1. Verify that your team meets the individual and team participation requirements.

1. Carefully review the Wege Prize 2026 Design Brief.

2. Gather the following information from all five (5) of your team members:

   • Legal name

   • Preferred name

   • Email address

   • Country of citizenship

   • Current country of residence

   • College/university currently attending

   • Major of study, degree type, and student status (level of study, date of expected degree completion)

   • Headshot (selfies and/or phone pictures are fine!)

3. Prepare your team’s answers to the questions below (contained in the application):

   • Explain the wicked problem your team is interested in addressing. (3-5 sentences)

   • Help us understand the systemic nature of the problem. What social, technological, ecological, and other key factors impact the problem? (500 words maximum)

   • How could addressing this wicked problem support the development of a circular economy? (500 words maximum)

   • Who are the key stakeholders in this wicked problem and how would you engage and/or co-create with them? (500 words maximum)

   • How do you plan to involve mentors and/or subject matter experts in your design process? (500 words maximum)

   • How could addressing this wicked problem support the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals? (Choose 1-3 specific goals to focus on – 500 words maximum)

   • What are your next steps? (500 words maximum)

Wege Prize is an annual competition that ignites game-changing solutions for the future by inspiring college/university students around the world to collaborate across institutional, disciplinary, and cultural boundaries to redesign the way economies work. 

Participants contend for $65,000 (USD) in total cash prizes with innovative solutions that are powered by human-centered design, underpinned by a shift to renewable energy, and built on the three core principles of the circular economy.