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For the eighth consecutive year, the Otto Mønsted Foundation is accepting applications for The Bright Idea from students and teachers from universities, vocational programmes and others. The application deadline is 15 August 2026.
The award recognises talent with the right innovative idea, product, process or solution with commercial potential. The award is not only a celebration of the work of the award winners, but also to encourage and inspire this year’s winners in the further development of their ideas.
The Bright Idea 2026 is awarded in two categories and the jury selects one winner in each category to be honoured:
– DKK 250,000 for the best early-stage idea
– DKK 250,000 for the best late-stage idea
Two finalists in each category who do not receive the grand prize will be awarded DKK 20,000 each.
The applications will be judged on these criteria:
- Excellence in thought, communication, analysis and documentation
- Degree of business vision and understanding
- The likelihood that the idea can be implemented
- The value and importance of the idea to the Danish business community
- The extent to which the idea can contribute to the UN Sustainable Development Goals
The jury represents a broad field of high professionalism and knowledge about innovation with jury members from business, representatives from the Danish Export and Investment Fund, Bioinnovation Institute, universities and more.
The jury has previously awarded prizes to projects that have presented convincing solutions for water purification, a sustainable alternative to lithium batteries, recycling of blended textiles, optimisation of hydrogen as a fuel, combating plant diseases, development of new sustainable lightweight materials, use of artificial intelligence in microchips, reuse of concrete elements in construction, etc.
Video: What made the 2025 winners unique?
Award ceremony 4 November 2026
The names of this year’s award winners will be revealed at an awards ceremony on 4 November at the Startup Stage during the Digital Tech Summit in Øksnehallen, Copenhagen. All six finalists (three in each category) will be invited to a networking dinner with past winners and representatives from the jury and others after the award ceremony.
Applicants present their ideas via a digital application system on the foundation’s website: www.omfonden.dk
For further information: Nina Movin, CEO of Otto Mønsteds Fond og A/S at 51173713 or email ncm@ottomoensted.dk
See the article about last year’s winners
