Wege Prize 2027 for Innovators Worldwide (US$30,000 Prize)
Wege Prize 2027 challenges transdisciplinary teams of university students to develop products or services that solve complex, “wicked” problems through the framework of the circular economy.
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 Wege Prize functions as both a product design competition and a global learning laboratory. The initiative aims to foster cross-functional collaboration by requiring teams to converge different academic disciplines, mirroring the complexity of solving real-world issues.
The competition welcomes all circular projects. Solutions may involve developing a new circular product or service from the ground up, or alternatively, using circular design principles to uncover new opportunities within an existing system. There are no single required disciplines; rather, the focus is on transdisciplinary problem-solving that addresses “wicked” problems through circularity.
Participants are challenged to evolve their proposed solutions through structured feedback loops with professional judges across four distinct phases: Apply, Design, Refine, and Present.
The Prize
The total prize pool for the Wege Prize is $65,000, of which $30,000 are reserved for the 1st Place award.
- 1st Place – $30,000 USD
- 2nd Place – $20,000 USD
- 3rd Place – $10,000 USD
- Finalist Award (x2) – $2,500 USD
Eligibility
Participation is limited to university student teams meeting specific criteria:
- Team Size: Up to 5 students per team
- Discipline Scope: Requires representation from a minimum of three academic disciplines
- Institutional Diversity: Must include representatives from at least two different institutions of higher education
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 (or equivalent) for the majority of the competition. If team members are graduating before May of 2027, they must be enrolled as a student through at least 6 December 2026.
Application Deadline: 4th October 2026
Also Read: Other Opportunities to Apply
