Deadline: October 4, 2026
Applications are open for the Wege Prize 2027 for Innovators. Wege Prize is an annual competition that ignites game-changing solutions for the future by inspiring college/university students around the world to collaborate across institutional, disciplinary, and cultural boundaries to redesign the way economies work.
Part design competition, part global learning lab—Wege Prize challenges transdisciplinary teams of university students to develop real-world solutions to complex, “wicked” problems through the framework of the circular economy.
The Challenge: Designing Circular Solutions
The circular economy transforms our throwaway linear system into one where materials never become waste and our activities replenish the natural world. It gives us the tools to redesign every element—from how we manage resources, to how we make and use products, to what we do with the materials afterwards—creating an economy that thrives on resilience instead of consumption.
Wege Prize challenges teams to use circular design to develop products and services that create unique value, solve real-world problems, and benefit people, businesses, and the environment.
Prizes
- 1st Place: $30,000 (USD)
- 2nd Place: $20,000 (USD)
- 3rd Place: $10,000 (USD)
- Finalist Award (x2): $2,500 (USD)
Eligibility
Teams
To be eligible to participate in Wege Prize, teams must:
- Have exactly five (5) members – No more, no less.
- Represent three (3) or more academic disciplines – Based on current program of study. Previously completed degree programs are not considered.
- Represent two (2) or more institutions of higher education – Includes schools within a larger university, i.e. Example University’s School of Engineering and School of Earth Sciences would be considered different.
Individuals
To be eligible to join a Wege Prize team, individuals must:
- Be currently enrolled in an undergraduate, graduate, or post-graduate degree program anywhere in the world. Teams can be composed of a mix of undergraduate, graduate, and post-graduate students if they so choose.
- Be enrolled full-time for the majority of the competition. If you are graduating before May of 2027, you must be enrolled as a student through at least December 6, 2026.
Application
For more information, visit Wege Prize.
