Grants and opportunities for your next phase

Women in AI Research, Innovation and Entrepreneurship

AI Innovation Hackathon 2026 by Women in AI Club

The Women in AI Research, Innovation and Entrepreneurship club is running the AI Innovation Hackathon 2026, a free two-stage online international competition under the theme Building AI-Powered Products. It offers 60 approved research backed challenges across five tracks, from AI and machine learning methodology to biomedical AI, explainable AI, cybersecurity and scholarly publication readiness. Teams of one to four participants build individually or together. Stage 1 idea screening closes 19 October 2026 at 6:00 PM IST, the main hackathon runs 20 October 2026, and winners are announced the same evening at 8:00 PM IST.

Eligibility: Open internationally to students, developers, designers, researchers and entrepreneurs building practical AI solutions

Deadline

October 19, 2026

Location

Africa

Funding or benefit

Participation is free. No cash prize is published on the hackathon page; the page lists certificates and winner recognition.

ILO International Training Centre (ITCILO)

2026 Labour Statistics and Analysis Academy

The ILO International Training Centre in Turin is running the 2026 Labour Statistics and Analysis Academy, a blended English language course on labour market statistics. It runs from 9 November to 4 December 2026, with an online part on the e-Campus from 9 to 20 November and a face to face part at the Turin campus from 26 November to 4 December. The cost is EUR 2,195 tuition plus EUR 1,400 subsistence, for a total of EUR 3,595, and applications close 15 October 2026 through the ITCILO course portal.

Eligibility: Professionals involved in producing, analysing and using labour market data

Deadline

October 15, 2026

Location

Italy

Funding or benefit

This is a fee-based course, not a funding award. The fee is EUR 2,195 tuition plus EUR 1,400 subsistence, for a total of EUR 3,595.

Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, GIAS

Gulbenkian Institute for Advanced Study Fellowships 2027/28

The Gulbenkian Institute for Advanced Study is awarding up to 15 fellowships for 2027/28, each covering three to eight months of supported research time in Lisbon. Fellows choose their own project and work in an interdisciplinary setting built for reflection, concentration and exchange, with minimal routine obligations. Each award includes a monthly stipend, travel expenses, travel and health insurance and a partial housing allowance. The amount is set after selection, based on the length of residence and the fellow's own financial and institutional circumstances. Applications from individuals of any nationality close on 15 October 2026 at 15:00 Lisbon time.

Eligibility: Applications submitted by individuals of any nationality

Deadline

October 15, 2026

Location

Portugal

Funding or benefit

Up to 15 fellowships a year, each of three to eight months, including a monthly stipend, travel expenses, travel and health insurance and a partial housing allowance. The amount of each fellowship is set after selection according to the length of residence and the fellow's financial and institutional circumstances, so no fixed award figure is published on the call.

Aspire Institute

Aspire Leaders Program Cohort 4

The Aspire Institute is opening Cohort 4 of its free six week online leadership programme for first generation and limited income students and recent graduates aged 18 to 29, anywhere in the world. There is no application fee and no tuition, and the cohort runs from 21 October to 30 November 2026.

Eligibility: Applicants must be 18 to 29 years old

Deadline

October 16, 2026

Location

Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya

Funding or benefit

The programme is fully funded and free to participants, with no application fee and no tuition. No cash stipend is published.

Action Against Hunger

ALIGN Local Innovations Grants for Adolescent Health and Nutrition

Action Against Hunger is funding local civil society and youth led organizations across 12 African countries to grow proven community innovations in adolescent health and nutrition. One consortium per country can receive up to USD 214,000 for an 18 month grant, with technical assistance, mentoring and peer learning built in.

Eligibility: Applicants are legally registered local nonprofit civil society organizations or youth led organizations

Deadline

October 21, 2026

Location

Cote d'Ivoire, Ethiopia, Madagascar

Funding or benefit

A total of USD 2,568,000 is available across 12 eligible African countries, with one consortium per country awarded up to USD 214,000 for an 18 month grant.

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MassChallenge Switzerland

MassChallenge Sustainable Food Challenge 2027

A global, equity-free matchmaking contest that puts food and agri tech startups in front of Bühler Group, Givaudan, Mars, Louis Dreyfus Company and SIG for pilots, partnerships and investment. Applications are open now and close on 25 November 2026.

