Schneider Go Green Challenge 2026
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Quick Answer
Schneider Electric's global student challenge for clean-energy ideas that serve a real community. First prize €6,000 (about ₹6.5 lakh). The 2026 round closed on 28 August 2026.
- Funding amount
- Varies
- Funding type
- Competition
- Provider
- Schneider Electric
- Application deadline
- Closed
- Location
- International
Results & next round
Applications for this round closed on 28 August 2026. The organiser has not published a selection list that we can verify yet.
Selections for this programme are announced by Schneider Electric. Official links are listed under Sources below.
We update this page when results are published, and when the next round opens.
About this competition
The 2026 Schneider Go Green Challenge is closed. The deadline for registration and the first project proposal was 28 August 2026, and the contest runs to its online final on 7 December 2026. The official terms do not mention a next edition, so check the Go Green site if you want to enter in future.
Schneider Electric runs the competition for university, college and vocational students, administered on its behalf by YouNoodle. The 2026 theme was Energy Tech for Local Impact. It is open to students worldwide, including students in India, and the whole contest is online.
What the program offers
There is a €10,000 cash pool: €6,000 (about ₹6.5 lakh) for first place, €2,500 for second and €1,500 for third, split evenly among the members of each team. Winners also get a promotional campaign to build their visibility and mentoring from Schneider Electric leaders. Teams that reach the top 10 may be given a Schneider mentor while they build their business case.
Who can apply
You must be 18 to 30 years old when you submit the first application and be enrolled full-time or part-time in an undergraduate or graduate programme, or a vocational training institution. Teams have two to four registered students who all study in the same country. Teammates can attend different universities and study different subjects, and nationality or residency is not required. Each person can join only one team and submit one application. English is the official language.
This suits Indian students with an engineering, energy or business interest who can pick a specific problem for a real community, such as a village without reliable power. It is not for working professionals or founders who have left education.
How to apply
Register your team on the Go Green site and submit an initial project proposal on the YouNoodle platform before the deadline. The page says initial applications without the required participation form are disqualified. Your idea must be your own original work, in English. AI tools may help with brainstorming, but the idea itself must be distinctly yours. A practical tip: name a specific community and show how the solution can be built and maintained with local parts and local skills.
How applications are judged and what happens next
- Phase I: a jury of experts chooses the top 10 teams on innovation, feasibility, environmental impact and social impact. Teams must also disclose any attempt to commercialise.
- Phase II: the top 10 improve their proposal into a deck of no more than 15 slides plus an elevator pitch, and a jury of Schneider senior leaders picks the top 3 on rule adherence, innovation, technical feasibility and business case.
- Phase III: the three finalists give a 30-minute live online presentation, then a 30-minute question session with executive jurors. The final is held online, not in person.
About Schneider Electric
Schneider Electric describes itself as a global industrial technology leader in electrification, automation and digitisation, with about 150,000 employees and operations in over 100 countries. Its stated purpose is to help people make the most of energy and resources.
Things to check before you apply
- Intellectual property: teams that advance to Phase III irrevocably assign their rights in the idea and materials to Schneider, and Schneider gets broad rights to use submissions. Read the terms before you commit.
- You must disclose any third-party funding, jobs or commitments tied to your idea.
- Participants consent to being filmed and photographed for promotion.
- The terms say the prize is shared by the top three teams yet also describe one winner, so confirm the exact prize rules with the organisers.
Eligibility
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Full eligibility criteria — entity type, stage, sector, founder profile and registration requirements — plus your fit for this program. Sign up to view.
Organizers
Prizes & Awards
What You Get
The top three teams share a €10,000 cash prize pool (about ₹10.9 lakh): €6,000 (about ₹6.5 lakh) for first place, €2,500 for second and €1,500 for third. Each prize is split evenly among the team members, provided the team meets all the competition's requirements. Winning team members also get mentoring sessions with Schneider Electric experts, and the top 10 teams are each paired with a Schneider Electric mentor while they build their business case. Teams that continue to the final phase assign the intellectual property in their idea and materials to Schneider Electric.
- Disbursement
- Lump Sum
- Bootstrap friendly
- Yes
Timelines & Process
Selection Process
A jury of experts picks the top 10 teams, a jury of Schneider senior leaders picks the top 3, and the finalists give a 30-minute live online presentation followed by a 30-minute question session. Schneider's decisions are final.
Application Process
- 1
Register
Each member registers with a résumé and the team forms (two to four students).
You - 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
How to apply
Four steps from draft to disbursement — one action each.
- 1
Submit on the official portal
Use the official application link and verify all details before final submission.
- 2
Follow up
Reach out 5–7 days after submitting to confirm receipt and ask about the review timeline.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can students in India enter the Schneider Go Green Challenge?
Yes. It is open to students worldwide who are 18 to 30. All team members must study in the same country, and they do not have to be nationals or residents of it.
How much could a team win?
The cash pool is €10,000: €6,000 (about ₹6.5 lakh) for first, €2,500 for second and €1,500 for third, split evenly among team members.
What was the deadline and has it passed?
The participation form and first proposal were due on 28 August 2026, so the 2026 round is closed. The terms mention no next edition.
Is it a grant or equity?
It is a competition with cash prizes, not equity. Finalist teams assign IP rights in their idea to Schneider, so read the terms.
What happens to our idea if we reach the final?
Teams advancing to Phase III irrevocably assign their intellectual property rights in the idea and materials to Schneider. If Schneider files a patent, the entrant receives a payment equal to what a Schneider employee in the same country would receive.
Is the final in person?
No. Phase III is a 30-minute live online presentation followed by a 30-minute question session, with the contest ending on 7 December 2026.
What do we need to submit?
A project proposal in English on the YouNoodle platform and a completed participation form. Top 10 teams then submit a deck of up to 15 slides and an elevator pitch.
Can we use AI tools?
AI can be used for brainstorming, but the final submission must be distinctly the team's own work, and AI-generated content should not be the foundation of the idea.
What does the jury look for?
Phase I looks at innovation, feasibility, environmental impact and social impact. Later phases add business case, technical feasibility and financial model.
Is it free to enter?
The official terms mention no entry fee.
Sources
Data on this page is compiled from official program and provider references.
