Deadline: November 22, 2026
Global Sustainability Challenge 2026–27
Organizer
Led by the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability at Stanford University, in a consortium with the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), IIT Bombay, the Technical University of Munich (TUM), São Paulo State University (UNESP, Brazil), Zhejiang University (China), YGA, and other leading universities and youth-serving institutions worldwide.
Location
Global, with online participation; five Regional Finals — North America (Stanford University, USA, March 5, 2027), Europe & Africa (TUM Garching, Munich, Germany, February 2027), South Asia (IIT Bombay, India, March 2027), Pacific Asia + Australasia (HKUST, Hong Kong, March 2027), and South America (São Paulo State University, Brazil, March 2027). The Global Finale takes place at Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China, on May 20–21, 2027.
Deadline
Registration (pre-registration) deadline: November 22, 2026. Season timeline: Phase 1 Ignite (September–November 2026, team formation and concept development); Phase 2 Build (December 2026–February 2027, prototyping and regional semifinals); Regional Finals (February–March 2027); Phase 3 Shine (March–May 2027); Global Finale on May 20–21, 2027.
Competition Category
Two themes, with teams choosing one:
- Sustainable Energy — clean generation; usage and efficiency; industrial energy; resource scarcity; large-scale transition; transmission, distribution, and storage, including microgrids and grid resilience for communities with unreliable power.
- Adaptation & Resilience — three focus areas: Water (securing safe water supplies amid drought, flooding, and contamination); Food resilience (new for 2026–27 — keeping food systems safe, nutritious, and accessible through climate shocks); Heat resilience (new for 2026–27 — helping people, communities, and infrastructure prepare for, endure, and recover from extreme heat).
Eligibility
Students only. Open to university students worldwide — undergraduate, graduate, and PhD students enrolled in an accredited degree, diploma, or equivalently rigorous program (certificate or short courses are not eligible). Teams of 1–6 students; at least one team member must be 18 or older by January 1, 2027. All disciplines welcome; cross-functional, multidisciplinary teams are strongly encouraged.
Entry Fee
Free to enter.
Prizes/Awards
A total prize pool of more than US$35,000, distributed across the two challenge themes. Winning teams receive global recognition and visibility, networking with industry leaders and partners, continued mentorship, and support for implementation. Select winning teams may be evaluated for a follow-on Stanford EcoGlobal opportunity (workshops, community learning, and a final showcase/demo day supporting sustainability ventures). Partner organizations and companies may also provide funding and follow-on development opportunities.
Core Introduction
The Global Sustainability Challenge is an annual Stanford University initiative in which university student teams design, build, and showcase real-world sustainability solutions, supported by a Stanford-led global network of institutions, mentors, and partners. The inaugural 2025–26 season drew 3,000+ students from 90+ countries across six continents, producing 40 Global Finalist teams. For 2026–27, teams progress through three phases — Ignite (team up, research, and design the concept), Build (develop, test, and iterate, with regional showcases), and Shine (refine and present on the global stage) — advancing from five regional finals to the Global Finale in Hangzhou, China. Built-in support throughout the season includes experienced mentorship, workshops, structured judging and feedback at multiple stages, a resource library, and regional ambassadors providing local coordination and community building.
