The MDPI Sustainability Foundation proudly presents the World Sustainability Award and Emerging Sustainability Leader Award as part of the World Sustainability Forum. Starting in 2025, this global event and its awards ceremony will take place annually, celebrating the scholarly contributions of individuals to sustainability research. The total annual award budget amounts to 120,000 USD, funded by the MDPI Sustainability Foundation.

Purpose of the Awards

The World Sustainability Award (WSA) and the Emerging Sustainability Leader Award (ESLA) are international honors conferred by the MDPI Sustainability Foundation. These awards were conceived to recognize and celebrate outstanding academic and societal contributions to sustainability. The WSA is intended for established researchers or research groups whose work has had a sustained and transformative impact on the field, while the ESLA highlights the emerging influence of early-career scholars who demonstrate outstanding potential in advancing sustainability research.

The core mission of these awards is to promote excellence across the breadth of sustainability science and its implementation. Nominees must demonstrate exceptional contributions that advance the understanding or transformative capacity of sustainability principles. This includes innovative theoretical, empirical, or applied research that addresses global challenges across ecological, societal, or economic dimensions. The awards aim to inspire further advancements in sustainability by recognizing achievements that embody academic rigor, societal relevance, and transformative impact.

Award Structure and Categories:

Reflecting the multifaceted nature of sustainability, the World Sustainability Award and the Emerging Sustainability Leader Award are presented across three core pillars of sustainability: Biosphere, Society, and Economy.

The Emerging Sustainability Leader Award recognizes outstanding early-career researchers who have demonstrated exceptional contributions to the advancement of sustainability research. Offered by the MDPI Sustainability Foundation, the award celebrates innovation, impact, and academic excellence across the sustainability spectrum. The 2026 ESLA will honor one outstanding early-career researcher, typically within 10 years of completing their PhD, who has made an exceptional academic or societal contribution to sustainability, whether broadly or in relation to a specific sustainability-relevant issue. The recipient will receive a monetary prize of 20,000 USD. The awardee will be officially presented during The 12th World Sustainability Forum.

The World Sustainability Award honors individuals who have made groundbreaking contributions to sustainability research. Offered by the MDPI Sustainability Foundation, the award recognizes scholarly excellence and transformative impact across disciplines. The 2026 WSA will honor one individual researcher whose work has made a transformative academic or societal contribution to sustainability, whether broadly or in relation to a specific sustainability-relevant issue. The recipient will receive a monetary prize of 100,000 USD, which will be officially presented during The 12th World Sustainability Forum.

The awards are conferred solely on the basis of merit by an independent Selection Committee that follows a structured, peer-reviewed, and transparent evaluation process.

Important Deadlines:

Award application open date: 25 July 2025
Award application deadline: 15 December 2025
Award winner announcement day: 30 January 2026.

Award Ceremony and Presentation Venue

The WSA and ESLA awardees are ceremoniously presented at the World Sustainability Forum 2026, a global academic platform that convenes leading researchers and institutions in the field of sustainability. The upcoming WSF 2026 will be hosted in Hong Kong, marking an important milestone for the awards’ integration into one of the world’s most dynamic sustainability hubs. In addition to the prizes, all awardees will receive a travel and accommodation stipend to facilitate their presence at the World Sustainability Forum in Hong Kong in 2026. The Forum provides not only the venue for the award ceremony but also a stage for recipients to share their research through keynote addresses and panel discussions. This integration ensures high visibility for the awardees’ work and facilitates interdisciplinary dialogue. The participation of awardees in the Forum reinforces the awards’ aim to bridge scholarly excellence with actionable insights for global sustainability transitions.

Join us at the WSF12 and watch the presentation of the awardees in Hong Kong on 21-24 August 2026.

For more information, please visit: https://mdpi-foundation.org/awards.

The reflections of past awardees stand as a testament to the credibility of the MDPI Sustainability Foundation Awards and their significant contribution to the global sustainability community.

Testimonial from Awardee of World Sustainability Award:

Testimonial from Awardee(s) of Emerging Leader Award:

Sustainability Journal Publication
Participants in this conference are cordially invited to contribute a full manuscript to the Sustainability ( ISSN 2071-1050, IF 3.3, Citescore 7.74) with a 20% discount on the publication fee. There is no guarantee of the publication in Sustainability journal. All submitted papers will undergo MDPI’s standard peer-review procedure. The abstracts should be cited and noted on the first page of the paper.

