World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Global Awards 2026 – YOA

Deadline: March 31, 2026

Applications are open for the WIPO Global Awards 2026. The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) is inviting startups and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) from all all over the world and all financial sectors to apply.

The Awards reward enterprises that use mental property (IP) rights as a strategic asset to scale their enterprise and create actual-world impression. In 2026, 11 enterprises will likely be acknowledged:

• 10 Prizes throughout all sectors of the economic system (together with well being, agrifood, setting, artistic industries, and ICT)
• 1 Thematic Prize: SMEs in Sports, aligned with the theme of World IP Day 2026
• 2 Special Mentions: Best Woman Entrepreneur and Best Youth Entrepreneur

Benefits

• Winners obtain international visibility by means of the WIPO–UN system, a tailor-made 6-month mentorship program on IP asset commercialization and enterprise technique, connections to buyers, corporates, establishments, and repair suppliers providing unique advantages to the winners, and an invite to Geneva for the Awards Ceremony through the WIPO Assemblies.

Eligibility

Open to startups and SMEs from all 194 WIPO Member States.

You can apply if what you are promoting:

• Is legally registered
• Has a most of 300 staff and USD 15M in annual income
• Offers an revolutionary services or products linked to IP
• Holds no less than one pending (for startups) or registered (for SMEs) IP proper
• Shows early-market exercise (for startups) or industrial traction (for SMEs)

Evaluation Criteria

Evaluation focuses on:

• the power of the enterprise mannequin and IP safety technique
• the readability of the IP commercialization plan
• the corporate’s inside IP tradition
• and the contribution of the enterprise to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Application

Applications are open from January 15, 2026, till March 31, 2026, at 23:59 Central European Time to startups and SMEs from all 194 Member States. The application type is offered in English, French, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, and Russian.

Click here to apply

For extra data, go to WIPO Global Awards.