The Orange Summer Challenge 2025 (OSC25) is a tech entrepreneurship program designed to support innovative startups that combine hardware and software solutions with strong social or environmental impact. OSC25 offers participants technical and human support to develop their technological solutions. Winners of the international competition will receive financial support for incubation and other costs related to the development of their solution. Applications are open until 15 June 2025. Know more
awards/prizes
SEAMEO — Education for Sustainable Development
The SEAMEO-Japan Education for Sustainable Development Award invites public and private schools across Southeast Asia to showcase initiatives that enhance community resilience through local wisdom in disaster risk reduction. The first prize includes US$1,000 and a study tour to Japan for selected students and teachers. Second and third prizes are US$600 and US$400, respectively. Eligible schools include kindergartens, elementary, secondary, and vocational institutions. The submission deadline is 15 August 2025. Details here
Posterheroes — International Contest about Social and Environmental Issues
Submissions are open for the Posterheroes contest that calls for posters about social and environmental issues. Posterheroes invites students, professional designers, and everyone who is into graphic design to create a poster. Participants can win a cash prize of up to US$2,500. The submission deadline is 22 August 2025. Link to the contest
SustainE — Young Researchers Award
The SustainE Young Researchers Award aims to recognize and reward outstanding research in sustainability by young scholars. The award includes a $1000 prize for the best paper. Eligibility extends to researchers under 40 years with original, unpublished papers on sustainability issues (including environment and energy). The application deadline is 25 August 2025. SustainE Young Researchers Award
Forbes — Sustainability Leaders
Nominations are open for Forbes’ Sustainability Leaders list. Forbes seeks leaders spanning all industries and disciplines in recognition that a diverse climate movement is critical. Forbes Sustainability Leaders will serve as a directory of those driving the innovative and scalable solutions the world needs. The list is open to visionary startup founders mobilizing and scaling technological advancements, C-Suite executives taking risks and accelerating current gold-standard climate policy, scientists, policymakers, social advocates, investors, storytellers, and artists. The deadline to submit all nominations for the list is 13 June 2025. Forbes Sustainability Leaders
Yale School of the Environment — Film Contest
The Yale Environment 360 Film Contest accepts entries of environmental films from around the world. Submissions should focus on an environmental issue and be a maximum of 20 minutes in length. The first-place winner will receive US$3,000, the second-place winner US$2,000, and the third-place winner US$1,000. The deadline for entries is 25 May 2025. Yale Environment 360 Film Contest
Caribbean Biodiversity Fund — Awards for Conservation Heroes
The Biodiversity Excellence Awards for Conservation Heroes (BEACH) honors outstanding individuals and organizations for their contributions to biodiversity conservation and sustainable development within the Caribbean. The nominees must have a proven track record of actively implementing projects in the Caribbean region. The deadline for nominations is 03 June 2025. Awards for Conservation Heroes
United Nations — Marine and Coastal Ecosystems
The SEA Grants program supports community-based conservation initiatives and research aimed at enhancing marine and coastal ecosystem management in the East Asian Seas region. Grants range from US$5,000 to US$50,000 for projects lasting 12 to 18 months. Eligible applicants include local organizations, NGOs, and community groups operating in countries participating in the SCS SAP. The application deadline is 15 May 2025. SEA Grants
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations — Global Forestry Recognition
The FAO 80 Global Forestry Recognition initiative aims to honor individuals and organizations worldwide that have made outstanding contributions to sustainable forest management and the transformation of agrifood systems over the past 80 years. Nominations are open to individuals, institutions, and organizations that have achieved long-term results in forest production, conservation, sustainable use of forest resources, or have implemented effective forest policies and strategies. Interested parties must submit nominations through the official FAO portal by 31 May 2025. Global Forestry Recognition
Innovate 4 Nature — Award for Nature-Positive Solutions
Innovate 4 Nature is a Swiss foundation supporting start-ups in the nature-positive space. The foundation issues an award in which organizations can participate. The Innovate 4 Nature Award honors projects, companies, and entrepreneurs that have developed promising, high-quality nature-positive solutions. The four key areas of the I4N Award are sustainable management of ecosystems; nature as infrastructure; regenerative agriculture; and circular nature-positive solutions. The award offers a total of CHF 100 thousand in prize money. Award winners can benefit from access to an ecosystem of partners and experts. (please be aware that the foundation does not offer grants or other financial means.) The application deadline is 12 June 2025. Innovate 4 Nature Award