The WSA Young Innovators program honors young people under the age of 26 who use ICTs to advance the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations (UN SDGs).
It’s possible to apply for the WSA Young Innovators prize. Any entrepreneur, business, student organization, or project team may participate in the WSA Young Innovators program, but at least one of the founding members and the majority of the team must be under the age of 26. (born on or after January 1, 1996).
- Are developed by young innovators under the age of 26
- Offer digital solutions to any of the UN Sustainable Development Goals
- Deliver content-rich digital solutions to the user including individuals, businesses, and organizations
- Have a strong digital component: websites, apps, SMS based solutions, IoT, wearables, etc.
- Are market ready or already launched on the market—no ideas or concepts are eligible
- Eligible for young citizens of all UN member states, WSA Young Innovators is open to every start-up, social entrepreneur, NGO, student or individual!
Benefits
The WSA is a non-monetary award system with a focus on sustainable knowledge transfer through a worldwide network. This means that winners benefit not from a one time financial reward, but a lifelong partnership and integration.
Winners of the WSA Benefits
- Invitation to the WSA Global Congress including:
- Pitching seminars
- Pitching session in front of an international audience during the Congress
- A program of specially crafted workshops for the winners
- Invitation to the prestigious award ceremony
- Board and lodging for the duration of the Congress (only on-site events)
- Eye to eye exchange with speakers, jurors and international guests
- Integration into a network of internationally recognized digital content developers
- Access to the WSA community of global experts and industry leaders in over 180 countries
- Interaction with world-renowned sponsors and partners of the WSA community
- Workshops specially shaped for the winners’ needs
- A video clip highlighting the winners’ projects
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- Special placement on WSA website, YouTube channel and social media promotion
- Long-term coverage within WSA editorial channels
Nominees’ Benefits
A nomination for the WSA is already a win – these are the rewards- More coverage of your product. WSA provides nominees with press templates to help them gain the attention of national media with support of the WSA national experts.
- WSA nominee seal to use on websites, social media channels and publications
- Opportunity to receive feedback from the jurors.
- Being nominated for the WSA means to be the best in the respective country in one of our 8 categories. Our experience has shown that this qualification can immensely improve outreach.
Eligibilities
- Taking part in the WSA Young Innovators contest is eligible through submission of a project with a clear digital component to the WSA Database.
- The participation in the WSA Young Innovators is open to any entrepreneur, company, student group or project team–at least one of the founding members and most of the team must be under the age of 26 (born on or after January 1, 1996).
- Submissions for the WSA Young Innovators can contain all mobile and web-based projects, such as apps, web pages, applications for wearables, kiosk installations, SMS based products, games and interactive productions. There is no limitation regarding the platforms or channels the projects work with.
- All submissions have to be launched products. No drafts, ideas or unfinished projects can be accepted.
