Peace and Security Innovation Prize 2026: How to Win a Fully Funded Incubation in Geneva

If you are sitting on a bold idea that could actually change how the world deals with conflict, security, or global risk, this prize is built for you.

The GCSP Prize for Transformative Futures in Peace and Security 2026 is not a typical “submit a PDF, win a plaque, and go home” competition. The top award is a fully funded two‑month incubation programme in Geneva, at the Geneva Centre for Security Policy’s Creative Spark, valued at CHF 15,000. In other words: two months to sharpen your idea, build it out with world‑class mentors, and position it to influence real‑world policy and practice.

You do not need to be a diplomat, a general, or a famous professor. You can be an activist with a new model for preventing election violence, a coder building tools to track autonomous weapons, a climate analyst working on security risks in the Sahel, or a young researcher with a concept to protect human rights defenders online.

What matters is that your concept:

• Tackles peace and security challenges at a global or cross‑border scale, and
• Has serious transformative potential – it changes the rules of the game, not just tweaks the edges.

The deadline is 20 March 2026. If you care about peace and security and have an idea that keeps you up at night, this is an opportunity you should treat very seriously.

GCSP Peace and Security Prize 2026 at a Glance

What This Prize Actually Offers (Beyond a Nice Certificate)

Let’s translate this into real terms.

The first‑place winner gets a two‑month incubation programme in Geneva at GCSP’s Creative Spark, a space designed specifically for people who want to turn ambitious peace and security concepts into something tangible. That CHF 15,000 valuation reflects the mentoring, facilities, access, and structured support you’ll receive – not just a travel stipend and a desk.

Think of incubation as a focused boot camp for your idea:

• You work with policy experts, researchers, and practitioners who have spent years inside governments, international organisations, NGOs, and the private sector.
• You refine your concept into something that can survive contact with reality: clearer problem definition, sharper theory of change, realistic implementation steps, and a credible budget.
• You get access to the GCSP network, which includes people who actually have budgets, mandates, and influence.

Even if you do not win first place, 2nd and 3rd place entries, plus two honourable mentions, receive formal recognition. That might sound cosmetic, but in the peace and security world, being shortlisted by GCSP is a serious line on your CV, your website, or your grant applications. It says: “This idea has been reviewed by a serious panel and they thought it mattered.”

Is it a cash prize you can spend as you like? No. But if your real goal is impact rather than a quick cheque, two months of high‑level incubation can be worth far more than a modest cash grant that comes with no support.

Who Should Apply – And Who Will Actually Be Competitive

The prize is open to individuals, teams, and organisations from any country. That means:

• A grassroots organisation in Africa working on community‑based disarmament
• A data science team in Europe tracking misinformation that fuels violence
• A social enterprise in Asia building tools to protect activists
• A multidisciplinary research group in Latin America modelling climate‑security risks

All of these are in play, as long as the idea is conceptually strong and globally relevant.

You are a good fit if:

• Your concept addresses peace and security challenges that go beyond one local conflict or one election cycle.
• The idea has international or cross‑border implications – either because the problem itself crosses borders, or because the approach could be adapted and used elsewhere.
• You are doing something genuinely new: either a new method, a new application of existing tools, or a new way of bringing actors together.

The call explicitly mentions fields such as:

• Transformative technologies (for example, AI tools to predict escalation, satellite monitoring for ceasefire violations)
• Pandemics and biothreats
• Autonomous weapons and emerging military tech
• Climate change and its security impacts (water conflicts, forced migration, resource competition)
• Human rights protection in fragile settings
• Cybersecurity, including protection of critical infrastructure
• Education for peace, security, or resilience
• Disarmament and arms control approaches

But that list is illustrative, not exhaustive. If your concept deals with, say, conflict‑sensitive fintech, protecting election integrity, or new accountability mechanisms for private military contractors, you are still absolutely in scope as long as the link to peace and security is sharp.

Who is not eligible?

