Elsevier Foundation Chemistry for Climate Action Challenge 2026 (Up to 25,000 USD)

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Applications are open for Elsevier Foundation Chemistry for Climate Action Challenge 2026. The Elsevier Foundation Chemistry for Climate Action Challenge is offering opportunities for innovators to advance green and sustainable chemistry solutions in the Global South.

The Chemistry for Climate Action Challenge is one of the Elsevier Foundation’s flagship partnerships. Together with Elsevier’s Chemistry journals, the Elsevier Foundation provides funding of 25,000 USD for 2 winning projects per year, implementing green & sustainable chemistry solutions in the Global South – advancing both Climate Action (SDG 13) and Gender Equity (SDG 5).

Chemistry for Climate Action Challenge Scope

In-scope: scale-ups of early-stage projects where the prize represents most of the overall needed budget; innovative green & sustainable chemistry solutions implemented in the global South. For example, projects looking at Sustainable Chemistry Solutions: Waste Utilization; Alternative Energy Sources; Biodiversity and Ecosystem Health; Climate Change Mitigation; Community Empowerment; Sustainable Agriculture; Water Resource Management; Health and Well-being.
Out-of-scope: projects to be implemented outside of low-and-middle income countries; projects with no gender component, educational projects without a strong scientific green & sustainable chemistry component; prize money mainly used on expensive equipment; prize money mainly used on personnel; projects in the Global South without a local implementation partner.

Benefits

The Elsevier Foundation Chemistry for Climate Action Challenge awards 2 prizes of 25,000 dollars (USD) each.
The Challenge awards projects that use green and sustainable chemistry solutions to tackle some of the Global South’s greatest sustainability challenges – encouraging researchers to come up with new solutions.

Eligibility Criteria for Chemistry for Climate Action Challenge

The Challenge is open to individuals and organizations whose projects use green and sustainable chemistry solutions to tackle some of the developing world’s greatest sustainability challenges.
Projects outside the Global South, those without a strong scientific chemistry component, or those lacking a gender dimension are considered out of scope.

Application Timeline

Submission phase: Proposals can be submitted during the general submission period from July 7, 2025, to October 1, 2025.
Reviewing phase: A panel of expert reviewers will evaluate all submissions and select a shortlist of proposals to advance to the judging phase. The shortlist will be announced by October 30, 2025.
Judging phase: Our scientific jury will thoroughly assess the shortlisted proposals to identify the Top 5 finalists. The finalist proposals will be announced on our website on January 15, 2026.
Final presentation: The Top 5 finalists will be invited to present their proposals at the 10th Elsevier Green & Sustainable Chemistry Conference (18-20 May 2026, Dresden, Germany) to compete for the two Challenge prizes. The winners will be announced at the end of the conference.