A notable program that honors creative digital solutions created by young entrepreneurs under 26 is the WSA Young Innovators Award 2024–2025. This World Summit Awards (WSA) component honors projects that employ digital technology to address the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the UN and have a positive social impact. The prize invites a wide spectrum of participants and is open to business owners, project teams, student organizations, and entrepreneurs.
Solutions that provide socially conscious, content-rich experiences for consumers, companies, and organisations must be in line with one or more SDGs. Without regard to platform or channel limitations, submissions can include web- and mobile-based items such games, interactive productions, wearables, kiosk installations, apps, and SMS-based goods. All products entering must be fully launched.
WSA was founded in 2003 in support of the UN Sustainable Development Goals Agenda, during the UN World Summit on the Information Society (UN WSIS). In order to improve societal well-being, it finds and supports regional digital innovations and builds a global network of experts, mentors, judges, and social entrepreneurs. After more than 20 years of global involvement, WSA is now recognized in more than 182 nations as a mark of quality in digital material.
Country: India/Online
Funding Type: Fully funded
Opportunity Type: Awards, Start-Ups Events
Eligibility Criteria:
- All young people living in UN member states are eligible to apply for the WSA Young Innovators initiative, which offers chances for individuals, NGOs, companies, and social entrepreneurs.
- Companies, startups, student organisations, and project teams that have at least one founding member and most of their members under 26 (born on or after January 1, 1998) are eligible to participate.
- All UN and UNESCO member states are allowed to enter the WSA Young Innovators Award.
- Entire items must be submitted; concepts, drafts, or partially completed projects will not be accepted.
- Submissions must respect human rights norms and refrain from including any material that encourages fraud, racism, violence, or discrimination.
- WSA national experts must nominate submissions, which must be completed in full and submitted without charge.
- Submissions that are incomplete or do not follow WSA criteria can be removed from consideration without warning.
- The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations must be addressed in any solutions.
- Applicants should make sure their digital solutions are easy to understand and free of long words and complicated technical jargon.
Benefits:
- The World Summit Awards (WSA) are a global network-based initiative that promotes sustainable information exchange instead of offering monetary prizes.
- Instead of receiving a one-time cash payout, winners earn “Network Capital,” which is a lifetime collaboration and integration.
- In addition to giving nominated teams and social entrepreneurs recognition, participation in the WSA gives them access to a global learning network of extraordinary innovators.
- Through the WSA, participants can collaborate to increase the impact of their digital solutions, meet like-minded people, and take advantage of mentorship possibilities.
- Access to the WSA community, which is made up of prominent professionals and industry leaders from over 180 countries, provides participants with chances for insightful conversations.
- Participants in the competition get the chance to showcase their solutions to a worldwide network of national specialists.
- The 19th WSA Global Congress in Hyderabad, India, from April 6–9, 2025, will be open to winners.
Deadline: October 15, 2024
