5.Eligibility, Applicants, and How to Apply

Eligible Initiatives

Initiatives that contribute to resilience, sustainability, and the improvement of well-being in relation to natural disasters, climate change, population decline and outmigration, and other issues affecting the world, regions, organizations, and people’s lives.

• Initiatives that are in the demonstration-to-implementation phase, or that have a high likelihood of being implemented within the next 12–18 months.

• Existing technologies are also eligible if their operational and deployment design is well suited to addressing local challenges.

 Eligibility

Eligible applicants include individuals, projects, companies, research teams, local government collaborations, and NPOs that fall under one of the five application categories.

• Initiatives in the demonstration-to-implementation phase, or those likely to be implemented within the next 12–18 months.

• Existing technologies are eligible where the operational and deployment design is strong and appropriate for local challenges.

• Applications are accepted from both within Japan and internationally.

※Applicants will be disqualified if they have ties to anti-social forces, or if there are violations of laws or serious ethical violations.

6. Selection Process

• Recommendation/Application intake → Eligibility screening by the Secretariat

• First-round review (document screening)

• Final review (Selection Committee)

• Winners selected → Announced at the award ceremony on 3/1

※Any judge with a conflict of interest will be recused from reviewing the relevant application(s).

7.Schedule

• Dec 31 – Jan 31: Call for applications opens

• First-round review (from Feb 1)

• Finalists selected and notified (results will be communicated by Feb 13)

• Feb 20 – Feb 25: Final selection and finalist pitch (online)

• Mar 1: Finalist introduction, winner announcement, and award ceremony (GRS 2026)

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8. Evaluation Criteria

Applications will be evaluated comprehensively, focusing on the following criteria:

• Innovation & Impact: novelty, social impact, reduction of damages, acceleration of recovery, and overall social benefits

• Contribution: level of contribution to society and overall potential

• Scientific Validity: evidence base, evaluation design, data quality, and transparency

• Collaboration Potential: ability to collaborate with local governments, companies, and communities

• Ethics & Safety: sustainability assurance; privacy and personal data; prevention of discrimination/bias and misinformation; and risk management

• Scalability & Replicability: potential for expansion across Japan’s 47 prefectures and internationally

9. Application Fee

There is no fee for the first-round and second-round reviews for this award program.

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10. Entry (Application Form)

Applicants must submit the required information for review via the application form below to complete their entry.

<Application Form> (Japanese or English)

​​https://forms.gle/bAJoZGm1SF74i2AQ8

​Application Guidelines.pdf 

​Important Notes.pdf

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11. Application Period

• Dec 31, 2025 – Jan 31, 2026  

12. First-round Review Period

Feb 1, 2026 – Feb 8, 2026

13. Notification of First-round Results (Finalist Selection) 

The organizer will notify applicants of the first-round results and finalist selection by Feb 13.​

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14. Final Review (Online)

Finalists will coordinate schedules with the organizer between Feb 20 and Feb 25 and deliver an online final review “3-minute pitch.”

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15. Winner Announcement, Press Release, and Public Communications

The organizer will announce the Sustainable Global Award winners via press releases and through the website and social media channels.

16. Finalist Introduction, Winner Announcement, and Award Ceremony

Date & Time: Sunday, Mar 1, 2026, 18:00–21:00 (tentative)
Venue: Tokyo (details to be provided)​

Organizer: The Global Resilience Summit (General Incorporated Association)​

The ceremony will be held as part of the Global Resilience Summit & Award Reception Party.

The Secretariat will contact finalists directly with venue details and to confirm on-site attendance for finalists and accompanying guests.

If a finalist who cannot attend on the day wins an award, the certificate and prize will be sent by mail at a later date.

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<Contact (Organizer)>

To: Award Team, THE Global Resilience Summit (General Incorporated Association)

Address: Forestgate Daikanyama MAIN 3F, 20-23 Daikanyama-cho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-0034, Japan

Email: contact@global-r-summit.or.jp

Website: https://www.global-r-summit.or.jp/