We are looking for bright minds that can transform fashion and change the way it is seen, worn, and made. The aim of the Global Change Award Challenge is to find, support and scale disruptive ideas that can protect our planet and turn the fashion and textile industry into a planet positive one.
Regenerative fibres, resources looping in never-ending cycles and reimagined supply chain solutions. The momentum to transform the industry has never been stronger.
Categories
For 2023, the GCA is turning it up a notch. We are updating our scope to cover more ground, raise the bar on innovation and help shift the industry into a planet positive one. The winning ideas should fall into one of three categories:
- Regenerate – solutions towards planet positive effects
- Repurpose – solutions towards circularity
- Reimagine – solutions we have not even thought about yet
What is Planet Positive Fashion?
In a planet positive future, the fashion and textile industry benefits the Earth’s shared resources and gives back more than it takes. Being just neutral is no longer an option. Planet positive means to regenerate, replenish and create conditions for more life.
A planet positive industry supports the capacity to grow, develop and evolve, not degrade or deplete. It embraces the power of nature to renew and regenerate and understands that humans are a fundamental part of nature. It is a future where the fashion and textile industry operates within the planetary boundaries, contributing to a society where humans and nature not only survives but thrives.
What You Win
Five winning teams share a grant of 1 million euros and venture into the year-long GCA Impact Accelerator programme which includes invaluable coaching and support from the H&M Foundation and our partners Accenture, KTH Royal Institute of Technology and The Mills Fabrica.
Accenture – Business & Technology Readiness
Accenture offers GCA winners support with business and technology readiness, while also providing access to a large network of experts. The global professional services firm has extensive experience in bringing innovations to market at speed, and also helps our winners articulate their multidimensional value, which is particularly valuable for early-stage start-ups.
KTH – Innovation Readiness
KTH Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), one of Europe’s leading technical and engineering universities, offers GCA winners science and technology legacy, a framework for innovation development and guidance in key commercialisation areas.
The Mills Fabrica – Industry Access & Investor Readiness
The Mills Fabrica bridges the gap between innovators and industry players through their incubator programme, impact fund and innovation spaces. They provide the winners with investment readiness and peer portfolio synergies as well as industry exposure, ecosystem network and collaboration opportunities.
After the year is up, you will join the GCA Alumni and become an essential part in a network of brilliant minds that collaborate to develop disruptive solutions to some of the world’s most complex challenges.
Neither H&M Foundation nor H&M Group take any equity or intellectual property rights in the innovations as the aim is to benefit the entire industry
Application and Deadline
Application opens: 20 October, 2022
Application closes: 8 December, 2022
Winner announcement: June, 2023
Number of winners: 5
Grant: 1 million euro in total, each winner receives 200,000 euro
Eligible countries: All
Duration of accelerator: One year
Partners in accelerator: Accenture, KTH Royal Institute of Technology and The Mills Fabrica
Apply: apply.globalchangeaward.com