Eligibility: Startups and scaleups from any geography

Deadline

November 25, 2026

Location

Global

Funding or benefit

No funding amount is awarded as a prize. The programme is free with no equity taken, and selected startups receive 1,000 CHF towards travel to the Sustainable Food Challenge Day in June 2027. The Q&A states that $1,000 is allocated to startups outside of Europe.

Aurora Humanitarian Initiative

Aurora Prize for Awakening Humanity 2027

Nominations are open for the 2027 Aurora Prize for Awakening Humanity, a $1 million global humanitarian award for individuals or groups who risked their own lives to save others from violent conflict and atrocity crimes. Any member of the public can nominate, and the nomination cycle closes on 31 December 2026.

Eligibility: Nominees can be individuals or groups of people, and the prize is open worldwide

Deadline

December 31, 2026

Location

Global

Funding or benefit

Total award value of $1 million. $300,000 goes to the Laureate and a further $600,000 goes to other impactful humanitarians as designated by the Laureate. The two Finalists each receive a one-time payment of $50,000 ($100,000 in total). Submitting a nomination is free.

University of Warwick, Warwick Doctoral College

Warwick Postgraduate Research Scholarships 2027

Up to 80 fully funded doctoral scholarships across six streams for entry in October 2027 at the University of Warwick, open to applicants of any nationality or fee status, with scholarship applications closing 10 December 2026 at 16:59 GMT.

Eligibility: Applicants of any nationality or fee status

Deadline

December 10, 2026

Location

Africa

Funding or benefit

Up to 80 scholarships, each covering full academic fees at UK or international rate and a tax-free maintenance stipend, with a UKRI rate stipend for 3.5 years and a £5,000 Research Training and Support Grant on the Faculty Chancellors, Interdisciplinary Chancellors, AHRC Doctoral and Doctoral Access streams.

EQUALS Global Partnership

EQUALS in Tech Awards 2027

The EQUALS Global Partnership is seeking applications for the 2027 EQUALS in Tech Awards across three categories, open worldwide to initiatives using technology to advance digital gender equality, closing 7 November 2026 at 23:59 CET.

Eligibility: Applications open worldwide

Deadline

November 7, 2026

Location

Africa

Funding or benefit

No cash prize is published on the awards page. Winners receive recognition from the partnership, join a community of support and expand their networks.

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International Funders for Indigenous Peoples

IFIP Global Conference 2027 Scholarships for Indigenous Leaders

Fully funded places at the IFIP Global Conference 2027 in Darwin, Australia for Indigenous leaders from Africa, Asia and the Pacific and Latin America, with flights, hotel, visa fee and insurance covered.

Eligibility: Applicants from Asia and the Pacific, Africa and Latin America who identify as Indigenous

Deadline

November 7, 2026

Location

Africa

Funding or benefit

No cash award is published on the scholarship page. The scholarship covers conference registration, hotel accommodation for 27 to 30 April 2027, roundtrip economy airfare from the nearest international airport to Darwin, airport transfers and local transportation, the Australia visa fee if applicable, meals during the conference with a food allowance for travel days, and travel and health insurance.

ELLIS

ELLIS PhD Programme 2027 Call for Applications

Apply for a fully funded PhD in artificial intelligence with the ELLIS network of Max Planck Institutes and leading European universities. Applicants of all nationalities are welcome.

Eligibility: Open to applicants of all nationalities, including Nigerian and other African applicants

Deadline

November 1, 2026

Location

Africa

Funding or benefit

Positions are fully funded by the host institution. G-Research scholarships are additionally available through 2028 for eligible data intensive projects.

180 Degrees Consulting

180 Degrees Consulting Global Leadership Team and Branch Launch 2026

Volunteer with the world's largest youth-led social impact consultancy, either on its Global Leadership Team or by launching a student consulting branch at your university.

Eligibility: Open to applicants from any country within the 180 Degrees Consulting global network

Deadline

Timeline not announced

Location

Global

Funding or benefit

These are volunteer roles and no salary or stipend is listed.