Wege Prize 2027 for Innovators Seeks Transdisciplinary Teams
Applications are open for the Wege Prize 2027 for Innovators, a competition that challenges university students to develop real-world solutions to complex problems through the framework of the circular economy.
The Wege Prize 2027 for Innovators is now accepting applications. This annual competition aims to inspire college and university students worldwide to collaborate across institutional, disciplinary, and cultural boundaries to redesign the way economies work.
The Wege Prize is a unique competition that combines elements of a design competition and a global learning lab. It 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 is a system that transforms our throwaway linear system into one where materials never become waste and our activities replenish the natural world. It provides 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
The competition offers the following prizes:
| Prize | Amount (USD) | | --- | --- | | 1st Place | $30,000 | | 2nd Place | $20,000 | | 3rd Place | $10,000 | | Finalist Award (x2) | $2,500 |
## Eligibility
To be eligible to participate in Wege Prize, teams must meet the following criteria:
- Have exactly five (5) members. - Represent three (3) or more academic disciplines. - Represent two (2) or more institutions of higher education.
Individuals must also meet the following criteria to be eligible to join a Wege Prize team:
- Be currently enrolled in an undergraduate, graduate, or post-graduate degree program anywhere in the world. - Be enrolled full-time for the majority of the competition.
## Application
For more information and to apply, please visit the Wege Prize website. The deadline for applications is October 4, 2026.
