Prototypes for Humanity 2026 Competition in Dubai for Students and Graduates with Prizes Worth USD 100,000

The Prototypes for Humanity platform has opened applications for the Dubai Future Solutions – Prototypes for Humanity 2026 Summit, which brings together students, graduates, and researchers from universities around the world to showcase projects and innovations offering practical solutions to social and environmental challenges.

A total of 100 innovative university projects will be selected to participate in an international exhibition in Dubai. Participants will have opportunities to connect with investors, government entities, companies, and experts, while competing for cash prizes totaling USD 100,000.

Eligible Fields

Projects may be submitted from a wide range of disciplines and sectors, including:

1. Health and well-being.
2. Energy and climate.
3. Food, agriculture, and water.
4. Cities, infrastructure, and mobility.
5. Industry, manufacturing, and materials.
6. Digital technologies and data.
7. Education and human capital development.
8. Inclusion, social systems, and governance.
9. Engineering, science, and design.
10. Environmental and community solutions.

Projects are not required to involve advanced technology. Both high-tech and low-tech solutions are eligible, provided they demonstrate a clear positive impact on society or the environment.

Selected project teams will receive the following benefits:

1. The opportunity to showcase their project at an international exhibition of university innovations in Dubai.
2. The chance to compete for prizes totaling USD 100,000.
3. Opportunities to connect with investors, companies, government entities, and decision-makers.
4. Access to potential funding and industrial partnerships.
5. Support in transforming academic research or a university project into a practical and implementable solution.
6. Media and digital exposure through the programme’s platforms.
7. Membership in a global network of innovators and researchers.
8. Participation in events and knowledge-exchange sessions.
9. The option to express interest in joining the venture-building and startup development programme.
10. Full retention of the project’s intellectual property rights.

Applications are open to:

1. Undergraduate students currently enrolled at a university.
2. Master’s and other postgraduate students.
3. Doctoral students.
4. Graduates who completed their studies within the past two years.
5. Professors submitting an application on behalf of their students.

Applicants must also meet the following requirements:

1. Be over 18 years old.
2. Have a project connected to a university or academic institution.
3. Have an academic supervisor who supports the project and whose details are included in the application.
4. Submit an innovative solution with a clear social or environmental impact.
5. Base the project on research or a clearly defined academic methodology.
6. Explain how technology, design, or scientific knowledge is used in the proposed solution.

Individual and Team Applications

Projects may be submitted:

1. Individually.
2. By a team of two or more members.
3. Without a publicly stated maximum limit on the number of team members.

Required Project Information

The application form requires:

1. The project name.
2. The project’s current stage.
3. A project description of no more than 1,000 characters.
4. The achievements and milestones reached by the project.
5. Any previous awards, publications, or media coverage, where applicable.
6. Information about previous funding and its value, where applicable.
7. The project field and the core technology used.
8. The Technology Readiness Level, from 1 to 9.
9. The status of the project’s intellectual property or patent.
10. The level of testing or practical validation achieved by the solution.

Required Documents

Applicants must prepare one PDF file containing:

1. A detailed description of the project.
2. The problem it addresses.
3. The limitations of existing solutions.
4. The alternative solution proposed by the project.
5. An explanation of how the project works.
6. The expected or demonstrated impact.
7. Images, illustrations, and diagrams.
8. Research and testing results.
9. Information about the prototype or product, where available.

The PDF file must not exceed 20 MB. Applicants may also include links to project videos hosted on YouTube or Vimeo, although videos are not mandatory.

Explore More Volunteering Opportunities

Explore Your Comprehensive Guide to Attending and Participating in Conferences

Read Also: About Content Creation