Global Change Award 2027
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Quick Answer
A €200,000 (about ₹2.19 crore) no-strings grant for each of 10 early-stage ideas that cut fashion's emissions, plus a yearlong programme. Entry is by nomination; the 2027 window closed.
- Funding amount
- Varies
- Funding type
- Grant
- Provider
- H&M Foundation
- Application deadline
- Closed
- Location
- International
Results & next round
Applications for this round closed on 2 October 2026. The organiser has not published a selection list that we can verify yet.
Selections for this programme are announced by H&M Foundation. Official links are listed under Sources below.
We update this page when results are published, and when the next round opens.
About this grant
The 2027 proposal window for the Global Change Award (GCA) is closed: proposals to The Mills Fabrica, an official nominator, were due by 08:00 CET on 2 October 2026. The award has run every year since 2015, and the page announces no dates for the next round. This guide explains how it works so you can prepare early.
The Global Change Award is an innovation challenge launched by the H&M Foundation in 2015 to speed up early-stage ideas that could help the textile and fashion industry halve its greenhouse gas emissions every decade and reach net zero by 2050. It is a worldwide, nomination-based award. There are no geographic restrictions on who can be nominated, so an Indian founder, researcher or team can take part.
What the program offers
Each year ten winners each receive a €200,000 grant (about ₹2.19 crore) with no strings attached. Neither the H&M Foundation, its partners nor H&M Group take equity or intellectual property rights in the awarded ideas, and winners are free to work with whomever they choose. The grant is paid in two tranches: the first when winners are announced and the second after completing the Changemaker Programme. Winners also join a yearlong Changemaker Programme designed with Accenture and KTH Royal Institute of Technology, with The Mills Fabrica as a contributing partner. It combines in-person experiences, expert guidance and a global network, and winners are introduced at the Global Change Award Summit and celebrated at Stockholm City Hall. The award is not a traditional accelerator and does not guarantee pilots, investment or commercial adoption.
Who can apply
GCA is for early-stage changemakers working on ideas that can help decarbonise the textile and fashion industry. You may be an individual, a small team or an organisation, and you do not need a registered company. "Early-stage" means very young ideas: many have no funding yet, may still be in research, lab or concept phase, and may not be validated or commercialised. You do not need revenue, customers or a finished solution. The idea can be technical, social, policy-driven or system-oriented, and it should sit within one of four areas: sustainable materials and processes, responsible production, mindful consumption, or wildcards.
Only one entry per person is allowed, and you must own all rights connected to your idea. This suits a student, lab researcher or small team in India with a bold, unproven idea for textiles. It does not suit an established company that is already commercialised.
How to apply
You cannot apply directly. Entry is by nomination from the GCA's network of nominators, which includes universities, research institutes, charities, accelerators, industry associations, brands and previous winners. If no nominator has put you forward, you could send a proposal to The Mills Fabrica, which is an official nominator. For 2027 that window ran from 1 September to 2 October 2026 and applicants were told by the end of October 2026 whether they had been nominated. If nominated, you are invited to complete the GCA application with more details about your idea. To hear about future windows, the award recommends subscribing to its newsletter.
How applications are judged and what happens next
Nominated proposals are screened by a reference group of experts, reviewed by the GCA Expert Panel, and winners are chosen by the H&M Foundation board. Selection looks at where the idea is in its innovation journey, whether it fits the four areas, openness to systems thinking, and the team's commitment, capacity and initiative. For the 2027 round, reviews ran from December 2026 to March 2027, winners are notified in April 2027, the programme begins in May 2027 and winners are announced in June 2027, with the ceremony at Stockholm City Hall in October 2027. Because of volume, individual feedback cannot always be given.
About the H&M Foundation
The H&M Foundation launched the Global Change Award in 2015 as part of its work to accelerate innovation that can transform the textile industry. Several alumni now work with global brands and businesses to bring their solutions to market.
Things to check before you apply
- Nomination: you need a nominator, so build relationships with a university, incubator or industry body before the next window.
- Travel: the programme includes in-person weeks. Winners are worked with individually if travel is hard, and the award says inability to travel should not prevent nomination. Visas and grant transfers are handled case by case.
- Foreign funds: Indian recipients of foreign money should check FEMA and tax treatment with an adviser before applying.
- A practical tip: write your idea so a non-specialist nominator can see which of the four areas it belongs to and why it could help the whole industry.
Eligibility
See if you're eligible
Full eligibility criteria — entity type, stage, sector, founder profile and registration requirements — plus your fit for this program. Sign up to view.
Grant providers
Benefits & Funding
- Fund type
- Grant
What You Get
Each of the ten winners receives a €200,000 grant (about ₹2.19 crore), paid in two tranches: the first when they are announced as winners and the second after the Changemaker Programme. Winners decide how to use it for developing their idea, and no equity or IP is taken. They also get the yearlong Changemaker Programme, access to the GCA community of brands, suppliers, researchers and investors, and global recognition at Stockholm City Hall.
- Disbursement
- Tranched
- Duration
- 12 months
- Bootstrap friendly
- Yes
Timelines & Process
Selection Process
Candidates are screened by a reference group of experts, reviewed by the GCA Expert Panel and selected by the H&M Foundation board. Selection looks at the idea's stage, its fit with the four areas, openness to systems thinking and the team's commitment, capacity and initiative.
Application Process
- 1
Submit a proposal
Send your idea to an official nominator such as The Mills Fabrica.
You - 2
- 3
- 4
How to apply
Four steps from draft to disbursement — one action each.
- 1
Draft your application
Answer the form inside the grant tracker — AI drafts each response using your past answers, so you're not starting from a blank page.
- 2
Submit on the official portal
Use the official application link and verify all details before final submission.
- 3
Follow up
Reach out 5–7 days after submitting to confirm receipt and ask about the review timeline.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I apply directly to the Global Change Award?
No. GCA uses a nomination-based process. If no nominator has put you forward, you could send a proposal to The Mills Fabrica, an official nominator, during its open window.
Can an Indian founder be nominated for the Global Change Award?
Yes. There are no geographic restrictions on who can be nominated. Practical matters such as visas, travel and grant transfers are handled case by case for winners.
How much is the grant?
Each of the ten winners receives €200,000 (about ₹2.19 crore) with no strings attached. It is paid in two tranches, the first when winners are announced and the second after the Changemaker Programme.
Is it a grant or equity?
It is a grant. Neither the H&M Foundation, its partners nor H&M Group take equity or intellectual property rights in the awarded ideas.
Do I need a registered company?
No. Individuals, informal small teams and organisations can all be nominated, as long as you own all rights connected to the idea.
How early is early-stage?
Very early. Many ideas have no funding yet and may still be in research, lab or concept phase. You do not need revenue, customers or a finished solution.
What was the deadline and what if it has passed?
The Mills Fabrica's 2027 proposal window closed on 2 October 2026 at 08:00 CET. The page announces no next round, so subscribe to the award's newsletter for updates.
Do I have to travel?
The Changemaker Programme includes in-person elements, with three in-person weeks, and the winners are celebrated in Stockholm. The award works with winners individually if travel is challenging, and not being able to travel should not prevent nomination.
Does it cost anything to take part?
No. Taking part is free.
When are the winners announced?
In the 2027 round, winners are notified in April 2027, the programme begins in May 2027 and the ten winners are announced publicly in June 2027.
Sources
Data on this page is compiled from official program and provider references.
