The Rice University (Texas, USA) invites student teams to participate in the Rice Business Plan Competition 2025. Entrepreneurs receive the opportunity to pitch their startups to investors, receive mentoring, network with the entrepreneurial ecosystem, and enhance their startup strategy. Typically, startups have a technology component in Energy/Clean Technology; Life Science/Biotechnology; or Digital Services. The competition is open to degree-seeking students currently enrolled at a college or university anywhere in the world. The grand prize winner receives up to $300 thousand in investments. The application deadline is 31 January 2026. Business Plan Competition
biotechnology
TED-Ed — Earth School
Earth School consists of 30 days of nature-focused content for learners of all ages. Each Quest includes videos and a quiz, combined with a series of engaging learning resources curated by environmental experts. Teachers and parents are invited to use these lessons and activities to keep their students and kids engaged and connected to the outside world. Lessons are free and accessible anytime. Link to Earth School
Delft University of Technology — Excellence Scholarships
TU Delft offers the Justus & Louise Van Effen Excellence Scholarships to study at the Delft University of Technology. The scholarship offers €30 thousand per year to international applicants admitted to one of the 2-year regular MSc programs. The programs include sustainable energy, environmental engineering, water management, and many others. The application deadline is 01 December 2025. About this scholarship
U.S. Department of State — TechGirls 2026
TechGirls is an international summer exchange program designed to empower and inspire young women from around the world to pursue careers in science and technology. The program is open to teenage girls (ages 15-17) from eligible countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, East Asia and Pacific, Europe and Eurasia, the Middle East and North Africa, South and Central Asia, and Latin America. TechGirls covers the costs of travel, accommodation, and meals for participation in the technology camp hosted by Virginia Tech University. The application will close on 04 December 2025. Link to TechGirls
iF International Forum Design GmbH — Student Design Award
The iF Student Design Award recognizes students and their future-oriented concepts that aim to solve a global development challenge. The best concepts earn a share of €50 thousand. All winners will be honored with a two-day event in Istanbul. Students and recent graduates of all design-related courses and programs are welcome to register their concepts. The registration deadline for participation is 28 January 2026. iF Student Design Award
Echoing Green — Fellowships 2026
Echoing Green helps emerging social entrepreneurs around the world with grants of seed capital and technical assistance to support their start-up organizations. Seed funding of up to US$80 thousand over 18 months is offered to for-profit organizations through recoverable grants. Past fellowships include examples in renewable energy, waste management, smallholder farming, climate change, and other societal challenges in developing countries. Applications are due on 08 October 2025. Echoing Green Fellowships
Commonwealth Secretariat — Commonwealth Youth Awards 2025
The Commonwealth Youth Awards for Excellence in Development Work recognize individuals ages 15 to 29 who lead innovative development projects in themes that include agriculture, small enterprise, skills training, climate change, environmental protection, sustainable livelihoods, and poverty reduction. The program selects regional winners from each of Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, and the Pacific. Winners are awarded grants of up to a total of £5 thousand in total to advance their projects. The application deadline is 17 October 2025. Commonwealth Youth Awards
AGNES-BAYER Science Foundation — Research Grant 2025
The AGNES-BAYER Science Foundation Research Grant enables doctoral students from sub-Saharan African countries to undertake research in biodiversity conservation and sustainable agriculture. The Grant aims to support African PhD students to carry out activities that are part of the doctoral research, including but not limited to field experiments and data collection or laboratory studies. A maximum grant of €7,000 will be awarded to each successful applicant. All applications must be submitted online by 09 November 2025. Research Grant for Biodiversity Conservation & Sustainable Agriculture
Zendal Group — Biotechnology Awards
The International Zendal Awards recognize outstanding contributions to biotechnology projects in human and animal health within a One Health framework, offering two prizes: €40 thousand for Human Health and €25 thousand for Animal Health. The award is open to public or private institutions worldwide, including universities, NGOs, foundations, startups, and government entities. Nominations are accepted until 19 September 2025. International Zendal Awards
Trust for Sustainable Living — International Schools Essay Competition
Every year, the essay competition focuses on a different global sustainability challenge. This year’s theme is “Creating a Sustainability Culture.” Participating students are invited to create a piece of artwork, music, video, poem, essay, letter, or story. The Grand Prize trophy winner will receive a free international trip to a TSL Summit, including £1000 spending money. Schools have to register a Teacher Champion to participate in the competition. The deadline for essay entries is 01 March 2026. Details