Deadline: September 23, 2026
Applications are open for the Geneva Centre for Security Policy (GCSP) Prize for Innovation 2026. Launched in 2015 as part of the GCSP’s Creativity and Innovation Initiative, the GCSP Prize for Innovation in Global Security recognises groundbreaking contributions that address the world’s most pressing security challenges.
Organised by GCSP’s Geopolitics and Global Futures Department, this prestigious annual award celebrates individuals and organisations that are advancing bold, creative, and impactful solutions in the field of global security.
Prizes
- The first-place laureate receives a CHF 10,000 cash prize and a certificate of excellence in recognition of their outstanding contribution to global peace and security.
- Second- and third-place recipients will be honoured with certificates of recognition, while two additional projects will receive honourable mentions.
Eligibility
- Open to all disciplines and sectors, the prize highlights the most inspiring and original achievements of the year – whether through new initiatives, technological innovations, research publications, or institutional accomplishments.
- The prize is awarded for projects by any individual, group of individuals, or organisation (from private or public sectors), which contribute to global security and have been submitted for consideration according to these rules and regulations.
- Submissions may come from any country, but the projects should go beyond national borders in their reach or thinking and seek to address global security in innovative ways or through new ideas. A broad range of projects could qualify for consideration, including, but not limited to, technological and conceptual innovations, original research, or grassroots initiatives.
- Employees, staff, current fellows and current participants of the GCSP, as well as their family members, are not eligible participants. For the above categories to be eligible participants, a period of 1 year since the termination of the relationship with the GCSP must be respected.
Application
The deadline for applications is Wednesday, 23 September 2026 at 23:59 UTC+2. The winners will be announced in Fall 2026.
All entries must be submitted via the online submission form in order to be considered for the prize, and shall include:
- a project abstract of 250 words maximum;
- a well-developed project description which should not exceed 750 words in length;
- a description of the technical process of the project submitted (if applicable);
- an estimate of the budget required for the project;
- an explanation of how the project provides a novel contribution to the field of global security;
- a description of the short-term and long-term impact of the project in the field of global security;
- a declaration stating whether Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools, including generative AI, agentic AI, and multimodal tools and applications, were used in the preparation of any part of the submission and if so, which tools were used and how.
- up to five image files (optional).
For more information, visit GCSP Prize.
