The RELX Group Environmental Challenge is an annual global competition established in 2011 by RELX plc to catalyze groundbreaking solutions addressing critical water and sanitation issues. Each year, the program invites creative, scalable, and community-oriented ideas aimed at delivering sustainable access to safe water in areas “where access is presently at risk” or enhancing improved sanitation systems.
Targeting early-stage ventures—whether not-for-profit, for-profit, or individual innovators—the Challenge evaluates projects on practical applicability, technical validation, equity of access, stakeholder involvement, and deep engagement with local communities. The program not only delivers significant prize funding (US 50K and25K) but also offers a year-long subscription to Elsevier’s ScienceDirect—a vital research tool featuring over 250,000 environmental science articles published since 2000.
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Winners go beyond receiving financial support; they also gain visibility and credibility through features in major industry outlets (e.g., Water Research) and invitations to global forums like Pollutec and World Water Week, where they can network with policymakers, investors, and academic leaders. From portable rainwater systems suitable for refugee settings to fog-harvesting innovations, past recipients show how the Challenge extends RELX’s commitment to SDG 6—ensuring water and sanitation for all.
This competition bridges corporate responsibility with scientific insight and public impact, supporting sustainable innovation with proven effectiveness, sustainability, and social equity. As a result, participants secure both immediate resources and long-term advancement opportunities—through research tools, publications, and global exposure. Over the years, the program has awarded over US $805,000 in prize money and collaborated with global initiatives to foster better WASH solutions via capacity-building and pandemic-response training partnerships.
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Requirement/Eligibility
To qualify for the RELX Environmental Challenge, projects must:
1. Address water or sanitation needs in settings where these are at risk.
2. Be early-stage, with a path toward scale, resilience, and community ownership.
3. Demonstrate practical applicability, with defined metrics for use, cost, and sustainability.
4. Ensure equitable access, removing barriers and reaching all intended user groups.
5. Engage local stakeholders, including end-users, governments, NGOs, and researchers.
6. Be replicable and scalable, with potential for broader impact beyond a pilot site.
7. Involve not-for-profit or for-profit entities, or even individuals actively driving the project.
8. Commit to community-level engagement, ensuring solutions are designed locally.
9. Applicants must be 21 years or older, providing age and residency proof.
10. RELX employees, their families, and affiliates are ineligible from entering.
Eligible applicants will also receive access to ScienceDirect, LexisNexis HPCC platforms, research tools, training modules, and editorial support to refine and scale up their solutions.
Prize
- First Prize: US50,000 to support project implementation or expansion.
- Second Prize: US 25,000.
- ScienceDirect Access: All winners enjoy one year of free access to Elsevier’s comprehensive environmental research collection.
- HPCC Tools: LexisNexis HPCC platform access, including computational and data tools supporting applicants.
- Exposure Networking: Winner projects are showcased in Water Research and presented at high-level ecosystem events like Pollutec and World Water Week.
- Press Recognition: Featured in RELX SDG Resource Centre—expanding reach and credibility.
- Historical Bonus Awards: Special partnership prizes (e.g., US25,000) have supported pandemic-response training in Africa and Colombia.
- Total Investment: Over US $805,000 in prize funding since 2011 .
Deadline
27th July, 2025
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