What is Wege Prize?
Wege Prize is an annual competition that ignites game-changing solutions for the future by inspiring college/university students around the world to collaborate across institutional, disciplinary, and cultural boundaries to redesign the way economies work. Participants contend for $65,000 (USD) in total cash prizes, all while learning—and helping to show the world—what the future of problem solving looks like.
The PLAYERS
College/university students from around the world apply as transdisciplinary teams of five, representing different academic disciplines, institutions, and degree levels.
Teams advance through up to four distinct phases, receiving feedback from experts and professionals in related fields along the way.
PARTICIPATION REQUIREMENTS
The Challenge
How can we create a circular economy?
Each team must leverage its transdisciplinary makeup to collaboratively design and propose a product, service, system, or other solution to a wicked problem of their choosing that can help us transition from a linear economic model to a circular economic model.
READ THE 2025 DESIGN BRIEF
The Prizes
Winning teams will split the following awards evenly between their five members:
First Place: $30,000 (USD)
Second Place: $20,000 (USD)
Third Place: $10,000 (USD)
Finalist Awards (2): $2,500 (USD)
PAST WINNERS