Back to Programs
The Iris Project

The Iris Project

The Iris Prize

OpenScienceSTEMCompetition

About the Program

The Iris Prize is an annual award that recognizes the vision and innovation of young leaders who are building a sustainable future, established in memory of Iris Goldsmith. The program offers three categories: the Seed Prize ($5,000, ages 14-24) for groundbreaking ideas, the Stem Prize ($10,000, ages 16-24) for small-scale recently established projects, and the Iris Prize ($15,000, ages 16-24) for established projects with scaling potential. Winners also receive mentorship, capacity-building training, and membership in a peer community. While focused primarily on the Global South, the program supports projects that demonstrate how local action can drive global change.

2027 call checked November 4, 2026: The official application page explicitly labels the March 1 opening at 11:00 CET and April 8 closing at 23:59 CET as the 2027 timeline. These are application dates, not an attendance period. Subsequent interviews, review, due diligence, notifications and awards are specified only by month.

The page currently links materials in English, Spanish, Portuguese, French and Arabic. Its detailed English guide is explicitly for 2026 and gives March 4–April 8 for that historical call. Its any-language and audio/written submission details do not independently establish 2027 submission policies. Current fee terms were not explicitly verified. The prize categories remain Seed $5,000 (ages 14–24), Stem $10,000 (16–24) and Iris $15,000 (16–24).

Eligibility

Projects or organizations must be led by young people aged 14 to 24, with most of the leadership being young people who have project autonomy and decision-making power. Applicants must support the principle of protecting and restoring nature and the rights of those working to defend it. Projects can be fiscally sponsored or associated with larger organizations, charities, or NGOs, but the young leader must retain complete autonomy and decision-making authority. If the applicant is a minor in their country, collaboration with a local organization or NGO as a fiscal sponsor is required to manage the financial grant. The program looks for youth and locally-led initiatives operating in areas identified as significant by their local communities, including new ideas, small-scale projects, or existing initiatives with growth potential and replicability. A commitment to diversity and inclusion is also sought. Seed Prize ages 14–24; Stem and Iris Prize categories ages 16–24. The general application page describes youth leadership ages 14–24.

Eligible Countries

All countries The program prioritizes initiatives in the Global South but also considers exceptional projects from the Global North.

How to Apply

Use the eligibility quiz and application form linked on the official How to Apply page. The 2027 timeline opens March 1 at 11:00 CET and closes April 8 at 23:59 CET. Current materials are offered in English, Spanish, Portuguese, French and Arabic. The linked detailed English guide remains labeled 2026; its broader any-language and audio/written-submission policies are historical rather than confirmed 2027 instructions. The published selection sequence is May interviews, June judging, July due diligence, August notification and September awards.