Wege Prize (wegeprize.org) is a yearly international student design competition that gives teams of five the chance to collaborate across institutional, disciplinary, and cultural boundaries, use design thinking principles, and contend for $65,000 (USD) in total cash prizes, all while helping to show the world what the future of problem solving looks like.
Teams are required to represent at least two different academic institutions and at least three different academic disciplines.
Wege Prize is organized by Kendall College of Art and Design of Ferris State University’s (KCAD’s) Wege Center for Sustainable Design with the support of The Wege Foundation.
FOLLOW ALONG
Stay connected to all the latest Wege Prize developments at wegeprize.org, on Facebook (facebook.com/wegeprize), Twitter (@wegeprize), and Instagram (instagram.com/wegeprize)
THE PLAYERS
College/university students from around the world apply as transdisciplinary teams of five, representing different academic disciplines, institutions, and degree levels.
Teams advance through up to four distinct phases, receiving feedback from experts and professionals in related fields along the way.
PARTICIPATION REQUIREMENTS
THE CHALLENGE
How can we create a circular economy?
Each team must leverage its transdisciplinary makeup to collaboratively design and propose a product, service, business model, or other solution to a wicked problem of their choosing that can help us transition from a linear economic model to a circular economic model.
THE PRIZES
Winning teams will split the following awards evenly between their five members:
First Place: $30,000 (USD)
Second Place: $20,000 (USD)
Third Place: $10,000 (USD)
Finalist Awards (2): $2,500 (USD)
Teams Announced in Wege Prize 2025
90 student teams move on to Phase 1 Preliminary Judging. These 450 participants come from 144 academic institutions in 41 countries around the world. Grand Rapids, Mich., October 16, 2024 – This year, a precedent-setting applicant group of 130 five-person teams worldwide were narrowed down to 90 teams for Phase … More Teams Announced in Wege Prize 2025 »
Applications Open for Wege Prize 2025
Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA August 19, 2024 — Big ideas for making the world better can earn big money for college and university students. Now through October 6, applications are open for Wege Prize 2025, the international design competition where top teams win a prize pool of $65,000 USD for … More Applications Open for Wege Prize 2025 »
Congratulations to the Wege Prize 2024 Winning Teams!
Student Winners From Africa, Costa Rica, and U.S. Universities Recognized for Solutions to Complex Challenges, Benefiting the Circular Economy 2024 Wege Prize winners announced: First-place team from Africa awarded $30,000 for slashing post-harvest tomato losses with super-efficient charcoal cooling huts. Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA June 04, 2024 — Three … More Congratulations to the Wege Prize 2024 Winning Teams! »
WEGE PRIZE – APPLICATIONS FOR 2024 ARE NOW OPEN!
APPLICATIONS FOR 2024 ARE NOW OPEN! Team applications are due on October 8th, 2023 at 11:59pm ET. TIME LEFT TO APPLY:
COLLEGIATE WINNERS ACROSS THE GLOBE HONORED FOR REAL-WORLD SOLUTIONS TO WICKED PROBLEMS, BENEFITTING THE CIRCULAR ECONOMY
2023 Wege Prize winners announced: First-place U.S. team awarded $30,000 for alternative, sustainable leather material from banana plants. Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA, June 5, 2023 —Three stand-out university student teams from around the world have taken winning spots in 2023 Wege Prize for their ground-breaking solutions to further a circular … More COLLEGIATE WINNERS ACROSS THE GLOBE HONORED FOR REAL-WORLD SOLUTIONS TO WICKED PROBLEMS, BENEFITTING THE CIRCULAR ECONOMY »
FINALISTS ANNOUNCED FOR WEGE PRIZE 2023, GLOBAL COMPETITION FOR CIRCULAR ECONOMY SOLUTIONS
The five student teams, from nine countries and 10 academic institutions, debut innovations addressing waste, hunger, climate and injustice as they transform economy. Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA April 17, 2023 —For a world reeling from hunger, climate impacts, food waste and inequity, five student teams have stepped forward with expert-reviewed … More FINALISTS ANNOUNCED FOR WEGE PRIZE 2023, GLOBAL COMPETITION FOR CIRCULAR ECONOMY SOLUTIONS »
Wege Prize 2022
FIVE FINALIST TEAMS FROM FOUR CONTINENTS CHOSEN FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENT COMPETITION — ENTRIES OFFER NEW SUSTAINABILITY SOLUTIONS FOR 2022 Kendall College of Art and Design of Ferris State University (KCAD) announces finalists for Wege Prize 2022, global competition for the circular economy solutions Student teams from all over the world … More Wege Prize 2022 »
Wege Prize 2021 Winners
