The UNIgreen SURES Innovation Challenge is underway at partner universities across the alliance, inviting students and recent graduates to turn bold ideas into impactful solutions.
Local competitions at each partner university select finalists, who then compete in the UNIgreen Innovation Challenge Grand Final, held at SupBiotech in Paris on the 27-31 October 2026.
Agricultural University – Plovdiv
Completed: fully completed
Overview
The UNIgreen Innovation Challenge supports early-stage innovative ideas and emerging solutions. Projects submitted to the competition may be at the idea stage. Projects do not need to have a fully developed prototype or market-ready solution. However, applicants must clearly demonstrate the innovative nature of the idea, the scientific or technical foundation of the concept, and the potential feasibility and development pathway.
Key Dates
- Application deadline: 6 March 2026
- Pitching & local selection: 31 March 2026
Focus Areas
- Biochemistry and Biotechnology
- Sustainable Crop Production
- Food Technology, Quality and Safety
- Biodiversity, Forestry and Agroecology
- One Health
- Bioeconomy, Agricultural and Rural Policy
- Plant Breeding
- Responsible Governance, Land Use and Climate Change
Projects may also address topics such as (but not exclusively):
- the reduction of CO2 emissions and pollution,
- supporting the environmental transition of agriculture,
- production of biomaterials, reduction and valorization of agriculture waste,
- reduction of the usage of pesticides and fertilizers,
- crops adaptation to biotic and abiotic stress, monitoring and management of biodiversity,
- preservation of soils and water, protection of plants, animals and human health,
- clean energy, bioeconomy or social innovations will be considered.
Targets
- Students enrolled at Bachelor’s, Master’s, or PhD level at any UNIgreen Alliance partner institution at the time of submission
- Graduates (Bachelor’s, Master’s, or PhD) from UNIgreen Alliance partner institutions who completed their most recent degree no more than one year before the date of first project submission.
Application
Application form needs to be filled in and sent to the Local Coordinator – Ms. Dora Ivanova, [email protected].
Agricultural University of Iceland
Open: applications ongoing
Overview
This year, participants can also use the same project to take part in two international competitions simultaneously. In addition to the UNIgreen SURES Challenge Lab, participants will have the opportunity to join the Bio-based Innovation Student Challenge – Europe (BISC-E), a European competition focused on the bioeconomy and sustainable solutions.
Key Dates
- Application deadline: 30 April 2026
- Workshop: 18 May 2026
- Pitching & local selection: 19 May 2026
Focus Areas
- Sustainable agriculture
- Biotechnology and the Bioeconomy
- Food and Food Security
- Climate Solutions and the Circular Economy
Targets
- Students at the BSc, MSc, or PhD level
- Recent graduates within one year of graduation
- Students in the vocational program in agricultural sciences
Applications must be submitted by completing the application form no later than 30 April 2026 here: UNIgreen Innovation Challenge – Application Form – Fill in form
Application
Applications must be submitted by completing the application form no later than 30 April 2026 here: UNIgreen Innovation Challenge – Application Form – Fill in form.
The competition contact is Jóhanna Gísladóttir: [email protected].
Polytechnic University of Coimbra
Open: applications ongoing
Overview
The Institute for Applied Research (I2A) of the Polytechnic University of Coimbra promoted a presentation of the “UNIgreen Innovation Challenge” as part of a session to publicise funding programmes geared towards applied research and business creation.
I2A director Carla Henriques presented the challenge, which aims to stimulate entrepreneurship and innovation, support the development of ideas in their early stages and promote interdisciplinary and inter-institutional teams within the Alliance. Students and Graduate can participate in teams of 1 to 6 members in various eligible areas. At the local level, each institution will submit up to 2 projects.
Key Dates
- Presentation: 25 February 2026
- Application deadline: 13 April 2026
- Local selection: 3 June 2026
Focus Areas
- Various eligible areas
Targets
- Students
- Alumni who graduated less than a year ago can participate
Application
More information coming soon.
SupBiotech Engineering School of Biotechnology
Completed: fully completed
Overview
SupBiotech offers the S.B.I.P. (SupBiotech Innovation Projects) programme to there student in biotechnology to work on a real-world project management experience. This innovative programme runs over four years, starting in the second year, and involves around ten weeks of immersion each academic year.
Key Dates
- Local Selection: 30 September 2025
Focus Areas
- Biochemistry and Biotechnology
- Sustainable Crop Production
- Food Technology, Quality and Safety
- Biodiversity, Forestry and Agroecology
- One Health
- Bioeconomy, Agricultural and Rural Policy
- Plant Breeding
- Responsible Governance, Land Use and Climate Change
Targets
- Students final-year (5th year)
Results
This year, four innovative projects managed by final-year (5th year) students have been selected submitted projects to compete in the SBIP-UNIgreen Challenge. The €1,000 development grant goes to Cap’siRNA and Les ChicTips.
University-College of the Province of Liège
Upcoming
Overview
Key Dates
Focus Areas
Targets
Application
University of Almería
Open: applications ongoing
Overview
UNIgreen Alliance is launching a call for innovative project proposals in the areas of Sustainable Agriculture, Green Biotechnology, and Environmental and Life Sciences. The challenge is showcased as part of the Feria de las Ideas programme at the University of Almeria.
Key Dates
- Phase 1: Feria de las Ideas and Submission of entries for the UNIgreen Innovation Challenge: Before 6th and 22nd April.
- Phase 2:
- Selection of five finalist teams, 27 April
- Project training and mentoring for the 5 teams during May 2026.
- Selection of two finalist teams by the end of May 2026
- Phase 3: Mentoring and further improvement for the two selected teams, during June 2026.
- Phase 4: Final competition with the other UNIgreen Alliance institutions in late October 2026.
- Phase 5: Follow-up and support provided by the University of Almería during November 2026.
Focus Areas
- Biochemistry and Biotechnology
- Sustainable Crop Production
- Food Technology, Quality and Safety
- Biodiversity, Forestry and Agroecology
- One Health
- Bioeconomy, Agricultural and Rural Policy
- Plant Breeding
- Responsible Governance, Land Use and Climate Change
Targets
- Students enrolled at Bachelor’s, Master’s, or PhD level at UAL at the time of submission;
- Graduates (Bachelor’s, Master’s, or PhD) from UAL who completed their most recent degree no more than one year prior to the date of first project submission.
Application
The Application Form can be found here.
Contact: [email protected] , [email protected]
University of Modena and Reggio Emilia
Upcoming
Overview
Key Dates
Focus Areas
Targets
Application
Warsaw University of Life Sciences
Open: applications ongoing
Overview
The UNIgreen Innovation Challenge offers students and graduates the opportunity to develop their own ideas, test new solutions and collaborate within an international academic environment.
Key Dates
- Competition Announcement: 16 March 2026
- Submission of entries: 9 April 2026
- Selection: 15 April 2026 (5 best projects by the jury)
- Project Mentoring: 8 May 2026
- Competition final and selection: 16 March 2026 (2 best projects)
Focus Areas
- Biochemistry and Biotechnology
- Sustainable Crop Production
- Food Technology, Food Quality and Safety
- Biodiversity, Forestry and Agroecology
- One Health Concept
- Bioeconomy, Agricultural Policy and Rural Development
- Plant Breeding
- Environmental Management and climate change
Targets
Application
- dr Olaf Horbańczuk
- dr Magdalena Kowalewska
- Karolina Czarnecka
- mgr inż. Agata Jojczyk
- dr hab. Marcin Ratajczak, prof. SGGW