The Rolex Awards for Enterprise were initiated in 1976. The awards honor exceptional men and women who are breaking new ground to advance creative and socially important projects in environment, applied technology, and other categories of innovation.
The Rolex Young Laureates Program began in 2010. It identifies creative pioneers between 18 and 30 years old, and provides them with funding and encouragement to implement their original ideas and become tomorrow’s leaders.
A high proportion of Rolex Awards are given to individuals working in or for the benefit of the developing countries.
Grant Programs for Agriculture, Energy, Environment, Natural Resources
Rolex Awards for Enterprise. The Rolex Awards seek outstanding initiatives in the following fields:
Saving Fragile Ecosystems — This category is for individuals who are pioneers in protecting or improving natural and physical surroundings. Past laureates and associate laureates in this category include conservation biologists; social activists promoting environmental causes; and others.
Electronic Eyes in the Wild – The theme focuses on using technologies to track animals, especially endangered species, as a means to understand their life cycles and geographical ranges.
Protecting Threatened Birds – The theme focuses on scientific research and conservation projects that protect threatened birds and their habitats.
Elegant Solutions — Past laureates and associate laureates include inventors and promoters of technologies in renewable energy, small-scale agriculture, alternative transportation, ecological housing, prevention of natural disasters, water supply, and others.
Other themes — Other themes are Enterprise in India; Perilous Journeys; Power of Education; and Empowering Women. Some awards in these fields have cross-cutting links with agriculture, energy, environment, and natural resources.About themes
Rolex Awards are open to individuals of all nationalities and backgrounds. Applicants need to explain how they will use the Rolex Award to advance the impact of their projects.
Each Laureate receives CHF200 thousand. Each Young Laureate receives CHF50 thousand. In recent years, Rolex selects five winners in each category.
APPLICATION: Rolex describes the awards, the selection committee, the selection criteria, eligibility requirements, and details about submitting applications.
Applicants submit pre-applications online in English, according to a calendar schedule. Rolex invites some of these pre-applicants to submit full proposals.
About how to apply
Geographical Distribution of Grant Activities in Developing Countries
Worldwide
The Rolex Mentor and Protégé Arts Initiative seeks young talented artists from all over the world and provides one-to-one mentoring.
September 2021