Wege Prize 2026

Wege Prize 2026 is an annual competition for college/university students worldwide to collaborate across disciplines and redesign economies with a focus on human-centered design and circular economy principles. Teams compete over nine months for a total cash prize of $65,000 USD, guided by expert judges through multiple phases from proposal to real-world prototyping. Participants form teams of five from diverse disciplines and institutions and develop innovative, scalable solutions.

Total cash prizes of $65,000 USD. Teams receive guidance and feedback from expert judges across multiple phases and gain exposure through the competition.

Teams must consist of five members representing at least three disciplines and two higher-education institutions; individuals may participate as part of a team if enrolled in undergraduate, graduate, or postgraduate programs.

Submit a team-based application via the Wege Prize apply page; teams must meet the specified eligibility requirements.