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
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Eastern Bird Banding Association — Research Grants 2026
The Eastern Bird Banding Association (EBBA) seeks applicants for grants to be used toward research using banding techniques and/or bird banding data. One or more grants totaling up to US$5 thousand will be awarded. Priority is for research on species that spend at least part of their life cycle in any U.S. state or Canadian province, included in EBBA territory. Projects that are planned for other portions of the USA, Canada, or the Western Hemisphere may also be considered. Research studies with conservation or management implications are particularly encouraged. The application deadline is 31 January 2026. Bird Banding Research Grants
Ornithological Society of the Middle East — Bird Conservation 2026
The OSME’s Conservation Fund makes grants to support bird research in the Middle East, Caucasus, and Central Asia. The Fund supports projects benefiting species and habitats, especially Globally Threatened and Near Threatened birds, and sites important for bird conservation (Important Bird Areas) in the OSME region. Grants average about £1 thousand to £2 thousand. The submission deadlines are 31 January; 31 May; and 30 September each year. Know more
European Plant Science Organisation — Young Plant Scientist Award
The European Plant Science Organisation (EPSO) offers two awards to young scientists to attend the Science Day of the EPSO General Meeting in June 2025. The awards will cover registration and travel. The awardee can present a lecture on his/her research and will receive €200. Applications are invited from PhD students working on either fundamental or applied aspects of research on plants. Applications must be received by 31 January 2026. EPSO Young Plant Scientist Award
Conservation Leadership Programme — Grants for Early-Career Conservationists
The Conservation Leadership Program (CLP) makes grants to advance the leadership capacity of early-career conservationists in the developing world. Grants combine research with conservation. CLP provides support to small teams of at least three individuals. Future Conservationist Awards are up to US$15 thousand. Follow-up awards and Leadership Awards are up to US$25 thousand and US$50 thousand, respectively. CLP explains each category of award; eligibility criteria; and details on how to apply. CLP offers support to early-career conservationists living and working in low- and middle-income economies in Africa, Asia, the Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean, Eastern and South-eastern Europe, and the Middle East. The application deadline is 09 January 2026. Link to the Conservation Leadership Program
Ocean Foundation — Scholarship for Sea Turtle Preservation
The Ocean Foundation and the Boyd Lyon Sea Turtle Fund seek applicants for the Boyd N. Lyon Scholarship. Students with field research projects on sea turtle behavior and habitat use in the marine environment, as well as projects that promote sea turtle conservation in coastal ecosystems, can apply. One award of US$2,500 will be made to a Masters or PhD student. The applicants must be enrolled in an accredited college or university during 2026/2027. The application deadline is 15 January 2026. Boyd N. Lyon Scholarship
Swiss Climate Research — Climate Summer School
Swiss Climate Research invites early-stage scientists to join climate researchers in southern Switzerland for keynote lectures, workshops, and poster sessions. The 24th International Swiss Climate Summer School focuses on the theme “Climate Variability across Space and Time”. This summer school addresses early-stage researchers from climate and earth system sciences to biodiversity, energy, social, political, and economic sciences. The application deadline is 15 January 2026. Climate Summer School
Social Science Research Council — APN Individual Research Fellowships
The Social Science Research Council (SSRC) offers fellowships to African researchers, policy analysts, and practitioners working on conflict and peace-building issues. The posted list of issues includes natural resource conflicts and water conflicts. The fellowships are intended to support six months of field-based research with grants of up to US$15 thousand. Applicants must be citizens of and reside in an African country. The application deadline is 16 January 2026. APN Individual Research Fellowships
D-Prize — Funding Entrepreneurs to Alleviate Poverty
The D-Prize funds pilot projects that more widely distribute relatively low-cost products and services in the fight against poverty. The current challenges include social enterprises for innovations in specified themes of agriculture; energy; WASH; and several other categories. The D-Prize will award 30 teams with up to US$20 thousand each to launch nonprofits or social ventures that can distribute proven poverty interventions to people in need. Eligibility to compete extends to entrepreneurs anywhere in the world and of any age or background. The D-Prize invites concept notes before 23 November (early deadline); 14 December (regular deadline); or 04 January 2026 (limited extension). Link to D-Prize
Weeden Foundation — Protecting Biodiversity in Chile and Russia
The Weeden Foundation makes grants for biodiversity conservation in forest ecosystems, riparian corridors, and riverine and aquatic environments of ecological importance. Weeden’s international priorities are the Patagonia region of Chile, and the Altai Republic of Russia. The average grant size is between US$15 and US$20 thousand. The Foundation requests letters of inquiry (LOI) at least one month before proposal deadlines. The next deadline for applications (English, Spanish) is 09 January 2026. Find details