The Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area (PRIMA) invites young entrepreneurs and researchers to apply for its 2026 Young Innovators Award. The program recognizes outstanding digital and technological solutions that address sustainability challenges in the Mediterranean region, particularly in the fields of water management, sustainable farming, and the agrifood value chain. Eligible applicants must be under 35 years old and be citizens or residents of a PRIMA participating country, which includes various nations across the European Union and the Southern and Eastern Mediterranean. The award provides a financial prize of €10 thousand to the winner in each category to support the further development or scaling of their innovation. The application deadline is 22 May 2026. Young Innovators Award
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Egis Foundation — Climate Challenge
The Egis Foundation invites applications for the Team Up for Climate challenge to develop innovative solutions for climate change adaptation and resilience. This global competition is open to teams of two to five members consisting of current students or recent graduates from any country and academic discipline. Participants must propose an actionable project focused on a specific local area they know well. The first-place team receives €4,000 plus a €5,000 boost prize after six months of development and a study trip to Paris, while second and third-place winners receive €3,000 and €2,000 respectively in total funding. The deadline for applications is 28 March 2026. Climate Challenge
OPEC Fund for International Development — Young Professional Development Program
The Young Professional Development Program (YPDP) is a two-year program designed to prepare young professionals from OPEC Fund member countries for a career in global development. The themes include poverty reduction, energy and sustainable development, environment, and other related science and technology fields. YPDP offers training, coaching and mentoring, the opportunity to experience different departments and access to professional networks. To be selected for the program, applicants must be 30 years of age (or younger) and hold a Master’s degree. The deadline for applications is 11 April 2026. More about the YPDP
Youth4Climate — Solutions and Climate Action
The Youth4Climate Call for Solutions supports innovative projects led by young people aged 18 to 29 that address climate challenges in areas such as sustainable energy, food and agriculture, and the blue economy. Eligible applicants include individual youth and youth-led organizations from around the world. Selected solutions receive a US$30 thousand grant for implementation over a maximum of 24 months, alongside technical mentorship and capacity-building support. The application deadline is 30 April 2026. Link to Youth4Climate
VivaTech — Next Startupper Award
VivaTech organizes the Next Startupper Award to celebrate student entrepreneurs driving positive change through technological innovation. The competition is open to current students from any country who have founded a tech-oriented startup or project less than three years ago that demonstrates a clear social or environmental impact. Finalists receive four-day VIP speaker passes to the event in Paris and the opportunity to pitch their solutions to industry experts. The grand prize winner receives a €5,000 cash prize and a dedicated startup corner at the 2027 edition of VivaTech. The deadline for applications is 09 March 2026. More information
World Bank Group — Youth Summit 2026
The World Bank Group hosts the Youth Summit Pitch Competition to support young innovators developing solutions for the future of work. Individuals or teams of up to five members, aged 18 to 35, from World Bank member countries are eligible to apply with projects focused on education, entrepreneurship, or agriculture. While there is no direct cash prize, finalists receive travel support to present their ideas at the World Bank headquarters in Washington, D.C., along with specialized coaching and post-summit mentoring from International Finance Corporation (IFC) experts. The deadline for applications is 11 March 2026. Know more
United Nations Environment Program — Young Champions of the Earth
The Young Champions of the Earth honors environmental entrepreneurs with innovative ideas for the planet. Individuals between the ages of 18 and 30 from all global regions are eligible to apply, provided they have at least six months of experience working on their environmental project. Winners receive US$10 thousand in funding, along with mentorship, workshops, and a smartphone multimedia production kit to document their progress over a one-year period. Additionally, winners may compete in a pitch competition for a Planet A grant of up to US$100 thousand. The deadline for applications is 31 March 2026. Young Champions of the Earth
Bow Seat — Ocean Awareness Contest
Bow Seat invites applications for the Ocean Awareness Contest to engage students in environmental conservation through creative expression. The program encourages participants to explore the connection between human activities and the health of the ocean through categories such as visual art, creative writing, film, interactive and multimedia, and performing arts. Eligible applicants include students worldwide between the ages of 11 and 18. The contest offers various cash awards, with gold prize winners receiving US$1,000, silver winners receiving US$750, and bronze winners receiving US$500. The contest deadline is 08 June 2026. Ocean Awareness Contest
Roots — Micro-Grants
The Roots Micro-Grants Program supports youth-led projects to empower voices from the Global South to advocate for climate justice. The program provides grants of up to US$10 thousand to initiatives that prioritize climate justice and social equity. The program will provide grants for between 10-15 grassroots youth-led initiatives, with a focus on groups in Latin America, the Caribbean, the Middle East, North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa, Southeast Asia, and South Asia. The group/organization does not need to be legally registered in order to be eligible to apply. The application deadline is 28 February 2026. Details here
AFS Intercultural Programs — Global STEM Accelerator
The Global STEM Accelerator is a program for women and girls who desire to learn more about STEM fields that men traditionally dominate. Scholarship winners will participate in 12-week all-virtual programs focusing on emerging and critical STEM skills and fields, global competence education, and social impact. Applicants must be young women ages 15-17.5 years old. The application deadline is 15 April 2026. Global STEM Accelerator