Nominations are open for the World Summit Awards (WSA) and the WSA Young Innovators Awards (young social entrepreneurs under 26 years of age). Start-ups and social entrepreneurs are asked to submit their local digital innovations with high social impact. The 8 award categories include one on Environment & Green Energy (climate, sustainable resources, agriculture). The winner does not receive a monetary award but does benefit from partnerships and integrations. Applications are accepted from companies, organizations, or individuals. The deadline to apply for WSA and WSA Young Innovators is 15 October 2026. (Deadlines for national submission of applications for WSA may vary locally.) Find out more
awards/prizes
UNESCO — Prize for Young Scientists
UNESCO invites nominations for the third edition of the UNESCO-Al Fozan International Prize for the Promotion of Young Scientists in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). The prize recognizes five outstanding young researchers from any country who have made significant contributions to STEM education, research, or international cooperation. Eligible nominees must be under 40 years of age at the time of nomination and must be put forward by official nominators, such as national commissions, academic institutions, or international organizations. Each of the five laureates receives a cash award of US$50 thousand alongside a diploma and a medal. The deadline for nominations is 30 November 2026. Prize for Young Scientists
Alexander von Humboldt Foundation — Research Fellowship for Brazilian Postdoctoral Researchers
The CAPES‑Humboldt Research Fellowship supports postdoctoral and experienced researchers from Brazil (and German nationals permanently based in Brazil) with fully funded research stays in Germany. Monthly stipends are approximately €2,700–€2,600 for postdoctoral fellows and €3,200–€3,100 for experienced researchers, with additional benefits such as research grants, travel allowances, family support, and optional German language courses. This fellowship is ideal for Brazilian researchers seeking to advance their careers through collaborative research in Germany across any discipline. The application deadline is 30 November 2026. CAPES‑Humboldt Research Fellowship
The Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering Foundation — Prize for Engineering Innovations
The Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering accepts nominations of ground-breaking innovations in engineering from all around the world which have been of benefit to humanity. In the scope of the Terra Viva Grants Directory, this may include innovations in the fields of sustainable energy, water management and/or agriculture. The winner will receive £500 thousand to advance their project. Self nominations are not permitted. The closing date to submit nominations is 26 June 2026. Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering
World Academy of Sciences — Young Scientists Award for Frontier Science
The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS) recognizes the scientific achievements of young scientists living and working in a developing country. The third edition of the TWAS-CAS award will recognize achievements in Earth Sciences. The award is worth US$10 thousand. TWAS invites nominations from science academies, national research councils, universities, and scientific institutions. Self-nominations will not be considered. Eligible candidates are young scientists (not older than 45 years of age). The deadline for receiving nominations is 30 June 2026. Young Scientists Award
Africa Sustainable Futures Awards — Scalable Solutions for Africa’s Development
The Africa Sustainable Futures Awards recognize commercially viable and scalable initiatives contributing to sustainable development across Africa. The awards cover five categories: Access to Electricity & Infrastructure, Agribusiness, Healthcare, Local Manufacturing, and Tourism, with an additional Judges’ Award for Excellence. Winners will receive global visibility, recognition at the FT Africa Summit in London, and opportunities to network with global leaders. The application deadline is 30 June 2026. Link to the Africa Sustainable Futures Awards
Meaningful Business 100 — Entrepreneur Award
The Meaningful Business 100 (MB100) is an annual award program that honors global leaders who effectively combine profit and purpose to advance the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The award is open to social entrepreneurs, corporate sustainability leaders, impact investors, and micro-entrepreneurs across various industries and regions. Individuals can nominate themselves or others. The deadline for entries is 03 July 2026. Entrepreneur Award
Moonshot Platform — Award for Young Changemakers
The Moonshot Platform invites applications for the Moonshot Awards to back exceptional young changemakers developing solutions to the world’s most urgent challenges. The program is open to global entrepreneurs, innovators, scientists, and social advocates between the ages of 15 and 30 who are leading early-stage projects, startups, or non-profits that advance the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Winners receive equity-free grants ranging from US$5 thousand to US$10 thousand depending on the category, alongside entry into a two-year leadership acceleration program that includes professional mentorship and fully sponsored travel to the awards ceremony in New York City. The final deadline for submissions is 12 July 2026. Moonshot Awards
Royal Entomological Society — Insect Photography Competition
The Royal Entomological Society Insect Photography competition is open to all amateur photographers. Photographs entered for the Competition should feature an insect (or group of insects) occurring naturally in the situation in which it is photographed. The subject can be of any life stage, from egg through nymph, larva, or pupa to adult, and can be an insect from anywhere in the world. Prizes range from £250 to £750. The closing date for submission of photos is 31 October 2026. Insect Photography Competition
World Photography Organization — Sony World Photography Awards
The Sony World Photography Awards, one of the world’s leading photography competitions, recognizes the best single images from across 10 diverse categories, including ‘Landscape’ and ‘Natural World & Wildlife’. The competition is free to enter and open to photographers worldwide, with specific categories tailored to professional series, standalone single images, students, and youth under 19 years-old. Cash prizes of US$25 thousand and US$5 thousand are awarded to the top winners of the series and single-image categories, respectively. The closing deadlines vary by competition tier, with the student category closing on 27 November 2026, the single-image and youth categories closing on 05 January 2027. Know more