Sustainable Futures: Rethinking How We Design, Produce and Consume
Problem space
The way we produce and consume goods is putting growing pressure on the planet. Natural resources are being depleted, while waste, pollution and overconsumption continue to rise. At the same time, access to resources remains unequal and unsustainable practices often harm vulnerable communities the most.
To build a more sustainable future, the global economy must shift toward circular, resilient and responsible systems that reduce waste, reuse materials and consider products’ full lifecycles. Achieving this will require collaboration across sectors and communities.
Digital tools, innovative business models and community-driven solutions offer new opportunities to rethink production and consumption. But these approaches must remain inclusive, scalable and environmentally and socially responsible to protect resources for future generations.
The 2026 Community Challenge:
This years’ challenge contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goal 12: “Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns.” We are looking for innovative, impactful, interdisciplinary and unconventional entrepreneurial ideas that promote more sustainable production and responsible consumption. Proposed solutions should demonstrate feasibility, scalability and the potential to create meaningful environmental and social impact across communities.
Whether your idea is a product, service, platform, social enterprise, or digital solution, it should aim to reduce waste, improve resource-use efficiency, use sustainable materials, encourage sustainable behaviours, strengthen circular systems and/or create long-term positive social and planetary impact.
The way we produce and consume goods is putting growing pressure on the planet. Natural resources are being depleted, while waste, pollution and overconsumption continue to rise. At the same time, access to resources remains unequal and unsustainable practices often harm vulnerable communities the most.
To build a more sustainable future, the global economy must shift toward circular, resilient and responsible systems that reduce waste, reuse materials and consider products’ full lifecycles. Achieving this will require collaboration across sectors and communities.
Digital tools, innovative business models and community-driven solutions offer new opportunities to rethink production and consumption. But these approaches must remain inclusive, scalable and environmentally and socially responsible to protect resources for future generations.
The 2026 Community Challenge:
This years’ challenge contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goal 12: “Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns.” We are looking for innovative, impactful, interdisciplinary and unconventional entrepreneurial ideas that promote more sustainable production and responsible consumption. Proposed solutions should demonstrate feasibility, scalability and the potential to create meaningful environmental and social impact across communities.
Whether your idea is a product, service, platform, social enterprise, or digital solution, it should aim to reduce waste, improve resource-use efficiency, use sustainable materials, encourage sustainable behaviours, strengthen circular systems and/or create long-term positive social and planetary impact.
Focus Areas
We invite you to submit your ideas in the following areas:
We invite you to submit your ideas in the following areas:
Bioeconomy & Nature-Inspired Production
Circular Economy & Waste Reduction
Sustainable Product Design
Food Systems & Waste
Sustainable Supply Chains
Packaging & Materials Innovation
Awareness and Behaviour Change
Digital Solutions for Sustainability
Other
Who can apply?
The Community Challenge is open to all members of the DAAD & Humboldt Community from all disciplines and sectors, with a special invitation to those working in fields such as sustainability, circular economy, education, business, design, engineering, social innovation, science and tech. We especially encourage interdisciplinary and unconventional ideas that bring fresh perspectives to sustainability challenges. Both individual and team entries are welcome.
What stage should my idea be in?
We are looking for early-stage ideas at all levels of development. Whether you are exploring initial concepts, comparing different approaches, testing feasibility, or already developing a prototype and engaging potential customers, we encourage you to apply.
The Community Challenge is open to all members of the DAAD & Humboldt Community from all disciplines and sectors, with a special invitation to those working in fields such as sustainability, circular economy, education, business, design, engineering, social innovation, science and tech. We especially encourage interdisciplinary and unconventional ideas that bring fresh perspectives to sustainability challenges. Both individual and team entries are welcome.
What stage should my idea be in?
We are looking for early-stage ideas at all levels of development. Whether you are exploring initial concepts, comparing different approaches, testing feasibility, or already developing a prototype and engaging potential customers, we encourage you to apply.
Join the challenge!
Do you have an idea that rethinks sustainable ways of designing, producing and consuming? Or do you have the motivation to explore the problem space and start building something at our workshop series?
