Thank you to everyone who submitted an application. We deeply appreciate the time, thought and care that went into every entry.
What’s Next?
We’re now beginning to review each of the incredible submissions we received, and we are already blown away by the sparks being nurtured by you all.
If you are a shortlisted entrant, you will be contacted mid-late November with an invitation to have an informal meeting with the Regenerative Futures team, so please keep an eye on those emails! We are already very excited that we will be announcing the eight chosen members of the Sparks of Regeneration incubation programme in December.
Thank you for being part of this journey with us!
Meet the JurorsWe are seeking innovators and change-makers with early-stage ideas or innovations that are already in motion. We are not looking for brand-new, untested ideas or established projects seeking only to scale without significant change in direction or approach. We are looking for solutions that can bring regeneration to life in areas such as nature conservation, climate, food systems, well-being, education, governance, and beyond.
We understand that nature conservation can take many forms, extending beyond the protection of species or habitats. It can include work that restores ecosystems, strengthens community stewardship of natural resources, and/or reimagines how human and ecological systems coexist.
If what you are building gives back more than it takes and supports healing over harm, this programme is for you.
Regeneration is not a trend – it’s a paradigm shift!
This open call is not just about new ideas, it’s about amplifying the regenerative work already in motion, often unacknowledged, in places where life-affirming systems have long existed.
If your work challenges the status quo, is deeply rooted in reciprocity, care, interdependence, resilience, and life-affirming systems, we want to hear from you.
Over the past year, Unearthodox has engaged in a deep inquiry into what regeneration truly means - especially in the context of conservation, justice, and systems change. Through conversations, research, and reflection, we explored:
✔ The Tensions that arise when regenerative principles meet real-world systems
✔ What regeneration is not - and why that matters
✔ A set of core dimensions to help recognise and nurture regenerative practice
✔ The pluriversal nature of regeneration: multiple truths, rooted in diverse cultural, ecological and social contexts
We don’t believe in a single definition. We believe regeneration is shaped by place, practice, and people. If you're curious to understand the principles and thinking that inform this programme, and how your work might resonate, we invite you to explore our insights!
Follow us for updates on the open call:
See the FAQs below for more details. For any other questions, please contact regenerativefutures@unearthodox.org.
At Unearthodox, we champion systemic change for nature by combining futures and systems thinking. We ask the hard questions and create solutions that regenerate nature and transform society by bringing people together to explore and reimagine new, equitable futures.
In March 2024, we launched Regenerative Futures, an initiative that explores the roots and expressions of the concept of regeneration. Our intention is not only to better understand its potential and limitations in shaping our collective journey towards societies that value and actively regenerate nature, but also to actively nurture bold ideas and support the innovators who turn regenerative visions into real-world pathways.
Regenerative actions are already underway in communities worldwide. Through this open call, Unearthodox aims to surface, support, and amplify those leading the way in how we relate to nature, power, and each other. We believe that by investing in regenerative initiatives, we can help shift dominant systems toward ones that are rooted in care, reciprocity, justice, and equity.
The Sparks of Regeneration open call welcomes applications from both individuals and organisations. You can apply as a solo innovator, part of a small team, or on behalf of an organisation, as long as you are the lead driving the initiative and meet the eligibility criteria.
If applying as a team, you shall appoint one member to oversee the budget, ensure compliance with grant terms, and serve as the primary contact with Unearthodox.. Team applications will be treated with the same considerations as individual applications.
Your idea or initiative could be structured as projects, social enterprises, community-led ventures, or other innovative formats, as long as they address both environmental and social causes and align with regenerative principles. We welcome both non-profit and for-profit models, as long as the primary goal is to achieve social and ecological impact, rather than solely commercial profit.
Not exactly. While the programme does have some features akin to a fellowship, such as funding, mentoring, and peer learning, it is designed as an incubation space for regenerative initiatives. The focus will be on advancing the work and supporting the innovators. The focus is not on individual career development or academic study. Innovators selected through the Sparks of Regeneration open call will have the opportunity to join an 8-month collective journey, alongside their selected peers, to receive strategic support, visibility, and connections that will strengthen and grow their initiatives.
This Sparks of Regeneration open call focuses on supporting ideas and initiatives that actively restore, renew, and reimagine systems for people and the planet. We welcome projects from any field, including conservation, climate, food systems, energy efficiency, conservation education, governance, cultural transformation, and other related areas, as long as they are grounded in regenerative principles and explore innovative ways to navigate the tensions between ecological, social, and economic systems.
We aim to surface and amplify real-world examples of regeneration, connecting them with a global network of peers and resources.
