Category Archives: Events

NELSON MANDELA – GRAÇA MACHEL INNOVATION AWARDS

Application Deadline: 7 March, 2025

LOCATION: South Africa

The Nelson Mandela Graça Machel Innovation Awards 2024/25 will recognize five innovative ideas and projects from individuals, organizations, networks, or community groups with seed funding of US$7,500.

Under the core theme “Uplifting Humanity,” they are searching for innovations that challenge the status quo and bridge divides. Whether you’re pursuing Tech for Good, exploring the intersection of Climate and Social Justice, working on Bridging Citizens and Government, or demonstrating Community Resilience, we want to hear about it!

ELIGIBILITY:

Please consider applying if: 

Your innovation is a product, service or process that creates value and has the potential to make a difference for the better in your community 

Your innovation, whether a product, service, or process, protects or expands civic space by promoting and defending freedom of peaceful assembly, freedom of association, or freedom of expression. 

Your innovation helps build community and/or promotes social justice 

You are over the age of 18 at the time of applying. 

Available and excited for 2 trips to promote Innovation! 

You can apply in English, Arabic, French or Spanish 

BENEFIT:

One winner from each category will be selected. Each winning initiative will receive: 

A US$7,500 award to further your amazing work! 

Two fully-funded trips to an Innovation Convening in late May 2025 and to International Civil Society Week 1 – 5 November 2025, in Bangkok. 

Join CIVICUS’ Innovation Community! 

APPLY

INTERDISCIPLINARY SCIENCE PROGRAM IN RESEARCH AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP (INSPIRE)

Application Deadline: April 1, 2025

LOCATION: Canada

The INSPIRE Scholars Program introduces students to the cutting-edge of research in the quantitative biological and translational sciences.  Learn how researchers from physicists to computer scientists are developing biophysical technologies and exploiting artificial intelligence and computational models to understand the biological world. This immersive, interdisciplinary program is designed to prepare students for graduate school and beyond.

ELIGIBILITY:

The 2025 INSPIRE program aims to educate students in cutting-edge quantitative biophysical, mathematical, and computational techniques necessary for tackling critical, unresolved questions in the Life Sciences. Students will participate in hands-on modules, directly within faculty research labs, that focus on projects across scales from single proteins to microbial systems. In parallel, students will receive a crash course in research translation and innovation, meet with young entrepreneurial scientists, and participate in workshops within SpinUp, U of T’s first Life Sciences incubator.

This program is primarily geared toward third- and fourth-year undergraduate students who wish to pursue graduate school in Physics, Chemistry, or Cell and Systems Biology. Exceptional second year undergraduates with experience in physics/chemistry/quantitative biology are also encouraged to apply.

We are committed to fostering an environment of diversity and inclusion. They especially welcome applications from candidates who identify as Indigenous, Black, or racially visible (persons of colour).

The application period will close by end of day on April 1, 2025. Have questions? Contact us at utm.inspire.info@gmail.com and a member of our team will be in touch.

BENEFIT:

Acceptance into the program is expected to be highly competitive. If admitted, students will be provided with a tuition fellowship to cover the costs of all instruction and laboratory fees. Students will be responsible for the additional costs of room and board should this be required. ​​

APPLY