together, we can ensure that AI makes a profound, positive difference in the everyday lives of communities worldwide.”

With this support, Khoch3 KlimaKarten is building the Governmental Engine for Climate Adaptation Action (GECAA), which answers the two questions every municipal officer faces: “Can I implement this measure here?” and “What measures protect this community best?” GECAA evaluates regulatory eligibility, technical compliance, physical feasibility and cost for a specific location and returns a ranked, comparable set of options, cutting evaluation times from 2 to 4 weeks to under 5 minutes, with every report fully cited: legal references, engineering standards, spatial feasibility maps, 20-year cost projections and matched funding programs. GECAA will be piloted with municipalities including Kreis Mettmann. For more information about Khoch3 KlimaKarten's work, visit https://www.khoch3klimakarten.de/gecaa.