Yes, you can apply, as long as your initiative connects to nature conservation in a meaningful way. For Unearthodox, nature conservation can take many forms, extending beyond the protection of species or habitats. It can include work that restores ecosystems, strengthens community stewardship of natural resources, or reimagines how human and ecological systems coexist.
You don’t need to come from a traditional environmental background. We welcome ideas that connect conservation with fields such as social justice, health, education, governance, food systems, culture, and more, as long as they are grounded in regenerative principles.
No. This is a global call for ideas, open to anyone from any region or sector. We recognise that regenerative ways of working are already deeply embedded in many communities across the globe, and we want to surface and support these approaches, giving them greater visibility and connection.
We want to make sure we can actually send the grant funds to you if you are selected. Our banking partner, UBS, must follow Swiss, EU, UN, and, in some cases U.S. regulations, which means there are certain countries and regions where transfers aren’t legally allowed or are not practical. These rules change over time, so we don’t publish a fixed list. We check eligibility at the time of application. You can review current international sanctions on SECO’s official site and UBS’s international payment guidelines for more information.
Yes, there is a minimum age requirement. Applicants must be at least 18 years of age at the time of application. We welcome innovators and changemakers from all backgrounds, as long as you meet this age requirement and the other eligibility criteria, and can commit to participating fully in the programme.
We are currently accepting applications in English only, but we strongly encourage both native and non-native English speakers to apply. We welcome submissions that have been translated from another language using an online tool. Entries will not be penalised for errors in grammar or vocabulary.
The incubation programmes offered to winners will be conducted in English. We acknowledge the need to embrace linguistic diversity; however, at this stage of the initiative, we are unable to do so in a manner that is genuinely inclusive and honest. If you need support to complete the forms in English, please reach out to us at regenerativefutres@unearthodox.org, and we’ll do our best to assist you.
All eligible applications will be reviewed by an independent panel of experts representing a wide range of perspectives, geographies, and lived experiences. This diversity ensures that proposals are assessed with both global insight and local understanding. We’ll be announcing the judges soon. Please keep an eye on our News section for updates.
Click here to see the complete list of criteria.
The personal data provided by participants will be used solely for the purpose of administering this open call and will not be shared with third parties. Participants' information will be handled in accordance with our Privacy Statement.
The intellectual property rights to your idea remain with you. Please refer to our terms and conditions and Privacy Statement for further details.
Selected innovators retain the intellectual property rights of their work. The selected innovators grant Unearthodox unlimited, non-exclusive use of high-resolution photographs for activities in all media, including social media, online, and print, in relation to the Open Call, as well as for all promotional and educational activities for and under the auspices of Unearthodox, without any remuneration being due. Please refer to our terms and conditions for further details.
Your idea doesn’t have to be brand new. We are accepting ideas already in motion. This means you’ve taken some first steps, such as early testing or implementation. We also welcome existing projects that are entering a new phase of change, e.g. projects that are pivoting their approach, reimagining their model, or deepening their impact. We are not looking for ideas starting entirely from scratch or for projects seeking only to expand as they are.
The innovators represent and warrant that submission of the application and of their Idea does not breach any law, any contract or obligation between you and a third party and further that no third party can hold any claims or any objections regarding the rights granted to Unearthodox. The innovators will hold Unearthodox harmless of any claims from third parties related hereto.
Up to 8 ideas will be chosen/shortlisted to participate in the incubation programme.
Selected innovators will each receive a grant of up to CHF 10,000 to fund their initiative, plus access to up to CHF 50,000 in shared non-financial support for the selected group of Sparks of Regeneration open call innovators. Aside from this financial and non-financial support, the purpose of the Sparks of Regeneration open call is to identify and nurture ideas with the potential for transformative change.
Yes. If you are selected, you are responsible for ensuring that you are legally able to receive funds into your bank account. As regulations vary by country, we encourage you to check early whether any permissions apply in your context. Any legal, tax, or compliance requirements, such as registrations, approvals, or reporting obligations, are solely your responsibility. Unearthodox cannot provide legal or tax advice and cannot take responsibility for arranging or resolving these requirements on your behalf.
The grant must be used exclusively to advance your proposed idea or initiative.
Use of funds for unrelated expenses, including personal costs, debt repayment, political campaigning, or any activity not directly contributing to your initiative, is strictly prohibited.
The application form includes a section where you must outline how the grant will support your initiative, along with a fund management plan if applying as a team (who will oversee the budget, ensure compliance with grant terms, and serve as the primary contact with Unearthodox). A detailed budget will be requested at the time of contracting the grant.
You may submit one application as the lead applicant. You are welcome to be part of other applications as a partner. Your entry must be received by the closing date of 9 Oct 2025, 23:59 CEST.
You can also view the full Terms & Conditions of the Open Call here.