• Current GCSP employees, staff, fellows, and programme participants
• Their family members
• People in those categories must wait one full year after their relationship with GCSP ends before they can apply.

This is a prize where substance beats institutional status. A young researcher with a serious, well‑thought‑out concept will do better than a “big name” submission that is vague or generic.

What the Judges Are Looking For

The panel will select a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place, plus two honourable mentions, based on criteria that say a lot about how you should write your proposal:

• Dedication to sustainable global peace and security – Are you addressing root causes, not just symptoms? Does your concept help reduce violence or risk in a durable way?
• Creativity and originality – Does this feel genuinely new, or is it a rebranded training workshop we’ve all seen 50 times?
• Transformative potential – Could this idea change how actors think or act, or reframe the problem in a useful way?
• Sustainability – Is this something that can be maintained or scaled, or does it collapse the second the pilot ends?
• Incubation potential – Can this idea actually be developed further during a two‑month Geneva incubation, or is it either too raw or already fully baked?
• Implementation potential – Could it realistically be put into practice, given the right partners and resources?
• Impact on peace and security – When all is said and done, does this actually matter for reducing risks, preventing violence, strengthening resilience, or improving security governance?

A slick concept with a weak link to real‑world peace and security will not make it. Conversely, a modest but well‑designed idea with strong logic and clear implementation steps can stand out.

What This Opportunity Offers in Practice

To make this concrete, imagine three types of winning projects:

1. A tech‑policy hybrid: A team develops a tool to track and audit the use of autonomous weapons, plus a framework for states to report and verify compliance with emerging norms. In Geneva, they refine the technical model, test the policy framework with practitioners, and map out how to pilot it with a regional organisation.

2. A climate‑security early warning model: A researcher from the Sahel designs an integrated model linking rainfall patterns, commodity prices, and local conflict incidents, with alerts for local authorities. The incubation helps them simplify the model, find partners, and frame it for adoption by humanitarian and development agencies.

3. A human rights protection protocol: An NGO creates a method to protect activists at risk using secure communication, relocation pathways, and digital forensics. During incubation, they build standard operating procedures, develop training modules, and test legal aspects with specialists.

In each case, the prize offers:

• Time and space to deep‑work on the concept
• Direct feedback from people who work with policy, security, and diplomacy every day
• The kind of credibility that opens doors to funders and institutions

If you already have funding but need strategic refinement, this prize is ideal. If you have a brilliant concept and zero resources, it can be the bridge between your idea and serious backing.

Insider Tips for a Winning Application

You only have about 1,000 words total to convince the jury (250 for the abstract, 750 for the concept description). That’s not much. You need to write lean and sharp.

Here’s how to stand out.

1. Treat the Abstract Like a Policy Briefing

The 250‑word abstract is your first and possibly strongest impression.

In those 250 words, you should clearly answer:

• What problem are you tackling? (In one sentence, no drama, just clarity.)
• Why does it matter for global peace and security, not just one community?
• What is your concept in simple language?
• What is transformative about it?
• What could change if this works?

Write it as if you had two minutes in an elevator with a foreign minister. No jargon, no buzzwords, just a clear explanation of why your idea is serious.

2. Use the 750 Words to Tell a Logical Story

The concept description (max 750 words) is where you unpack the idea. Think in terms of a clear structure:

1. Problem – What specific peace or security gap are you addressing?
2. Context – How is this usually handled now, and why is that not good enough?
3. Your concept – What exactly are you proposing to do or build?
4. Why this is new – What makes it original or transformative?
5. How it could work in practice – A short sketch of implementation pathways.
6. Who benefits and at what scale – Community level, regional, global?

Avoid padding. Every sentence should earn its place.

3. Show That You Have Thought About Implementation

The judges care about implementation potential and incubation potential. That means you should:

• Mention possible partners (types, not necessarily names): local authorities, NGOs, tech firms, regional bodies.
• Be realistic about what can be done in a first phase and what would need more time or funding.
• Indicate how the two‑month incubation would move the concept from idea to practice (e.g., prototype development, policy framework, pilot design, stakeholder mapping).

