The Wilkes Center for Climate Science & Policy at the University of Utah invites applications for the 2027 Wilkes Climate Innovation Prize, an international competition supporting high-potential solutions to major challenges across the climate, energy and economy ecosystem.

The prize seeks practical solutions that can make measurable progress towards real-world implementation, particularly where significant uncertainty remains, conventional funding or adoption pathways are limited, and targeted support could meaningfully accelerate progress.

Solutions may be technological, policy-driven, operational, financial or hybrid. Applicants should demonstrate a clear application, a credible execution pathway and the potential to deliver meaningful climate-system impact.

Funding and Support

• Grand prize: USD 250,000.
• Number of awards: One grand prize.
• Funding type: Non-dilutive prize funding; no equity is taken.
• Permitted use: Support for validation, pilot projects or readiness for scale. Other than a 15% cap on overhead, including indirect and facilities and administration costs, no further restrictions on the use of prize funds are specified in the published FAQ.

Successful applicants may also receive:

• Recognition at the Wilkes Climate Summit and associated events.
• Visibility through Wilkes Center communications and press outreach.
• Curated introductions to potential funders, partners and advisers.
• Opportunities to participate in relevant convenings, roundtables and networking events.
• Access to the Wilkes Prize alumni community.

The prize does not guarantee commercial success, adoption or scale, and is not a substitute for venture capital, government programmes or comprehensive accelerator support.

Purpose and Objectives

The prize aims to accelerate practical solutions that:

• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions or support climate mitigation.
• Reduce exposure, vulnerability or systemic risks associated with climate-related stresses.
• Strengthen climate resilience and risk management.
• Address significant challenges across interconnected climate, energy and economic systems.
• Advance promising solutions towards validation, pilot implementation or readiness for scale.

Scope of the Opportunity

Applications may address a broad range of climate-system challenges through technological, policy, operational, financial or hybrid approaches.

Solutions should demonstrate a plausible route towards implementation rather than being purely theoretical concepts. Applicants should explain what needs to happen next, the barriers preventing progress, and how prize support could change the solution's trajectory.

Eligibility Criteria

The prize is open to applicants from anywhere in the world, including:

• For-profit companies and start-ups.
• Nonprofit organisations.
• Academic teams.
• Public-sector innovators.
• Mission-driven collaborations.

Organisations at different stages of development may apply, from early-stage concepts through to established and publicly traded companies, provided the proposed solution has a clear real-world application and a credible execution pathway.

No affiliation with the University of Utah or the State of Utah is required. An organisation may submit multiple distinct project ideas for consideration.

Selection Criteria

Applications are evaluated by independent judges against five weighted criteria:

• Climate System Impact — 25%: The significance of the proposed solution's impact on climate mitigation, resilience or risk management.
• Plausibility and Execution Path — 20%: The credibility of the implementation pathway and the ability to make measurable progress.
• Differentiation, Insight and Co-Benefits — 15%: The solution's distinctiveness, quality of insight and additional benefits.
• Team and Capability — 20%: The experience, expertise and organisational capacity required to implement the solution.
• Catalytic Fit with the Wilkes Climate Innovation Prize — 20%: The extent to which prize support could unlock progress that would otherwise be difficult to achieve.

Applicants are encouraged, but not required, to identify an early warning signal that would indicate within 6–18 months that their approach is not viable.

Geographic Scope

Global. Applicants from any country may apply, subject to the programme's application requirements.

Important Dates

• Application opening date: 23 September 2026.
• Application deadline: 20 November 2026, before midnight Mountain Standard Time (MST).
• Semi-finalists notified: January 2027.
• Finalists notified: February 2027, with additional information requested and coaching offered.
• Finalist presentations: 13 May 2027 at the Wilkes Climate Summit.
• Winner announcement: September 2027.

Application Process

Applicants must complete the first-round application through the online application portal. The pitch should be entered directly into the application form; applicants may prepare their responses in a separate document before copying them into the portal.

Applications should clearly explain the proposed solution, the climate-system challenge being addressed, the implementation pathway, the team's capabilities and why prize support is particularly valuable at this stage.

Industry / Sector

Climate technology, renewable energy, environmental sustainability, climate resilience, research and development, financial innovation and climate policy.

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