Index
What is Wege Prize?
Part design competition, part global learning lab—Wege Prize challenges transdisciplinary teams of university students to develop real-world solutions to complex, “wicked” problems through the framework of the circular economy. Participants contend for $65,000 (USD) in total cash prizes as they evolve their ideas with input from judges who coach—not just score—providing in-depth feedback at each phase of the competition’s iterative design process.
The 2027 competition is organized by the Wege Center for Sustainable Design at Ferris State University’s Kendall College of Art and Design with the support of The Wege Foundation.
Who can participate?
PLEASE NOTE:
Wege Prize is a TEAM competition. Individual participation is not allowed.
Team Requirements
To be eligible to participate in Wege Prize 2027, teams must:
Have exactly five (5) members (no more, no less)
Represent at least three (3) different academic disciplines (in terms of each participant’s current program of study–previously completed degree programs are not considered)
Represent at least two (2) different institutions of higher education* (colleges, universities, or separate colleges/schools within a larger university)
*For instance, a team member from Example University’s School of Engineering and a team member from Example University’s School of Earth Sciences would be considered as representing two different institutions
Individual Requirements
To be eligible to join a Wege Prize 2027 team, individuals must:
Be currently enrolled in a undergraduate, graduate, or post-graduate degree program program at a college, university, or equivalent institution of higher education anywhere in the world. (Teams can be composed of a mix of undergraduate, graduate, and post-graduate students if they so choose.)
Be enrolled as a full-time (or equivalent) student for the duration of the competition. (If you are graduating before May of 2027, you must be enrolled as a student through at least December 6, 2026.
Have questions about individual or team eligibility?
Email us at wicked@wegeprize.org.
What is the challenge?
Wege Prize 2027 teams are challenged to collaboratively propose and develop a product or service that solves a problem while making circular design its differentiator.
Over the course of nine months, teams will compete to advance through up to four distinct phases of competition, growing their ideas from a preliminary proposal into a robust and feasible solution informed by research, market analysis, and real-world prototyping and testing:
Phase 1 - Application (90 teams accepted)
Phase 2 - Project Overview 1st Draft (30 teams advance from Phase 1)
Phase 3 - Project Overview 2nd Draft (15 semifinalist teams advance from Phase 2)
Phase 4 - Final Project Overview and Final Presentation (5 finalist teams advance from Phase 3)
Each step of the way, they will be guided by direct feedback from a panel of expert judges who will help them strengthen their ideas, push the limits of possibility, and support bringing their plans into fruition.
What happens to the work my team submits—does it remain our intellectual property?
Upon the date of submission, your solution and any materials that comprise it will remain your intellectual property, which you are free to develop and promote at your own discretion.
However, by submitting the materials that comprise your solution in this competition, you automatically grant Ferris State University’s Kendall College of Art and Design (KCAD) and The Wege Foundation the right to use said materials, as well as your personal profile information, including but not limited to, name, school, major, team name, image, and likeness, for any non-commercial purpose, including display, promotion, and assessment.
Any non-commercial use of the materials that comprise your solution by the above parties will be accompanied by the appropriate attribution as to their creator and/or source.
How will my team's work be judged?
Wege Prize judges guide and evaluate your solution through the following lenses, providing in-depth feedback to help you improve in each area as the competition progresses:
Circularity - How does your solution intentionally and successfully incorporate the core principles of the circular economy?
Innovation - How does your solution—and in particular its circular design—provide unique value and create new opportunity?
Viability - To what extent have you prototyped your solution and demonstrated its marketability, profitability, and technical/financial feasibility?
Scope - How does your solution reflect a systemic understanding of the problem while remaining rooted in a clear, sensible entry point?
Desirability - To what extent has your user/stakeholder research uncovered proven need and sufficient motivation for people to use your solution?
Collaboration - How effectively have you leveraged your team’s diverse makeup and engaged outside perspectives to strengthen your solution?
Presentation - To what extent have you presented your solution in a clear, concise, well-organized, compelling, and visually engaging manner?
What can my team win?
