RELX Environmental Challenge 2026 (up to $75,000)

Deadline: July 12, 2026

Applications are open for the RELX Environmental Challenge 2026. The RELX Environmental Challenge is a skill-based competition in which participants are asked to submit proposals outlining innovative ideas that advance access to safe water and/or sanitation where access is presently at risk.

In 2026, as they celebrate 15 years of impact, the Challenge introduces an expanded prize structure. There will now be two awards of $75,000 each:

• One prize for Clean Water or Sanitation
• One prize for Ocean-related innovation

Prizes

• $50,000 prize for the first-place entry.
• $25,000 prize for the second-place entry.
• Winners also receive free access for one year to ScienceDirect, the Scientific, Technical & Medical business’ database of full text, scientific information, including almost 250,000 articles since 2000 in Environmental Sciences.

Eligibility

• Open to individuals and organisations operating in both the not-for-profit and for-profit sectors.
• Clean Water or Sanitation Category: Projects must advance sustainable access to safe water where it is at risk and/or improve access to sanitation.
• Ocean Category: Projects must support ocean health, marine ecosystems, or ocean-based solutions that contribute to environmental sustainability and resilience.

All submissions will be evaluated against the following criteria:

• Be replicable, scalable, and sustainable
• Set a benchmark for innovation
• Demonstrate practical applicability
• Address non-discrimination and equity of access
• Involve and positively impact a range of stakeholders
• Show strong local or community-level engagement

Application

Applications are reviewed against the RELX Environmental Challenge criteria by the RELX Environmental Challenge advisory group, comprised of relevant internal and external water and sanitation specialists. Those in contention for the shortlist are reviewed by an expert panel of external judges.

Click here to apply

For more information, visit RELX Environmental Challenge.

Application

For more information, visit RELX Environmental Challenge.