Join the 2026 DAAD & Humboldt Community Challenge and explore how entrepreneurial thinking can create real-world impact. From circular economy and sustainable bio-materials to responsible consumption and waste reduction, this challenge invites you to create businesses that rethink how products are created, used and reused.
Deadline: 6 September 2026
Join the 2026 DAAD & Humboldt Community Challenge and explore how entrepreneurial thinking can create real-world impact. From circular economy and sustainable bio-materials to responsible consumption and waste reduction, this challenge invites you to create businesses that rethink how products are created, used and reused.
Deadline: 6 September 2026
Timeline
1. Online courses/workshops on activating social entrepreneurship (optional)
Kickoff Event: Igniting Solutions for Social Impact
18 June 2026, 3:00 - 4:00 PM (CEST)
Workshop I: Evidence-driven Problem Discovery
1 July 2026, 14:00 - 17:00 CEST
Workshop II: Customer Discovery & Assumption Testing
15 July 2026, 14:00 - 17:00 CEST
Workshop III: Designing Viable & Sustainable Business Models
12 August 2026, 14:00 - 17:00 CEST
Workshop IV: Storytelling & Pitching for Impact
2 Sept 2026, 14:00 - 17:00 CEST
Kickoff Event: Igniting Solutions for Social Impact
18 June 2026, 3:00 - 4:00 PM (CEST)
Workshop I: Evidence-driven Problem Discovery
1 July 2026, 14:00 - 17:00 CEST
Workshop II: Customer Discovery & Assumption Testing
15 July 2026, 14:00 - 17:00 CEST
Workshop III: Designing Viable & Sustainable Business Models
12 August 2026, 14:00 - 17:00 CEST
Workshop IV: Storytelling & Pitching for Impact
2 Sept 2026, 14:00 - 17:00 CEST
2. Submission of ideas
Deadline: 6 September 2026
Submit your ideas via our online form.
Deadline: 6 September 2026
Submit your ideas via our online form.
3. Community engagement and feedback
September 2026
Qualified ideas will be shortlisted and published online for wider community feedback and voting. In this way, we harness the innovative power of the community. Community members can vote for their favourite ideas. Challenge participants are also given the opportunity to get in touch with each other and exchange ideas.
A networking event for all Community Challenge participants will take place on 24 September.
September 2026
Qualified ideas will be shortlisted and published online for wider community feedback and voting. In this way, we harness the innovative power of the community. Community members can vote for their favourite ideas. Challenge participants are also given the opportunity to get in touch with each other and exchange ideas.
A networking event for all Community Challenge participants will take place on 24 September.
4. Pitching event
15 October 2026
The six most promising finalists will present to a panel of experienced judges and community members.
15 October 2026
The six most promising finalists will present to a panel of experienced judges and community members.
5. Professional entrepreneurial mentorship
Oct 2026 - Dec 2026
Winners will receive structured professional mentorship from experienced professionals to further develop their concepts into viable businesses. This comprehensive mentoring programme includes guidance from experts in the field of entrepreneurship who assist the winners in getting their ideas off the ground into the market. The program also explores funding and networking opportunities to help the winners bring their ideas to fruition.
Oct 2026 - Dec 2026
Winners will receive structured professional mentorship from experienced professionals to further develop their concepts into viable businesses. This comprehensive mentoring programme includes guidance from experts in the field of entrepreneurship who assist the winners in getting their ideas off the ground into the market. The program also explores funding and networking opportunities to help the winners bring their ideas to fruition.
Winners selection
The 6 finalist ideas are selected through a two-stage process and the ideas with the highest overall scores will be selected as the winner.
Jury selection:
Our jury, made up of expert professionals from relevant fields, are guided by the following key criteria.
- Relevance: Does it clearly address SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption & Production)?
- Clarity: Is it presented in a compelling structured way?
- Impact potential: Does this idea improve real lives or systems?
- Feasibility: Can it realistically be developed with limited resources?
- Innovation: Is there something unique or novel about the solution/approach?
