About the opportunity
What this programme is offering
The PRIMA Young Innovators Award 2026 is a Recognition Prize27, rewarding the creativity, leadership, and determination of young innovators28 from Southern Mediterranean Countries who are shaping a more sustainable future for the region.
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The Award aims to:
Recognize young innovators who have personally led or significantly contributed to the conception and implementation of a solution aligned with PRIMA’s mission;
Promote youth leadership, initiative and problem-solving capacity in addressing Mediterranean sustainability challenges;
Support innovations that demonstrate clear relevance to local Mediterranean contexts and respond to real societal, environmental and economic needs;
Encourage initiatives with measurable or credible expected impacts on environmental sustainability, livelihoods, or social inclusion;
Foster replication, scalability and youth empowerment, including inspiring and mentoring other young innovators, with particular attention to women innovators.
The PRIMA Young Innovators Award 2026 will be awarded following a contest procedure and a transparent evaluation process, as described in the Rules of Contest (RoC) published on the PRIMA website at the time of call launch. Two equivalent recognition prizes will be awarded to the two highest-ranked eligible applications following evaluation. Each prize amounts to EUR 10,000.
The prizes are not category-based; are not designated as first and second prizes; cannot be split, combined, or reallocated.
Awardees will benefit from high visibility and recognition, including media coverage, public acknowledgement and networking opportunities. The RoC will be published on the PRIMA website once the PRIMA 2026 calls are officially launched.
An independent panel of experts will evaluate all eligible applications. The award will be granted to the young innovator(s) who best demonstrate the following criteria, based on the solution they have conceived, developed and/or implemented, which serves as supporting evidence across all criteria.
Innovator’s Leadership and Creative Contribution
Relevance of the Innovator’s Work to Mediterranean Challenges
Impact Achieved or Expected through the Innovator’s Initiative
Potential for Growth, Replication, and Youth Empowerment
Benefits
Two equivalent recognition prizes will be awarded to the two highest-ranked eligible applications following evaluation. Each prize amounts to EUR 10,000.
Promote youth leadership, initiative and problem-solving capacity in addressing Mediterranean sustainability challenges.
Foster replication, scalability and youth empowerment, including inspiring and mentoring other young innovators, with particular attention to women innovators.
Eligibilities
Applicants must fulfil all of the following conditions:
Be natural persons aged between 18 and 35 years at the deadline for submission;
Be nationals and residents of one of the PRIMA Participating States bordering the Mediterranean Sea (Southern Mediterranean Countries), namely Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Tunisia, or Türkiye;
Submit an application either:
as an individual young innovator, or
as a group of young innovators through a joint application, provided that all applicants fulfil all eligibility criteria.
In the case of joint applications submitted by a group of persons:
One applicant shall be designated as the lead participant for administrative and financial purposes;
Eligibility checks shall be carried out on all applicants. If one applicant does not meet the eligibility criteria, the group shall be invited to replace that applicant; failing this, the entire application shall be rejected;
Eligible Regions: Open for Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Tunisia, Türkiye
How to apply