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2026 WILKES CLIMATE INNOVATION PRIZE

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Application Deadline: February 28, 2026

LOCATION: USA

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.

ELIGIBILITY:

Organizations at all stages, both for-profit and nonprofit, anywhere in the world, are eligible to submit ideas to be considered for the Wilkes Climate Launch Prize. This includes seed, pre-seed, venture-funded, publicly traded stage companies, or nonprofits.

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

Organizations at all stages may apply, from early concept through growth, provided the solution is at a stage where catalytic support is relevant.

BENEFIT:

Financial Support: One Grand Prize award of $250,000 USD in non-dilutive funding to support validation, pilots, or readiness for scale

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awards, Events, Opportunities, other events, PhD/post doctoral, Scholarships

UNESCO-TWAS SEED GRANT FOR NEW AFRICAN PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATORS (SG-NAPI) PHD PROGRAMME 

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Application Deadline: 31 March 2026

LOCATION: Germany

With the support of the German Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR), UNESCO-TWAS launched a new programme to strengthen the capacity of African countries lagging in science and technology. The programme is aimed at early-career researchers who have obtained their PhD abroad and have recently returned or will shortly return to an academic position in their home country. Grants are awarded to promising high-level research projects in Agriculture, Biology, Chemistry, Earth sciences, Engineering, Information Computer Technology, Mathematics, Medical Sciences and Physics and/or Germany’s High-Tech Agenda carried out in African countries lagging in science and technology identified by TWAS.

ELIGIBILITY:

Applying Principal Investigators must be nationals of an eligible country, hold a PhD, and have good research experience. The grant should operate within a university or a research institution in one of the African countries lagging in science and technology.

Country where tenable: SG-NAPI Eligible Countries

Minimum degree held: PhD

Field: Agriculture, Biology, Chemistry, Earth Sciences, Engineering, Information Computer Technology, Mathematics, Medical Sciences and Physics

The PI must be 40 years old or younger. Any applicant turning 41 in the year of application is not eligible.

The PI must have obtained their Ph.D. within the last 5 years in a country other than their home country.

The PI must have returned to their home country (refer to the list in the guidelines) within the last 36 months or will return home before the end of 2026.

The PI must hold, be offered, or be in the process of accepting a position at an academic and/or research institution (including international research centers) in their home country.

The PI must be a national of an eligible African country that is lagging in science and technology (refer to the list in the guidelines).

The applicant must, at the time of application, NOT have an active research grant with TWAS or the OWSD Early Career Women Scientists (ECWS) Fellowship.

Applications from women scientists and those working in Least Developed Countries are especially encouraged.

The applicant must submit a strong research proposal; you may find further information on how to write a strong proposal by visiting AuthorAID.

Please be advised that applicants may apply for only one programme per calendar year in the TWAS and OWSD portfolio. Applicants will not be eligible to visit another institution in that year under the TWAS Visiting Scientists and Visiting Professor programmes. One exception: The head of an institution who invites an external scholar to share his/her expertise under the TWAS Visiting Professor programme or the TWAS Visiting Expert programme may still apply for another programme.

BENEFIT:

The total amount awarded for SG‑NAPI may be up to USD 67,700. The grants, typically awarded for a duration of 30 months, can be utilized for the purchase of scientific equipment and consumables. 

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