KENDALL COLLEGE OF ART AND DESIGN OF FERRIS STATE UNIVERSITY (KCAD) ANNOUNCES WINNERS OF WEGE PRIZE 2021, AND PLANS FOR GROWTH, BIGGER PRIZE PURSE FOLLOWING AWARD OF 5-YEAR GRANT EXTENSION. A TEAM OF STUDENTS FROM GHANA AND COSTA RICA WINS FIRST PRIZE AND $15,000 USD WITH TRANSFORMATIVE CONCEPT TURNING WOOD … More Wege Prize 2021 Winners »
Wege Prize 2020 Design Competition Winners
Global Student Design Competition Ignites Game-Changing Sustainable Solutions for the Economy of the Future, Provides Powerful and Accessible Platform for Systemic Change Kendall College of Art and Design of Ferris State University (KCAD) Announces Winners of Wege Prize 2020 Design Competition; 2021 competition launched Team of students studying in Uganda … More Wege Prize 2020 Design Competition Winners »
International Student Design Competition’s Largest Field To-Date Reflects a World Ready to Work Together for a Better Future
Wege Prize 2020 draws field representing 24 countries, 64 academic institutions, and 100 academic disciplines; inspires student teams to collaborate across boundaries and help accelerate the global transition to a circular economy Grand Rapids, Mich. November 22, 2019 – Everywhere we look, the dominant narrative seems to be one of divisiveness and … More International Student Design Competition’s Largest Field To-Date Reflects a World Ready to Work Together for a Better Future »
Wege Prize 2019 Winners
Now in its sixth year, Wege Prize is organized by Kendall College of Art and Design of Ferris State University’s (KCAD’s) Wege Center for Sustainable Design with the support of The Wege Foundation. Beginning in August of 2018, Wege Prize 2019 challenged participating teams to develop a product, service, business/nonprofit … More Wege Prize 2019 Winners »
Wege Prize 2018 Winners
Kendall College of Art and Design of Ferris State University’s (KCAD’s) Wege Center for Sustainable Design has announced the winners of Wege Prize 2018, the fifth iteration of the annual design competition challenging teams of undergraduate and graduate students from around the world to collaborate across institutional, disciplinary, and cultural … More Wege Prize 2018 Winners »
Wege Prize Winners Announced 2017
Global Student Design Competition Focused on the Circular Economy Names Winners of $30,000 in Prizes Winning teams announced in Wege Prize 2017; 2018 competition launched Collaborative team from Brown University, University of Michigan wins $15,000 top prize with solution to transform organic waste into animal feed and agricultural fertilizer; plans real-world prototype … More Wege Prize Winners Announced 2017 »
Wege Prize competition organizers are thrilled to announce the finalist teams for Wege Prize 2017!
Finalist teams named in international design competition focused on the circular economy; five innovative ideas will face off for $30,000 in total cash prizes Wege Prize 2017 finalists will present complete solutions on May 19, 2017; Internationally-recognized judges to evaluate and award $30k in prizes at Kendall College of … More Wege Prize competition organizers are thrilled to announce the finalist teams for Wege Prize 2017! »
Wege Foundation Grant Propels West Michigan-Based Student Design Competition Toward Broader Global Impact
$444,000 grant awarded to Kendall College of Art and Design of Ferris State University’s Wege Center for Sustainable Design to extend Wege Prize competition for four years 2016 competition concludes May 14 – open to the public Kendall College of Art and Design of Ferris State University’s (KCAD’s) Wege Center for … More Wege Foundation Grant Propels West Michigan-Based Student Design Competition Toward Broader Global Impact »
Wege Prize 2015 – Results
NEWS RELEASE For Immediate Release Contact: Elena Tislerics Coordinator, Wege Prize Chief Communications Officer, Kendall College of Art and Design elena@wegeprize.org $30,000 awarded in wicked problem solving competition Winners of Wege Prize 2015 announced; 2016 international competition launched 1st place team Western Sustainers earns $15,000 for designing agricultural system that … More Wege Prize 2015 – Results »
WMU student team wins national Wege sustainability prize
by Cheryl Roland Click here to read article on WMU’s website March 30, 2015 | WMU News KALAMAZOO, Mich.—A team of five Western Michigan University students has won the 2015 Wege Prize, besting teams from around the nation in the eyes of an international panel of judges whose task was … More WMU student team wins national Wege sustainability prize »
Students Tackle a ‘Wicked Problem’ for $30,000
Consider what these things have in common. A vegetable garden in every living room; potato-made plastic bags; a hands-on cradle-to-cradle learning center in the now vacant Grand Rapids Public Museum. If you said whiz-kids’ solutions for creating a circular economy, a gold star for you. Another star if you know … More Students Tackle a ‘Wicked Problem’ for $30,000 »