Wege Prize 2027: a Student Design Competition for the Circular Economy

Part design competition, part global learning lab—Wege Prize 2027 challenges transdisciplinary teams of university students to develop real-world solutions to complex, “wicked” problems through the framework of the circular economy.

Participants contend for $65,000 (USD) in total cash prizes as they evolve their ideas with input from judges who provide in-depth feedback at each phase of the competition’s iterative design process

• 1st Place - $30,000 USD
• 2nd Place - $20,000 USD
• 3rd Place - $10,000 USD
• Finalist Award (x2) - $2,500 USD


HOW IT WORKS

1. Build a team of students that:

• Has exactly 5 members

• Represents at least 3 different academic disciplines (by current program of study)

• Represents at least 2 different academic institutions (schools/colleges within a larger university count as separate institutions)


2. Propose a product or service that solves a wicked problem while making circular design its differentiator.

The Circular Economy – Three Core Principles

a. Eliminate waste and pollution - by redefining these aspects as flaws to be designed out of the things we make rather than inevitable by-products.

b. Circulate products and materials - through processes like maintenance, reuse, refurbishment, remanufacture, and composting.

c. Regenerate nature - through practices that rebuild soils, increase biodiversity, preserve water systems, and return biological materials to the earth.


3. Evolve your solution through a multi-phase design process driven by in-depth feedback loops with Wege Prize judges:

• Phase 1 / Apply (Aug. 3 – Oct. 4) – 90 team applications accepted
• Phase 2 / Design (Oct. 19 – Dec. 6) – 30 teams advance
• Phase 2 / Refine (Jan. 4 – Feb. 31) – 15 semifinalist teams
• Phase 4 / Present (Mar. 15 – May 16) – 5 finalist teams


WHO CAN JOIN A TEAM

To be eligible to join a Wege Prize team, you must:

• Be currently enrolled in an undergraduate, graduate, or post-graduate degree program anywhere in the world

Teams can be composed of a mix of undergraduate, graduate, and post-graduate students if they so choose.

• Be enrolled full-time (or equivalent) for the majority of the competition

If you are graduating before May of 2027, you must be enrolled as a student through at least December 6, 2026.



HOW TEAMS ARE JUDGED

Wege Prize judges will guide and evaluate your team through the following lenses, providing in-depth feedback to help you improve in each area as the competition progresses.

• Circularity - How does your solution intentionally and successfully incorporate the core principles of the circular economy?

• Innovation - How does your solution—and in particular its circular design—provide unique value and create new opportunity?

• Viability - To what extent have you prototyped your solution and demonstrated its marketability, profitability, and technical/financial feasibility?

• Scope - How does your solution reflect a systemic understanding of the problem while remaining rooted in a clear, sensible entry point?

• Desirability - To what extent has your user/stakeholder research uncovered proven need and sufficient motivation for people to use your solution?

• Collaboration - How effectively have you leveraged your team’s diverse makeup and engaged outside perspectives to strengthen your solution?

• Presentation - To what extent have you presented your solution in a clear, concise, well-organized, compelling, and visually engaging manner?


JUDGES

• Alysia Garmulewicz – Co-CEO/Founder, Materiom

• Nathan Shedroff – designer, entrepreneur, business strategist, author, and lecturer at Columbia University

• Jo Williams – circular economy learning consultant, Senior Tutor for the University of Exeter’s Circular Economy Masterclass

• Colin Webster – Learning Content Manager, Ellen MacArthur Foundation

• Braj (BK) Singh – Founder, Green Roots Consultants

• Joaquin Viquez –Founder, Innovaciones Circulares

• Meritxell (Txell) Martín i Pardo – Co-Founder, Cascade Collective for Cultural Sustainability

• Skot Welch – Founder, Global Bridgebuilders

• Gretchen Hooker – Owner, Pixel Naturalist Design Studio

• Christopher Carter – Founder, The Carter Project