About the Zero Project
A research driven approach to sharing solutions beyond borders
The Zero Project's approach is research-driven and aims to identify, curate, and share inclusive solutions, as intended and encouraged by Article 32 of the United Nations (UN) Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). In order to achieve this objective, the Zero Project engages with a worldwide cross-sectoral network of innovators, decision-makers, and opinion leaders.
Each year, the Zero Project resaerches, selects, and awards innovative solutions from around the world that support the rights and lives of persons with disabilities.
More than 6,000 experts, with and without disabilities, in over 100 countries have been actively contributing to the Zero Project in the past decades. In essence, the Zero Project's unique research method is based on a collaborative, cross-sectoral platform approach and has been co-created with the support of this Global Network.
The research is centred around the following four topics in a 4-year cycle:
- Independent Living and Political Participation (2015, 2019, 2023)
- Education (2016, 2020)
- Employment (2017, 2021)
- Accessibility (2018, 2022)
Since 2020, in addition to these four topics, ICT (Information and Communication Technologies) is covered every year.
Find more information on our research process
The Zero Project Database
Facts and figures
800+
Solutions
650+
Organizations
120+
Countries
6000+
experts
The Zero Project has collected all these inclusive and innovative Solutions in a vast database that is available to the public free-of-charge — The Zero Project Database.
The Zero Project Database is based on inclusive web design principles to make it widely accessible. It encourages people and organizations to engage and connect, in order to maximize the impact of these proven innovations across the globe.
Building a global ecosystem for Disability Inclusion
“Competition is a good thing, but collaborating with a competitive edge is better, and for me the Zero Project has created a global family which has a very big vision to truly transform the lives of persons with disabilities in the world, and is welcoming of anybody and everybody who shares those values to help that change happen.”
Creating opportunities to share and engage with inclusive solutions
To further amplify the research efforts, the Zero Project seeks to build out ecosystems within the disability inclusion world through a global network of experts, decision-makers, organizations, and innovators.
The annual Zero Project Conference is a global gathering and hosted within the premises of the United Nations Office at Vienna. The Conferences are the most visible activities by the Zero Project. However, the Zero Project is involved in a multitude of other activities and initiatives: