MDP| Sustainability Foundation World Sustainability Award 2026

🏆 About the Award

The World Sustainability Award (WSA) honors individuals who have made groundbreaking contributions to sustainability research. Offered by the MDPI Sustainability Foundation, the award recognizes scholarly excellence and transformative impact across disciplines.

The 2026 WSA will honor three awardees, with one selected from each of the three core categories: Biosphere, Society, and Economy. The awards will be officially presented during the World Sustainability Forum 2026.

📅 Opportunity Details

• Date Published: August 04, 2025
• Application Deadline: December 15, 2025
• Category: Contest, Grants

💰 Benefits

Each recipient will receive a monetary prize of 50,000 USD.

✅ Eligibility Criteria

The World Sustainability Award is conferred upon senior researchers in recognition of exceptional and sustained contributions to sustainability-related scholarship and practice.

Selection Criteria:

1. Scientific Excellence:

   • Demonstrable record of sustained, high-quality research, either fundamental or applied, conducted within an appropriate disciplinary or interdisciplinary context.

2. Contribution to Sustainability Pillars:

   • Research must address at least two of the three foundational pillars of sustainability, with clearly evidenced impact:
     • Biosphere: Environmental and ecological systems
     • Society: Social and cultural dimensions of development
     • Economy: Economic structures, processes, or innovations

3. Innovative and Applicable Outcomes:

   • Research must exhibit originality and offer feasible solutions to contemporary sustainability challenges, with potential or demonstrated real-world implementation.

4. Alignment with Global Agendas:

   • Research should contribute meaningfully to the objectives outlined in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

5. Scholarly Leadership and Influence:

   • Evidence of broader influence on the academic or professional community, including leadership roles, mentorship, institutional development, or contribution to policy frameworks.

👩‍🔬 Nominees & Selection Process

• Nominees must be senior researchers with a strong international track record in sustainability-related research.
• Submissions must come from third parties familiar with the nominee’s work and impact.
• The Selection Committee will include at least three members, with one representative from each of the three award categories: Biosphere, Society, and Economy.
• Final selection will be determined based on the strength and balance of the nominations received, with one awardee chosen from each of the three award categories.
• If no suitable candidate is identified for a particular category, the award will not be conferred for that category in that year.

📄 Application Process

1. Download and fill in the Nomination Form.
2. Prepare a detailed CV, including:
   • A list of most relevant publications
   • A list of funded projects
3. Submit the Nomination Form and supplementary files using the provided submission form.

📆 Important Dates

• Call for nominations opens: July 25, 2025
• Nomination deadline: December 15, 2025
• Awardee notification: January 30, 2026

The official public announcement of the winners will take place during the World Sustainability Forum 2026.

🔗 Application Portal

• View details of the MDPI Sustainability Foundation World Sustainability Award.
• Apply for the award via the application portal.

📧 Contact Information

For further inquiries, visit the official MDPI Sustainability Foundation website.

• Each recipient will receive a monetary prize of 50,000 USD.