If your project sounds like a dream with no path to reality, your score will sink.

4. Make the Global Link Explicit

You can be working in a very specific place – say, coastal West Africa, Eastern Europe, or the Horn of Africa – but the impact or learning must have international relevance.

Spell this out:

• Can the approach be replicated in other regions?
• Does it address a transnational problem (disinformation, arms flows, migration, cyberattacks)?
• Does it propose a method or framework that could inform global norms or policy debates?

Do not assume the reviewers will connect these dots themselves. Draw the line for them.

5. Use the Budget to Signal Seriousness

You need to provide an estimate of the budget your concept would require. This is not a full grant application, but sloppy numbers are a red flag.

Keep it simple but credible:

• Outline main cost categories: personnel, tech or software, travel for pilots, training, evaluation.
• Use rough but realistic figures (you can base this on standard daily rates or typical project costs in your region).
• Make sure the budget matches the ambition. A global monitoring system for autonomous weapons is not a EUR 5,000 project.

The point is to show that you understand what it takes to move from an idea to a real intervention.

6. Use Optional Images Strategically

You may upload up to five image files. Don’t just throw in stock photos.

Use images to:

• Show a clear diagram of your concept or workflow
• Include a simple map illustrating the context or transnational nature of the problem
• Present a prototype screenshot or interface mockup, if relevant

Visuals should clarify, not decorate.

Application Timeline: Working Backwards from 20 March 2026

You could technically write this application in a weekend. You would also, in all likelihood, lose.

Here is a more realistic schedule:

• October – December 2025:

  • Clarify your concept: what exactly are you proposing, and what is genuinely new about it?
  • Talk to potential partners or advisors; sanity‑check the idea.

• January 2026:

  • Draft your 250‑word abstract and a first rough 750‑word concept description.
  • Sketch the budget estimate and the short‑term and long‑term impact narrative.

• Early February 2026:

  • Share your draft with two types of readers:
    • Someone who works in peace/security and will catch substance issues.
    • Someone smart outside the field who will tell you where it is confusing.
  • Revise based on their feedback.

• Late February – Early March 2026:

  • Tighten the writing, cut jargon, and sharpen the “why this matters” angle.
  • Prepare any images or diagrams that help explain your concept.

• By 15 March 2026:

  • Finalise all sections and upload via the online form.
  • Aim to submit at least 3–5 days before the 20 March deadline in case of technical issues.

Rushing the final 48 hours is a good way to introduce errors or submit the wrong file. Don’t.

Required Materials and How to Prepare Them

You’ll need to submit the following via the online submission form:

• Project concept abstract (max 250 words)
  Treat this as your executive summary. Draft it last, after the full concept is clear.

• Project concept description (max 750 words)
  This is your core argument. Keep structure tight and avoid digressions.

• Description of the technical process (if applicable)
  If your concept has a technical backbone (AI model, cryptographic method, epidemiological modelling, satellite analytics), explain the process in plain language. Reviewers may not be experts in your niche, but they are smart; respect their intelligence without drowning them in equations.

• Budget estimate for the concept
  A one‑page breakdown is enough: major cost lines, rough totals, and a sentence or two to explain the big items.

• Explanation of the novel contribution
  Be explicit: What exists already? How is this different? Is it a new method, new integration of actors, new technology, or a new application of existing ideas to a neglected problem?

• Description of short‑term and long‑term impact
  Short term: what could change in 1–2 years if your concept is developed and piloted?
  Long term: how could this shift systems, norms, or practices in 5–10 years?

• Up to five image files (optional)
  Use only if they add real clarity: diagrams, mockups, graphs, or context photos that illustrate the challenge you are tackling.

Prepare everything in clean, simple language. Remember: this is not a literary contest; it is a clarity contest.

