Tag Archives: awards

2026 WILKES CLIMATE INNOVATION PRIZE

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

APPLY

NATIONAL ESSAY COMPETITION SEASON 4 TO ENGAGE YOUNG NIGERIANS ON TAX REFORM

LOCATION: Nigeria

Organizers of the National Essay Competition (NEC) have announced the commencement of Season 4, inviting young Nigerians to demonstrate their intellectual depth, analytical capacity, and policy insight on one of the nation’s most pressing economic issues. The focus of this year’s competition is taxation and governance, with participants required to respond to the essay question: “Analyze the challenges faced by the Nigerian Revenue Service in the implementation of the new tax laws and propose practical solutions to address them. The competition attracts participants from across the country, ensuring diverse perspectives and a truly national discourse.

ELIGIBILITY:

The competition is open to Nigerians aged 20 to 35, with persons with disabilities strongly encouraged to apply, reflecting the organizers’ commitment to inclusivity and equal opportunity.

According to the guidelines, submissions must be original, well-researched, and analytical, supported by relevant references.

Essays should be 1,000 to 1,500 words (excluding references), typed in Times New Roman, font size 12, double-spaced, and submitted in PDF format.

The organizers also emphasized a strict plagiarism policy, noting that any entry with a similarity index exceeding 20 percent will be automatically disqualified.

Interested participants are encouraged to prepare thoroughly and submit compelling entries, as this edition promises to be one of the most intellectually engaging in the competition’s history.

BENEFIT:

Winners of NEC Season 4 will receive cash prizes, with ₦5 million awarded to the winner, ₦3 million to the first runner-up, and ₦2 million to the second runner-up.

APPLY