WIN WIN Sustainability Award 2027

The WIN WIN Gothenburg Sustainability Award is an international prize from Gothenburg, Sweden, worth SEK 1 million (about ₹90 lakh). Anyone can nominate, self-nominations are allowed, and candidates can come from any country, so an Indian founder or organisation can be put forward. Nominations for the 2027 round close on 10 January 2027 and cost nothing. This is a prize for work already done, not funding for a planned project, so it is not a startup grant to be applied for in the usual sense.

What the program offers

The WIN WIN Award is SEK 1 million (about ₹90 lakh) each year, and the source says laureates also receive a physical prize, a trophy made from a sustainable material linked to the theme. A separate WIN WIN Youth Award of SEK 100,000 (about ₹9 lakh) is given to young changemakers aged 13 to 29. The award was founded in 2000 as an alliance between politics, business and academia, and the youth award was added in 2018. The source does not say what the prize money must be spent on.

The 2027 theme is Re:economy: an economic system for human wellbeing within the planetary boundaries. The award looks for people and organisations already reshaping how value is created and shared, through new business models, finance that flows to healthy ecosystems and communities, policy, or new ideas about what a good life can be.

Who can apply

Anyone can nominate an eligible candidate, and self-nomination is allowed. The award is open to candidates worldwide, and organisations outside Sweden can be nominated. Candidates should be recognised in their field and serve as role models. When you nominate an organisation, movement or company, you name the leader or key individual behind its success. The award recognises finished projects and achievements, not plans or funding requests.

For the Youth Award, candidates must be between 13 and 29, and must not turn 30 at any point during the calendar year of the award process, even after the ceremony.

For an Indian founder, this suits someone with a track record of changing how an economy, market or financial system works for people and the planet, such as a social enterprise, a climate-finance innovator or a community-led business model. It does not suit an early idea, a pre-revenue prototype, or someone seeking money to start a project.

How to apply

1. Read the 2027 theme, Re:economy, on the WIN WIN website.
2. Open the online nomination form and choose to nominate yourself or another candidate.
3. For an organisation, movement or company, give the name of the leader or key individual behind it.
4. Describe how the candidate has contributed to an economy that supports human wellbeing within the planetary boundaries, and add links or files as evidence.
5. Submit by 10 January 2027.

The source does not state the language of the nomination form, so check the website. A practical tip: focus the nomination on results already achieved and evidence you can link to, since the award is for completed work.

How applications are judged and what happens next

Each award has an independent jury with members from academia, private industry, the public sector and civil society, and an expert advisor is appointed for the theme. Winners are judged on innovation, impact, scalability, system change and alignment with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Finalists are announced in March 2027, winners in April 2027, and the award ceremony is held in Gothenburg in October.

About WIN WIN

WIN WIN is a non-profit organisation based in Gothenburg, Sweden, financed through partnerships with the public sector, universities and businesses. It has given the award every year since 2000, with a new theme each year. Past laureates include Gro Harlem Brundtland, Al Gore, Kofi Annan and the investigative group Bellingcat. The 2026 laureates, on the theme Gender-Equal Societies, were Dr. Alaa Murabit and Julieta Martínez.

Things to check before you apply

• The award is for what you have already achieved, not for a project you plan.
• The ceremony is in Gothenburg, but the source does not say whether travel is covered, so ask WIN WIN.
• The source does not say how the prize is paid or taxed. Indian recipients of foreign money should check tax and foreign-exchange treatment with an adviser.
• Nominating costs nothing.