The 2026 Wilkes Climate Innovation Prize
Catalyzing practical solutions for climate mitigation, resilience, and risk management
Apply by Feb. 28, 2026Overview
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.
The Prize is designed to support solutions at a stage where uncertainty remains high, conventional funding or adoption pathways are limited, and targeted support can plausibly influence outcomes. Solutions may be technological, policy-driven, operational, financial, or hybrid.
Applicants may be for-profit or nonprofit organizations, academic teams, public-sector innovators, or mission-driven collaborations from anywhere in the world.
2026 Timeline:
- Jan 31: Call opens
- Feb 28: Applications due
- Mar: Semi-finalists notified and additional info requested
- Apr: Finalists notified, additional info requested, coaching offered
- May: Finalists present at Wilkes Climate Summit
- Sep: Winner announcement
What the Prize Offers
Financial Support
- One Grand Prize award of $250,000 USD in non-dilutive funding to support validation, pilots, or readiness for scale
Visibility & Recognition
- Recognition at the Wilkes Climate Summit and associated events
- Inclusion in Wilkes Center communications and press outreach
- Institutional credibility associated with a leading research university
Targeted Support & Connection
- Curated introductions to potential funders, partners, and advisors
- Opportunities to participate in convenings, roundtables, or networking events associated with the Prize
- Participation in the Wilkes Prize alumni community
What The Prize Is Not
- A guarantee of scale, adoption, or commercial success
- A substitute for venture capital, government programs, or full accelerator support
- An equity investment nor does Wilkes take a percentage ownership
- An award for ideas without a plausible execution path
Who is Eligible to Apply?
Organizations at all stages, both for-profits and nonprofits, 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.
Who Should Apply
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.
Applicant Considerations
The Wilkes Climate Innovation Prize evaluates how proposed solutions affect the climate/energy/economy system, either by influencing greenhouse gas emissions or by reducing exposure, vulnerability, or systemic risk associated with climate-related stresses.
Applicants should be prepared to address the following major application components in a clear, realistic, and transparent manner.
Selection Criteria Overview
Applications are evaluated by independent judges using criteria that include:
- Climate-system impact and relevance
- Plausibility and clarity of your execution path
- Differentiation, quality of insight and clear co-benefits
- Team expertise and organizational capability
- Catalytic fit with the Wilkes Climate Innovation Prize
Fit with the Wilkes Climate Innovation Prize
Why Wilkes, why now?
Applicants should be prepared to explain what Wilkes Prize support would enable at this stage that is unlikely to happen otherwise. This may include credibility, validation, pilot funding, connection to partners, or timing-specific opportunities.
Applicants are also encouraged (but not required) to describe an early warning signal—what would cause them to conclude within 6–18 months that the approach is not viable.
Final Note to Applicants
The Wilkes Climate Innovation Prize exists to ensure that promising climate-system solutions do not fail at the moment they matter most. Too many impactful solutions fail in early stages—not because of lack of merit, but because the ecosystem fails to support them when risk is high and credibility and capital are scarce.
We encourage applicants to apply who can engage openly about the promise of their solution while also recognizing uncertainty, risk, execution challenges, and real-world constraints.
What format should I use to submit my pitch?
Your pitch should by typed directly into the form on the application portal. Many applicants find it easiest to type their proposal in a word document and copy/past into the form.
Are there restrictions on the use of Prize funds?
Other than a 15% cap on overhead (including indirect or F&A costs), there are no other restrictions on the use of the funds.
When exactly are First Round applications due?
All First Round submissions are due before midnight on February 28, 2026 (12:00 midnight MST)
When will I hear back about Round 2?
The Wilkes Center will accept applications through the February 28th deadline. Applicants who will move on to round 2 will be notified in March.
Can we submit multiple project ideas from the same organization?
Yes, you may submit different ideas from the same organization to be considered.
Does our organization need to have an affiliation with the University of Utah or the State of Utah?
No. The Wilkes Climate Innovation Prize is open to organizations at all stages, both for-profits and nonprofits – anywhere in the world.
Who should I contact if I have additional questions?
All further questions should be submitted to Kyla Welch via email at Kyla.Welch@utah.edu
Learn about past Wilkes Climate Prizes
Launch Prize Updates
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Donate to the Prize
You can support transformative innovation for accomplishing solutions to climate change.
Donations to the Wilkes Center Climate Prize will go toward the prize for innovation and solutions to global climate change.