The journal Water invites nominations for the Young Investigator Award to recognize outstanding achievements by early-career researchers in water science, technology, management, and governance. To be eligible, nominees must have received their PhD no more than 10 years prior to 30 June 2026 and must be nominated by two established senior scientists. The first-prize winner receives CHF 2,000, while the second-prize winner receives CHF 1,500. The award is open to researchers worldwide who have made significant contributions to the field through groundbreaking research. The deadline for nominations is 31 May 2026. More
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MDPI — Water Best PhD Thesis Award
The journal Water invites applications for the Best PhD Thesis Award to recognize young scholars who have completed outstanding doctoral research in any aspect of water science, technology, management, or governance. The competition is open to PhD students or recently qualified PhD fellows worldwide, provided their thesis is original work and was defended during 2025. One winner will be selected to receive CHF 800. Applicants must submit an executive summary of their thesis in English. The deadline for applications is 31 May 2026. Thesis Award
Pulitzer Center — Impact Seed Fund
The Pulitzer Center invites applications for its Impact Seed Fund, which supports university educators and researchers in using Pulitzer Center-supported journalism to develop educational and engagement initiatives on environmental issues. The program focuses on topics such as oceans, rainforests, climate change, and transparency and governance, aiming to enrich academic discourse and community knowledge. Eligible applicants must be university professors or researchers based in Africa, Latin America, or Southeast Asia. Grants range from US$2,500 to US$4,000 to cover project costs, with implementation expected within six to eight months. The deadline for applications is 19 April 2026 for Africa and Latin America, and 03 May 2026 for Southeast Asia. Impact Seed Fund
Coimbra Group — Scholarship Program for Sub-Saharan Africa
The Coimbra Group offers short-term research grants to early-career scholars from higher education institutions in Sub-Saharan Africa. The program enables researchers to visit a participating European university for one to three months to further their research and develop academic collaborations. Applicants must be staff members at a Sub-Saharan African university. Funding amounts vary by host university, with many providing monthly stipends ranging from €750 to €1,500, often supplemented by travel allowances or accommodation. The deadline for applications for the 2026/2027 academic year is 10 May 2026. Coimbra Group
SVG Ventures — Global Impact Challenge 2026
The Global Impact Challenge is a global competition for early-stage startups aimed at discovering breakthrough technologies that advance sustainable and resilient agrifood systems. Focusing on critical pillars such as soil health, water management, food waste reduction, and decarbonization, the challenge offers finalists the opportunity to secure up to US$1 million in investment from SVG Ventures. Beyond financial support, participants benefit from expert pitch coaching, a dedicated exhibition booth at the Global Impact Summit in Silicon Valley (October 2026). The application window for this cycle closes on 15 May 2026. THRIVE Global Impact Challenge
Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area — Sustainable Water Management
The Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area (PRIMA) invites research consortia to submit projects focused on sustainable water management. The program targets the upscaling of nature-based solutions to address extreme weather events and seeks to enhance policy development through innovative water footprint concepts. Eligibility requires a consortium of at least three legal entities from three different participating countries, including at least one from an EU Member State or associated country and at least one from a Mediterranean Partner Country (such as Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, or Morocco). Funding amounts vary by section: Section 1 projects typically receive approximately €2.7 million each from EU funds, while Section 2 projects receive a minimum of €1.5 million supported by national funding bodies. The deadline for pre-proposals is 15 May 2026. Water Management
Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area — Farming Systems
The Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area (PRIMA) invites research and innovation consortia to apply for its “Farming Systems in the Nexus” calls. The program is divided into two sections: Section 1 focuses on enhancing sustainable farming within Mediterranean wetlands for conservation and coexistence, while Section 2 addresses the upscaling of agroecology practices at the farm level. Eligibility requires a consortium of at least four independent legal entities established in at least three different PRIMA participating countries, including at least one EU Member State or associated country and at least two Mediterranean Partner Countries (such as Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Israel, Tunisia, Morocco, Lebanon, or Türkiye). Section 1 projects typically receive approximately €2.7 million in EU funding for a 36-month duration, whereas Section 2 projects are supported by national funding bodies with varied amounts, often around €1.5 million per project. The deadline for pre-proposals is 15 May 2026. Farming Systems
Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area — Agro-Food Value Chain
The Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area (PRIMA) invites research consortia to submit proposals for its calls focused on the Mediterranean food value chain. The program aims to reduce food losses and waste through circular economy models and to improve the sustainability of food systems. Eligibility requires a consortium of at least three legal entities from three different participating countries, including at least one from an EU Member State or associated country and at least one from a Mediterranean Partner Country (such as Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, or Tunisia). Funding for Section 1 projects is approximately €2.7 million provided by the EU, while Section 2 projects are supported by national funding bodies with amounts typically reaching €1.5 million. The deadline for pre-proposals is 15 May 2026. Agro-Food Value Chain
Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area — Young Innovators Award 2026
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
Global Biodiversity Information Facility — Graduate Researchers Award 2026
The Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) invites nominations for its annual award recognizing master’s and PhD students who use biodiversity data in innovative research. Eligible candidates must be enrolled in a graduate program and be citizens of a GBIF participant country or studying at an institution within one. The program provides two prizes of €5,000 each for research that demonstrates discovery in biodiversity informatics, such as taxonomy, ecology, or biogeography. The final deadline to submit nominations is 29 May 2026. Graduate Researchers Award