Community voting:
Shortlisted ideas will be published online for wider community feedback and voting. Community members will be able to vote for their favourite ideas.
Jury selection:
Our jury, made up of expert professionals from relevant fields, are guided by the following key criteria.
- Relevance: Does it clearly address SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption & Production)?
- Clarity: Is it presented in a compelling structured way?
- Impact potential: Does this idea improve real lives or systems?
- Feasibility: Can it realistically be developed with limited resources?
- Innovation: Is there something unique or novel about the solution/approach?
Community voting:
Shortlisted ideas will be published online for wider community feedback and voting. Community members will be able to vote for their favourite ideas.
Jury
Amrita Gandikota, Chief Representative @ Berlin Business Office India
Amrita is a startup ecosystem builder and international innovation expert, focusing on strengthening the collaboration between India and Germany. With her extensive experience in start-up internationalisation, cross-border partnerships, and innovation policy, she helps science and sustainability ventures expand across markets. In her role as Chief Representative of the Berlin Business Office India, she connects entrepreneurs, researchers, and innovation ecosystems to foster international collaboration and sustainable growth.
Profile in the DAAD & Humboldt Community
Amrita is a startup ecosystem builder and international innovation expert, focusing on strengthening the collaboration between India and Germany. With her extensive experience in start-up internationalisation, cross-border partnerships, and innovation policy, she helps science and sustainability ventures expand across markets. In her role as Chief Representative of the Berlin Business Office India, she connects entrepreneurs, researchers, and innovation ecosystems to foster international collaboration and sustainable growth.
Profile in the DAAD & Humboldt Community
Kristy Peña Muñoz, Environmental Engineer & Circular Economy Expert
Kristy is an environmental engineer with a PhD in renewable energy, and has over 15 years' experience working internationally in sustainability, renewable energy, and the circular economy. She specialises in resource efficiency, waste management and climate action, and her work involves bridging the gap between research, policy and practice in order to develop innovative solutions for a more sustainable future.
Profile in the DAAD & Humboldt Community
Kristy is an environmental engineer with a PhD in renewable energy, and has over 15 years' experience working internationally in sustainability, renewable energy, and the circular economy. She specialises in resource efficiency, waste management and climate action, and her work involves bridging the gap between research, policy and practice in order to develop innovative solutions for a more sustainable future.
Profile in the DAAD & Humboldt Community
Raju Gurung, Director @ 10x Innovators, Co-Founder @ IKIGAAI
Raju is a serial-entrepreneur and venture advisor working at the intersection of social impact, tech and science. He brings in over 14 years of work and 7 years of entrepreneurial experience. He currently runs 2 social-impact start-ups - IKIGAAI and PlanetLocal. He also leads 10x Innovators - a consulting unit dedicated to helping early stage start-ups and corporations build resilient and impactful ventures.
Profile in the DAAD & Humboldt Community
Raju is a serial-entrepreneur and venture advisor working at the intersection of social impact, tech and science. He brings in over 14 years of work and 7 years of entrepreneurial experience. He currently runs 2 social-impact start-ups - IKIGAAI and PlanetLocal. He also leads 10x Innovators - a consulting unit dedicated to helping early stage start-ups and corporations build resilient and impactful ventures.
Profile in the DAAD & Humboldt Community
Join the challenge!
Do you have an idea that rethinks sustainable ways of designing, producing and consuming? Or do you have the motivation to explore the problem space and start building something at our workshop series?
Join the 2026 DAAD & Humboldt Community Challenge and explore how entrepreneurial thinking can create real-world impact. From circular economy and sustainable bio-materials to responsible consumption and waste reduction, this challenge invites you to create businesses that rethink how products are created, used and reused.
Deadline: September 6 2026
Join the 2026 DAAD & Humboldt Community Challenge and explore how entrepreneurial thinking can create real-world impact. From circular economy and sustainable bio-materials to responsible consumption and waste reduction, this challenge invites you to create businesses that rethink how products are created, used and reused.
Deadline: September 6 2026
