The WISE Prize for Education Program 2026–2027 for Innovative Education Projects ($USD 1 Million Prize Pool)

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Applications are open for The WISE Prize for Education Program 2026–2027. A global award program that identifies outstanding education innovations and provides the funding, mentorship, and development support they need to reach scale.

Every finalist enters a structured 12-month development program — receiving dedicated funding, expert mentorship, and hands-on support to develop their solution. The $1 million prize pool is awarded at the WISE 13 Summit at the close of that development year, not at the point of selection.

WISE Prize for Education Program Focus Areas

Applications must address the challenge of delivering significant and measurable improvements in learning and/or life outcomes, and must address at least one of these five priority areas.

Reach to marginalized and underserved learners Particularly in fragile and crisis-affected contexts where conventional education systems are absent, disrupted, or inequitable.
Effective and responsible use of AI and disruptive technologies Solutions that harness new technologies in ways that are genuinely effective, contextually grounded, and ethically sound.
Culture and language as a foundation for identity, belonging, and engagement Solutions that place cultural and linguistic identity at the center of how learning is designed and delivered.
Strengthening core skills: literacy, numeracy, and foundational competencies Practical approaches that deliver measurable improvements in the skills learners need to access further education and opportunity.
Support to learner wellbeing: mental, emotional, and physical Solutions that recognize the whole learner and address the conditions — inside and outside the classroom — that affect the ability to learn.

WISE Prize for Education Program Benefits

Development Funding
- Each finalist receives between $100,000–$125,000 USD to design and refine their solution over 12 months
Tailored Mentorship
- 1-1 coaching, bi-monthly check-ins and in-person workshops to refine solutions and facilitate peer learning with other finalists
Qatar Innovation Ecosystem
- Connections to WISE’s local innovation partners that can further support the piloting and growth of solutions
Global Network
- Access to WISE’s 60,000+ global education innovators, leaders, and community
Visibility at the WISE 13 Summit
- Finalists present their solutions to a global audience at WISE 13; the top 3 projects are awarded from a $1M prize pool.

Eligibility Criteria for WISE Prize for Education Program

The WISE Prize is open to legally registered organizations working in any field of education. Individuals are not eligible to apply.

Eligible Organization Types

Universities, colleges, and academic networks
Schools and school networks
Civil society and community organizations
Government and public agencies
International and intergovernmental agencies
Private-sector companies
Non-profit entities

All Education Sectors Welcome

Pre-primary, primary, secondary, tertiary
EdTech and digital learning
Vocational training and higher education
Special needs and inclusive education
Informal learning and lifelong learning
Early childhood development

Selection Criteria

All applications are assessed against these five criteria, applied consistently across every stage of the process.

Credentials
- Does the team have a verifiable track record that backs their ability to solve this specific challenge? Assessors look beyond general organizational credibility to direct, relevant experience in the problem area.
Innovation
- Does this approach do something that has not been tested or implemented before? Innovation must be in the pedagogy or delivery model — not just the geography or target population.
Feasibility
- Is the development plan operationally credible? The proposal should consider resources, capacity, and timeline in a way that is proportionate to its ambitions. An inspiring vision without a realistic plan is not fundable at MVP stage.
Scalability & Sustainability
- Can this grow without losing efficacy or becoming financially unsustainable? Solutions leveraging community networks, low-bandwidth delivery, or peer-to-peer models are particularly credible at MVP stage.
Contextualization
- Can this adapt? Assessors look critically at whether a solution has been genuinely designed for the context it claims to address — not simply rebranded for a new market without substantive cultural or structural adaptation.