Common Mistakes That Sink Good Ideas

Plenty of promising concepts fail not because they are weak, but because the submission is.

Here are pitfalls to avoid:

1. Vague Definitions of “Peace and Security”

If your proposal could just as easily be submitted to a generic innovation award, you have not anchored it firmly enough.

Spell out how your idea reduces violence, mitigates risk, improves security governance, or strengthens resilience against threats. Be specific.

2. Buzzword Overload

Stringing together “AI, blockchain, resilience, and capacity building” in the same sentence does not make a concept advanced. It makes it unreadable.

Pick the minimum necessary technical terms, define them once if needed, and spend more words on what you will actually do and why it matters.

3. Overclaiming Impact

“We will end disinformation globally” or “This will prevent all future pandemics” signals that you have not thought seriously about scope.

Ambitious is good; delusional is not. Frame a bold but plausible impact pathway.

4. Ignoring Feasibility

If your concept requires ten governments to instantly agree, a new UN agency, and three Nobel laureates on your steering committee, reviewers will quietly move on.

Show that there is at least a credible path from idea to first pilot, even if full global adoption would take years.

5. Submitting a Draft, Not a Final

Typos, broken sentences, contradictory numbers in your budget – all of these suggest carelessness.

Have at least one other person read the full application end‑to‑end before you hit submit.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to be based in Geneva or Europe to be competitive?
No. The call is explicitly international. The key is that your idea has global or cross‑border relevance. Winners can come from any region.

Is this prize only for academics or think tanks?
Not at all. Individuals, community groups, NGOs, startups, social enterprises, and public or private sector organisations can apply. What matters is the strength and originality of the concept, not the logo on your letterhead.

Is there direct cash funding to run my project?
There is no cash-equivalent payout. The main award is the incubation programme in Geneva (valued at CHF 15,000). That said, the incubation can significantly improve your chances of securing future funding from other sources.

Can I submit more than one concept?
The call text does not specify multiple submissions, but practically, you are better off submitting one very strong, focused concept than spreading your energy across several weaker entries.

Does my project have to be already running?
No. This is a concept prize, so very early‑stage ideas are welcome. However, you should show that you have done your homework: understand the problem, know the existing approaches, and have a realistic picture of how your concept could move forward.

Is Africa a priority region since it is tagged here?
The prize is global and not restricted to one region. However, security challenges emerging from or affecting Africa are absolutely relevant, and ideas coming from African actors are very much in scope.

Can students apply?
Yes, as long as you meet the general eligibility criteria. Students will need to demonstrate enough conceptual maturity and understanding of the field to be credible.

When will I hear back?
Timelines for review are not specified in the raw call, but similar prizes usually notify shortlisted candidates a few months after the deadline. Plan your year as if you will not win – then treat any positive outcome as a bonus.

How to Apply and What to Do Next

If this prize sounds like it fits your idea, treat the next weeks as a focused sprint.

1. Clarify your concept
   Write a one‑page note just for yourself: problem, current gap, your idea, why it is new, how it helps peace and security. If you cannot explain it clearly on one page, you are not ready to write the submission.

2. Check eligibility
   Make sure you are not a current GCSP staff member, fellow, or participant, and that you have had at least a year’s distance from GCSP if you were previously associated.

3. Draft early, revise often
   Start with the 750‑word concept description. Once that is coherent, distill it into the 250‑word abstract. Ask for feedback from someone critical, not just encouraging.

4. Prepare your budget and impact sections
   Even rough numbers are fine, as long as they make sense. Think about short‑term versus long‑term impact in concrete terms, not slogans.

5. Polish and submit via the official form
   When you’re ready, submit through the GCSP online portal:

   Apply here:
   https://www.cognitoforms.com/GenevaCentreForSecurityPolicy/_2026GCSPPrizeForTransformativeFuturesInPeaceAndSecurity

If you are aiming to shape the future of peace and security, this prize gives you two things that are hard to find: serious intellectual company and a structured space to refine your idea. Use it well.