The Kazan Global Youth Summit has opened its nomination process for the Global Youth Leadership Awards 2026, inviting submissions under the Innovation Project of the Year category. The call has been extended to startups, researchers, and project teams whose work addresses social, educational, scientific, environmental, economic, or technological challenges, with organizers now seeking nominations from across the OIC member and observer states, along with BRICS and Asia Pacific regions. The summit has requested support from partner organizations and platforms to help identify candidates whose work reflects meaningful impact and innovation within their respective fields.
According to the eligibility criteria shared by organizers, nominated projects must be either fully implemented or at an advanced stage of development, and must be able to demonstrate measurable results or a clear potential for significant impact. The criteria place particular emphasis on originality, sustainability, scalability, and practical applicability, indicating that the award is aimed at recognizing work that goes beyond concept stage and shows tangible outcomes. Evidence of effectiveness, such as pilot results, user engagement figures, partnerships formed, or other measurable achievements, has been listed as a requirement for consideration.
The general eligibility rules for the award apply across categories unless stated otherwise. Candidates are required to be between the ages of 18 and 35, and the authors, CEOs, or founders behind nominated projects must represent OIC member or observer states, BRICS nations, or countries within the Asia Pacific region. Additionally, the projects being nominated must have been successfully implemented within the territory of these regions during 2025 and 2026, and must show demonstrable social impact within that timeframe. This regional and age based framework positions the award as a platform specifically aimed at recognizing younger innovators and early to mid stage ventures rather than long established organizations.
Organizers have set a short window for nominations, with submissions being accepted through a dedicated form ahead of an internal deadline before the official submission is finalized. Startups and individuals interested in applying can register their nomination through the form available at https://forms.gle/jFD7qDzhdLPxG8xF8. The process is being coordinated through outreach to startup ecosystems, incubators, and media platforms familiar with innovation activity in their respective countries, allowing organizers to gather a wide pool of candidates across diverse sectors. This approach reflects the summit’s broader intent to surface projects that may not otherwise have visibility on international platforms, particularly those working on social, scientific, or economic challenges within emerging markets.
For Pakistan’s startup ecosystem, the nomination call represents a further opportunity to gain international recognition, following a growing pattern of local ventures being highlighted on global innovation platforms. Founders and project leads who meet the eligibility requirements have been encouraged to submit their nominations promptly given the tight submission timeline. The Global Youth Leadership Awards, through categories such as Innovation Project of the Year, continue to serve as a mechanism for connecting youth led innovation across OIC, BRICS, and Asia Pacific countries with a broader international audience, offering visibility to projects that demonstrate real world results and long term potential.
Follow the SPIN IDG WhatsApp Channel for updates across the Smart Pakistan Insights Network covering all of Pakistan’s technology ecosystem.
