The St. Gallen Global Ideas Competition 2027 asks graduate students one question: what could we solve, if we could agree? It suits master’s and PhD students in MENA who see a coordination problem that keeps a market or policy issue stuck. The St. Gallen Symposium shares CHF 20,000 among three awardees and invites the top 100 entrants to Switzerland. The deadline is 1 February 2027, 11:59 p.m. UTC-12.
At a glance
| Deadline | 1 February 2027, 11:59 p.m. (UTC-12, the last time zone) |
| Who can apply | Master’s level students or higher at a regular university, born in 1997 or later, any nationality, individual entries only |
| Prize fund | CHF 20,000 shared by three awardees |
| Top 100 | Expenses-paid place at the 56th St. Gallen Symposium (travel, board and lodging covered, per the organizer) |
| What to submit | Solution Brief (up to 1,000 words) and a Video Explainer (up to 3 minutes), in English |
| Cost to apply | The page mentions no application fee |
| Official link | St. Gallen Global Ideas Competition |
Who can apply?
The organizer sets these conditions for the 2027 edition:
- You are enrolled in a graduate or postgraduate programme (master’s level or higher) on 1 February 2027, in any field.
- You were born in 1997 or later. Nationality is not restricted.
- Your university is a regular university, meaning it conducts research and offers at least one PhD programme. Exceptions are decided case by case.
- You enter alone. Teams are not allowed. Bachelor’s students are generally not eligible.
What you get
CHF 20,000 is shared by three awardees, and the best competitors present on the main stage of the Symposium. The top 100 selected candidates qualify as Leaders of Tomorrow, with an expenses-paid place at the Symposium in St. Gallen. The organizer says travel, board and lodging are covered and that participation is free.
How to apply
- Choose a problem that stays unsolved because the parties involved cannot agree, then design a new arrangement that would solve it more effectively.
- Write the Solution Brief (up to 1,000 words, four sections, official template) in English. It must be anonymous, written only for this contest, with AI use declared and sources cited.
- Record a Video Explainer of up to 3 minutes, without slides (MP4 or MOV, minimum 720p, or a YouTube or Vimeo link).
- Register on the official application portal with a 200 to 300 word abstract, a passport or other official ID, and a confirmation of matriculation, before the deadline.
Key dates
Applications close on 1 February 2027 at 11:59 p.m. (UTC-12). Results are announced by e-mail by mid-March 2027. The 56th St. Gallen Symposium takes place in April 2027. The organizer’s page lists 27 to 29 April in one place and 28 to 29 April in another, so confirm the exact days with the organizer.
Advice from the atlaspreneur team
- Pick a stuck problem you can evidence. The first round judges originality, the strength of the argument and the evidence. A regional market problem with real data beats a broad global one.
- Name who has to agree. The theme is agreement. Show which parties disagree, why, and which arrangement changes their incentives.
- Keep the brief anonymous. It is judged anonymously, so remove your name, university and any identifying detail from the file.
- Prepare the video early. The second round checks that the idea is your own, so practise explaining it in three minutes without slides.
FAQ
No. Entrants must be enrolled in a master’s level programme or higher on 1 February 2027.
No. Only individual submissions are accepted.
The official page mentions no application fee.
The organizer requires AI use to be declared and all sources to be cited.
