Applications are now open for the RELX Environmental Challenge 2026, an international opportunity that places one of the world’s most urgent development issues at the center of innovation: safe water and sanitation. With awards of up to $75,000 and a deadline of July 12, 2026, the challenge invites participants to submit practical, forward-looking proposals that can improve access where water and sanitation systems are under pressure or at risk.
For students, researchers, early-stage founders, engineers, and nonprofit innovators, this is more than just another competition. It is a chance to develop ideas that respond to a real and growing global need. In 2026, the challenge also marks 15 years of impact, giving this year’s edition extra significance for applicants working at the intersection of sustainability, public health, infrastructure, and social innovation.
What makes the RELX Environmental Challenge especially relevant is its focus on solutions that are not only inventive, but usable in the real world. The strongest proposals are likely to be those that understand the local context, address affordability, and show a clear path to measurable improvement.
What the RELX Environmental Challenge is looking for
The competition is a skill-based challenge centered on one core goal: advancing access to safe water and/or sanitation in places where that access is currently vulnerable. That framing is important. It means applicants are not simply being asked for broad sustainability concepts or general environmental commentary. They are being asked to design credible responses to a specific problem.
In practical terms, that opens the door to a wide range of project types. A proposal might focus on water purification, low-cost treatment systems, sanitation service delivery, monitoring tools, wastewater management, community-based infrastructure, or data systems that improve planning and maintenance. The format encourages thoughtful innovation rather than novelty for its own sake.
Applicants interested in the official rules, competition terms, and submission process should review the RELX Environmental Challenge page carefully before applying.
Why safe water and sanitation remain a global priority
Clean water and reliable sanitation are foundational to health, education, and economic stability. When communities lack safe drinking water, the consequences extend far beyond thirst. Water insecurity contributes to disease outbreaks, school absenteeism, lost productivity, and deeper social inequality. In many regions, sanitation gaps make those risks even worse.
Global evidence continues to show how serious the challenge remains. According to the World Health Organization, unsafe water and poor sanitation are still major public health threats, especially for children and underserved communities. These issues also connect directly to UN Sustainable Development Goal 6, which focuses on clean water and sanitation for all.
That is why competitions like this matter. They create space for problem-solvers to move beyond discussion and into implementation. A compelling proposal can help demonstrate that effective water and sanitation innovation does not always require massive infrastructure budgets. Sometimes it starts with a targeted, well-designed intervention that can scale over time.
Who should consider applying
The RELX Environmental Challenge is especially attractive to people and teams who combine technical thinking with social impact awareness. That can include:
- University students working on environmental, engineering, public health, or design projects
- Graduate researchers exploring water systems, sanitation, resilience, or climate adaptation
- Startups building low-cost environmental technologies
- NGOs and social enterprises with field-tested community models
- Multidisciplinary teams that can connect data, hardware, policy, and implementation
It is also a valuable opportunity for applicants who want to build credibility around an early-stage idea. Competitions of this kind can help sharpen a concept, attract expert attention, and strengthen future funding or partnership conversations.
For students and young professionals, the challenge can also serve as a bridge between academic work and real-world application. A classroom concept about water monitoring, sanitation logistics, or environmental health becomes much stronger when it is framed as a deployable solution with impact potential.
What a strong proposal is likely to include
Although each applicant’s approach will differ, the most persuasive submissions tend to share a few common qualities. In a water and sanitation competition, judges are usually looking for ideas that are clear, realistic, and relevant to actual community needs.
1. A clearly defined problem
Strong proposals start with specificity.