Stanford Global Sustainability Student Competition

Organization: Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability, Stanford University

Type: Competition

Location: Global

Deadline: November 22, 2026

Funding: Partially Funded

The Global Sustainability Challenge is an annual competition run by Stanford University's Doerr School of Sustainability with partner universities including HKUST, IIT Bombay, Zhejiang University and TUM. University student teams of one to six people design, build and test a real solution in sustainable energy or climate adaptation and resilience over the academic year. The strongest teams present live at one of five regional finals and then at the Global Finale in Hangzhou, China, in May 2027, competing for a prize pool of more than US$35,000. **What you get:** - A share of a cash prize pool of more than US$35,000 for the global winners, awarded across the two themes - Mentorship from sustainability experts, learning sessions with theme experts, and prototyping and storytelling workshops - Live presentations and feedback from regional and global jury panels - For finalists: media spotlight, certificates and medals, special category prizes, and the chance to pitch to experts and funders - Select winning teams may be considered for the Stanford EcoGlobal Ecopreneurship Global Intensive, an 8 week programme - Organisers will try to provide some travel support to teams that reach Phase 2, though this is not guaranteed **What you'll do:** - Form a team, pick a theme (Sustainable Energy, or Adaptation and Resilience covering water, food or heat) and define a real problem - Phase 1, Ignite: submit a proposal slide deck and a 2 minute project video by 22 November 2026 - Phase 2, Build: prototype and test your solution with real users, submit by 22 February 2027 and give a 10 minute live presentation and demo at a regional final - Phase 3, Shine: refine the solution and present it to a global jury at the Global Finale **Key dates:** - Phase 1 submissions close 22 November 2026, 11:59 PM UTC (also the last day to add team members) - Phase 1 results mid December 2026 - Phase 2 submissions close 22 February 2027, 11:59 PM UTC - Regional finals February to March 2027: TUM Munich (Europe, Africa and Middle East, February), Stanford (North America, 5 March), Sao Paulo State University (South America, March), HKUST (Central Asia, Pacific Asia and Australasia, March), IIT Bombay (South Asia, March) - Global Finale 20 to 21 May 2027, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China **More information:** - Full rules, timeline and FAQs are on the challenge website - Prize money is split between team members and paid individually; US tax withholding may apply depending on residency

Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability, Stanford UniversityCompetition

Stanford Global Sustainability Student Competition

Nov 22, 2026 23:59:00 UTC

Opportunity type

Competition

Funding

Partially Funded

Location

Global

Deadline

Nov 22, 2026 23:59:00 UTC

About this opportunity

What you get:

A share of a cash prize pool of more than US$35,000 for the global winners, awarded across the two themes
Mentorship from sustainability experts, learning sessions with theme experts, and prototyping and storytelling workshops
Live presentations and feedback from regional and global jury panels
For finalists: media spotlight, certificates and medals, special category prizes, and the chance to pitch to experts and funders
Select winning teams may be considered for the Stanford EcoGlobal Ecopreneurship Global Intensive, an 8 week programme
Organisers will try to provide some travel support to teams that reach Phase 2, though this is not guaranteed

What you'll do:

Form a team, pick a theme (Sustainable Energy, or Adaptation and Resilience covering water, food or heat) and define a real problem
Phase 1, Ignite: submit a proposal slide deck and a 2 minute project video by 22 November 2026
Phase 2, Build: prototype and test your solution with real users, submit by 22 February 2027 and give a 10 minute live presentation and demo at a regional final
Phase 3, Shine: refine the solution and present it to a global jury at the Global Finale

Key dates:

Phase 1 submissions close 22 November 2026, 11:59 PM UTC (also the last day to add team members)
Phase 1 results mid December 2026
Phase 2 submissions close 22 February 2027, 11:59 PM UTC
Regional finals February to March 2027: TUM Munich (Europe, Africa and Middle East, February), Stanford (North America, 5 March), Sao Paulo State University (South America, March), HKUST (Central Asia, Pacific Asia and Australasia, March), IIT Bombay (South Asia, March)
Global Finale 20 to 21 May 2027, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China

More information:

Full rules, timeline and FAQs are on the challenge website
Prize money is split between team members and paid individually; US tax withholding may apply depending on residency

Who can apply

Enrolled at a college or university during September to November 2026, as an undergraduate, graduate or PhD student in any discipline, pursuing a degree or diploma
Teams of 1 to 6 members; you can apply solo but must create a named team on the challenge portal
At least one team member must be 18 or older by 1 January 2027
Members can come from different universities and countries; each team picks one team country, which sets its regional final
Residents of Russia, North Korea and Timor-Leste cannot take part
Not open to high school students, recent graduates, or people only enrolled in a certificate course or bootcamp
Already marketed products or services are not accepted; past ideas must be meaningfully extended

AI Verification

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Cross-checked 9 of 11 key facts

Confirmed Our best read Not stated

Good to know

+Run by Stanford's Doerr School of Sustainability with HKUST, IIT Bombay, Zhejiang University and TUM
+Free to take part
+Open to university students in any discipline, solo or in teams of up to six across universities and countries
+Mentorship, workshops and feedback from expert juries
+Global winners share a prize pool of more than US$35,000

Worth checking yourself

!Only students enrolled at a college or university. High school students and recent graduates cannot enter
!At least one team member must be 18 or older by 1 January 2027
!Regional finals and the Global Finale in Hangzhou are in person, and travel support is not guaranteed
!US$35,000 is a pool shared by the winners, not a per-team prize
!Phase 1 closes 22 November 2026 at 11:59 PM UTC, also the last day to add team members

Sources checked

SUsustainability.stanford.eduOfficialGLglobalsustainabilitychallenge.orgApplyGLglobalsustainabilitychallenge.orgApplyGLglobalsustainabilitychallenge.orgApplyGLglobalsustainabilitychallenge.orgApply

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