Submissions open for Zayed Sustainability Prize 2022

Entries will be accepted May 6, 2021, and winners are granted up to Dh2.2 million in funding

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, andDr Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of Show more

Entrepreneurs and start-ups have been invited to submit their proposals for the next round of the Zayed Sustainability Prize to win up to Dh2.2 million in funding.

Entries from global organisations and high schools will be accepted until May 6, 2021 though the prize's online portal.

Applicants should offer long-term solutions and demonstrate their intent of improving access to essential products or services across five main categories: health, food, energy, water and global high schools.

The 2021 awards ceremony for the annual prize was postponed to 2022 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Those who applied for the 2021 cycle will be automatically entered into the 2022 edition.

"As a catalyst for change and positive transformation, the Zayed Sustainability Prize continues its drive to empower small and medium enterprises and non-profits, while encouraging youth to take on an active role in supporting their communities and becoming future sustainability leaders," said Dr Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and director-general of the Zayed Sustainability Prize.

"I trust that the Prize will once again attract the world’s best sustainability innovators, whose work today, is even more imperative to support the transition to the post-Covid-19 world, for both people and nations alike."

Since it launched in 2008, the prize has rewarded 86 winners whose solutions or school projects have directly and indirectly affected 335 million people around the world.

Through direct funding, the annual award supports social initiatives that harness new technologies to change lives for the better.

The $3 million (Dh11m) prize fund is divided equally between the winners of the five categories, with each allocated $600,000 (Dh2.2m).

The Global High Schools category recognises six winners, from six world regions, with each winning school eligible to claim up to $100,000 (Dh367,000) in funding.

The Zayed Sustainability Prize has a three-stage evaluation process, beginning with an in-depth review by an independent research and analysis consultancy. This identifies the qualified entries and results in the selection of shortlisted candidates. Following this, a Selection Committee consisting of international experts reviews the submissions. From this shortlist of candidates, the finalists are chosen and then sent to the Prize Jury who select the winners, across all five categories.

Winners will be announced in 2022 during an awards ceremony as part of the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week.