Swarovski Foundation seeks young sustainability leaders with grants

The Swarovski Foundation’s Creatives For Our Future initiative invites submissions from emerging talent aged 21 to 30 who are advancing sustainable progress through their work. Eligible applicants span fields like fashion, design, art, architecture, and engineering, with projects that champion environmental or social solutions.

Successful applicants will receive a €20,000 grant and participate in a training programme with one-on-one mentorship and industry networking opportunities. They have supported 27 projects since the programme’s launch in 2021, enabling young creatives to develop and scale their innovative designs.

Maika Nakaoka, head of creativity at the Swarovski Foundation, states that the programme has evolved into a community of innovators addressing social and environmental challenges through creativity. Mangesh Kurund, an architect and grant recipient, is developing bioreceptive materials for kinetic architectural facades, which can contribute to both thermal performance and environmental regeneration. As Maika Nakaoka notes, “What started as an effort to address the barriers amplified by Covid-19 has evolved into a thriving community of innovators and changemakers advancing new approaches to social and environmental challenges through the power of creativity.” This evolution is evident in the diverse range of projects supported by the programme, which aim to drive awareness, technology, or solutions for sustainable development.

The Swarovski Foundation’s programme has supported Kurund in advancing his bioreceptive material through prototyping and thermal testing. The fifth cycle of the programme is set to begin in autumn 2027, with applications open until 9 November 2026 at the programme’s website. As Kurund emphasizes, “To create sustainable, future-ready cities, we must move beyond carbon-intensive conventional materials and explore materials that can contribute to both thermal performance and environmental regeneration.” The programme’s focus on innovative materials and designs is key in addressing the world’s sustainability and development challenges.

Successful applicants will be notified and announced publicly in April 2027 at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. Each successful applicant will be awarded a grant and matched with a mentor experienced in a similar industry. The grant amount is the same as previous cycles. With the support of the Swarovski Foundation, young creatives like Kurund can turn their new ideas into reality, driving positive change and contributing to a more sustainable future.