Applications are now open for the 2026 GCSP Prize for Transformative Futures in Peace and Security. The prize seeks to reward groundbreaking concepts that offer exceptional promise in addressing peace and security challenges. The inaugural edition of the prize was awarded in 2023.
Submissions may come from any country, but the potential impact of the concepts submitted should extend beyond national borders in their scope or thinking. Concepts from a wide variety of fields may be eligible for consideration, including, but not restricted to, transformative technologies, pandemics, biothreats, autonomous weapons, climate change, human rights, cybersecurity, education, or disarmament, for example.
Requirements
- The prize is awarded for groundbreaking concepts by any individual, group of individuals, or organisation (from private or public sectors), that offer exceptional potential in addressing peace and security challenges.
- Submissions may come from any country, but the potential impact of the concepts should go beyond national borders in their reach or thinking and seek to address global peace and security challenges in innovative and creative ways.
- The prize is intended to encourage and recognize excellence in contributing to new approaches to enhancing sustainable global peace and security
Prize
- The winners – first, second, and third place, along with two honourable mentions – will be announced publicly during an event to be held in May 2026.
- The first-place prize consists of a fully funded two-month incubation programme at the GCSP’s Creative Spark in Geneva (valued at CHF 15,000 and to be completed within one year of the award), along with a prize trophy and a certificate of excellence. T
- he second- and third-place recipients will receive certificates of recognition, and the two honourable mentions will receive certificates of honourable mention.
Application Procedure:
All entries must be sent via the online submission form in order to be considered for the prize, and shall include:
- a project concept abstract of 250 words maximum;
- a well-developed project concept description which should not exceed 750 words in length;
- a description of the technical process of the project concept submitted (if applicable);
- an estimate of the budget required for the project concept;
- an explanation of how the project concept provides a novel contribution to the field of global peace and security;
- a description of the short-term and long-term impact of the project concept in the field of global peace and security;
- up to five image files (optional).
- Submissions sent through any other channel will not be considered.
- Submissions must be in English.
- The deadline for submissions is Friday, 20 March 2026 at 23:59 UTC+1.
For More Information:
