Deadline: February 28, 2026
Applications are open for the Wilkes Climate Innovation Prize 2026. The Wilkes Climate Innovation Prize seeks bold, high-potential solutions that address significant challenges affecting the climate/energy/economy ecosystem and are positioned to make measurable progress toward real-world use.
The Prize is designed to support solutions at a stage where uncertainty remains high, conventional funding or adoption pathways are limited, and targeted support can plausibly influence outcomes. Solutions may be technological, policy-driven, operational, financial, or hybrid.
Benefits
- Financial Support
- One Grand Prize award of $250,000 USD in non-dilutive funding to support validation, pilots, or readiness for scale
- Visibility & Recognition
- Recognition at the Wilkes Climate Summit and associated events
- Inclusion in Wilkes Center communications and press outreach
- Institutional credibility associated with a leading research university
- Targeted Support & Connection
- Curated introductions to potential funders, partners, and advisors
- Opportunities to participate in convenings, roundtables, or networking events associated with the Prize
- Participation in the Wilkes Prize alumni community
Eligibility
- Applicants may be for-profit or nonprofit organizations, academic teams, public-sector innovators, or mission-driven collaborations from anywhere in the world.
- You should consider applying if:
- You are working on a solution with a clear real-world application, not only a theoretical concept
- Your solution addresses a material climate-system challenge, not a marginal improvement
- You can articulate what needs to happen next and what currently stands in the way
- Support at this stage could meaningfully change your trajectory
Selection Criteria
Applications are evaluated by independent judges using criteria that include:
- Climate-system impact and relevance
- Plausibility and clarity of your execution path
- Differentiation, quality of insight and clear co-benefits
- Team expertise and organizational capability
- Catalytic fit with the Wilkes Climate Innovation Prize
Application
For more information, visit Wilkes Climate Innovation Prize.