Wege Prize teams will contend for $65,000 (USD)* in total cash prizes, awarded by our panel of core judges.
Prize Amounts
1st Place
$30,000 (USD)*
2nd Place
$20,000 (USD)*
3rd Place
$10,000 (USD)*
Finalist Award (x2)
$2,500 (USD)*
*Amount before applicable taxes. Tax situations vary by location, individual, and business tax status.
If you apply as a non-business entity:
Your cash prize will be split equally between all five members of your team and paid on an individual basis.
If you apply as a business entity:
Your cash prize will be paid as a lump sum to the business entity.
You cannot enter Wege Prize 2027 as a business entity unless your business entity has a valid U.S. tax identification number (or Employer Identification Number: EIN). Tax liability varies by business type. Additional documentation will be required in order to make an award payment to the business.
If all team members are not part of the business entity but still want their portion of the award to go to said business entity, you may still choose this option. However, all team members must provide written consent before any payment can be made to the business.
How much time does my team have and what is the time commitment?
This will vary depending on how far your team moves through the competition. Following each of the competition’s four separate phases, the judges will advance a select number of teams on to the next phase. Ultimately, only five teams will advance to the fourth and final phase of the competition.
See the 2027 competition timeline for more details.
Does Wege Prize provide travel support for attending the final presentation event in person?
We host a live finals event in May of each year. For those five finalist teams who are selected for Phase 4, each team will designate one team member to give the final presentation live in Grand Rapids, Michigan during the competition’s final event, the Wege Prize Awards.
The 2027 Wege Prize Awards will be held on Friday, May 21, 2027.
Travel expense reimbursement (for finalist team members traveling to Grand Rapids)
Wege Prize will provide each finalist team with up to $3,000 USD in travel expense reimbursement, as well as hotel accomodations in downtown Grand Rapid for the presenter and at least one other team member. It is not required that any team members beyond the designated presenter attend the live event, although they are certainly welcome!
How can I connect with other students and build a team?
Whether you're an individual looking to link up with others or a partial team looking for a few additional members, the Wege Prize LinkedIn Group is a great way to make connections and build a strong team! Request to join the group, and once approved, you can post in the discussion section to start connecting with potential teammates!
Can I apply if my team already has an established business?
If part or all of your team are part of an established business entity, you may apply to enter Wege Prize 2027 as a business entity provided your business entity has a valid U.S. tax identification number (or Employer Identification Number: EIN). However, you and your team members still must meet all of the individual and team participation requirements.
If you apply as a business entity:
Any cash prizes you win will be paid as a lump sum to the business entity. Additional documentation will be required in order to make an award payment to the business. Tax liability varies by business type.
If all team members are not part of the business entity but still want their portion of the award to go to said business entity, you may still choose this option. However, all team members must provide written consent before any payment can be made to the business.
If you apply as a non-business entity:
Any cash prizes you win will be split equally between all five members of your team and paid on an individual basis.
How can my team apply?
First, gather the following information from all five (5) of your team members:
Legal name
Preferred name
Email address
Country of citizenship
Current country of residence
College/university currently attending
Major of study, degree type, and student status (level of study, date of expected degree completion)
Headshot (selfies and/or phone pictures are fine!)
Then, prepare your team’s answers to the questions below (contained in the application):
THE PROBLEM
What wicked problem is your team addressing, and who are the stakeholders affected by it? (750 words maximum)
THE SYSTEM
What social, technological, and ecological forces shape the problem? (750 words maximum)
YOUR SCOPE
Which entry point in the system will you focus on, and why is it the right place to intervene? (750 words maximum)
YOUR SOLUTION
What product or service are you proposing—and how can circular design be its differentiator? (1,000 words maximum)
YOUR INNOVATION
What solutions exist already, and how can your approach go further? (750 words maximum)
YOUR IMPACT
How can your solution help address the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals? (choose 1-3 goals to focus on - 750 words maximum)
YOUR PERSPECTIVE
How will engagement with stakeholders, mentors, and subject matter experts shape your design process? (750 words maximum)
NEXT STEPS
What's your plan, and what could get in the way? (750 words maximum)