Three prizes totalling 150,000 USD recognizing groundbreaking research in sustainability.
The World Sustainability Award (WSA) honors individuals who have made groundbreaking contributions to sustainability research. Offered by the MDPI Sustainability Foundation, the award recognizes scholarly excellence and transformative impact across disciplines.
The 2026 WSA will honor three awardees, with one selected from each of the three core categories: Biosphere, Society, and Economy. Each winner will receive a monetary prize of 50,000 USD, bringing the total award amount to 150,000. The awards will be officially presented during the World Sustainability Forum 2026.
Nomination Process
The nomination process for the 2026 edition will open on Friday, 25 July 2025. Detailed information on eligibility and submission procedures is provided in the dedicated section below. Nominations must be submitted by a qualified third party via the official online platform. Self-nominations will not be accepted.
Following the nomination deadline, the Selection Committee, composed of internationally recognized experts in sustainability, will review all eligible submissions and select the award recipients.
The selected winners will be informed in due course and are expected to attend the award ceremony, which will be held during the World Sustainability Forum 2026.
Nomination Criteria
The World Sustainability Award is conferred upon senior researchers in recognition of exceptional and sustained contributions to sustainability-related scholarship and practice.
The Selection Committee will evaluate nominees according to the following criteria:
Scientific Excellence: Nominnes should have a demonstrable record of sustained, high-quality research, either fundamental or applied, conducted within an appropriate disciplinary or interdisciplinary context.
Contribution to Sustainability Pillars: The nominnes’ research must address at least two of the three foundational pillars of sustainability, with clearly evidenced impact:
Biosphere: Environmental and ecological systems
Society: Social and cultural dimensions of development
Economy: Economic structures, processes, or innovations
Innovative and Applicable Outcomes: The research must exhibit originality and offer feasible solutions to contemporary sustainability challenges, with potential or demonstrated real-world implementation.
Alignment with Global Agendas: The research should contribute meaningfully to the objectives outlined in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Scholarly Leadership and Influence: There should be evidence of the nominee’s broader influence on the academic or professional community, including leadership roles, mentorship, institutional
Deadlines: 15 December 2025
Click HERE to Apply