Please note if you have IOAP/association discounts, conference discounts will be combined with IOAP/association discounts.
Conference discounts cannot be combined with reviewer vouchers.

Proceeding Paper Publication
You are welcome to submit a proceeding paper (4-8 pages) to Proceedings journal after the conference. Publication of the proceedings will be free of charge. The proceeding paper will be open for submissions after the conference.
Proceedings submission deadline: 9 October 2026.

Manuscripts for the proceedings issue must be formatted as follows:
Title;
Full author names;
Affiliations (including full postal address) and authors' e-mail addresses;
Abstract;
Keywords;
Introduction;
Methods;
Results and Discussion;
Conclusions;
Acknowledgements;
References.

We are excited to announce two prestigious event awards in recognition and celebration of the outstanding contributions made by our participants during WSF-12.

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU)

With over 85 years of rich heritage, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has evolved alongside Hong Kong, making pivotal contributions to its social and economic development, as well as to the Nation and the world. PolyU aspires to be an innovative world-class university that pursues excellence in education, research and knowledge transfer. Guided by its motto, “To learn and to apply, for the benefit of mankind”, the University nurtures socially responsible professionals and leaders with a strong sense of national pride and a global perspective, while driving world-leading research and innovation for societal benefits. PolyU’s unwavering commitment to excellence, impact, and innovation has earned it widespread international recognition. The University consistently ranks among the world’s top 100 universities, a testament to its status as a global leader in higher education and cutting-edge research.

We want your stay in Barcelona during the conference to be as comfortable as possible. With that in mind, we have searched for some hotels near the PolyU to make your choice of accommodations easier. Please book your accommodation online and contact the hotels directly with any issues or requests related to accommodation bookings.
We are delighted to announce that the following hotels will offer a discounted price for all WSF12 attendees:

Hotel	Description	How to Book
	Adress: 17 Science Museum Road, Tsim Sha Tsui East, Hong Kong Distance from PolyU: 4 minutes' walk (300 m) - Harbourview hotel, in the heart of Tsim Sha Tsui with international cuisine, cocktails on the club floor, the ultimate rooms for comfort and style, heartfelt service. - Hotel ICON ensures sustainable green practices → Hotel ICON-Sustainbility	Click below to make reservation or contact hotel sales manager tony.lau@hotel-icon.com directly for special rate
	Adress: 71 Mody Rd, Tsim Sha Tsui East, Hong Kong Distance from PolyU: 9 minutes' walk (650 m) - Ideally situated in Tsim Sha Tsui East within close walking distance of the MTR, hotel is an exquisite blend of classical European elegance with Oriental hospitality. - Regal Kowloon Hotel integrates sustainability into business strategy → Regal Kowloon Hotel-Sustainbility	Click below and access the dedicated group booking link to receive a 10% discount.
	Adress: 1 Chi Wo Street, Jordan, Kowloon, Hong Kong Distance from PolyU: 10 minutes' walk (800 m) - Located just 3 minutes away from Jordan MTR station. It can be reached by all forms of public transportation. - From nearby temples to lively local markets and cultural festivals, guests can dive into the living heritage of Yau Ma Tei.	Click below and use the discount code "ENCODE" to make reservation with a 5% discount

Notice: Beware of Unauthorized Accommodation Offers

• Sciforum is the only official registration platform for WSF12
• MDPI does NOT have a hotel reservation department.
• We are not affiliated with any travel agencies beyond those listed on our website.

Australia Smart City Association
Together, we’re turning bold ideas into better places to live, work, and thrive.
Find out more: http://www.smartcity.org.au

With a global audience of academic, policy, and industry participants, WSF-12 offers a unique platform to connect your organization with thought leaders and decision-makers shaping a sustainable and resilient future.

Join us in driving innovation and collaboration at the 12th World Sustainability Forum (WSF-12), 21–24 August 2026, Hong Kong.

Download our Sponsorship Prospectus:

Secure Your Strategic Advantage at WSF-12

Gain exposure and build meaningful connections with 500+ participants, including sustainability experts, policymakers, researchers, and corporate leaders from across the globe.

Benefits for All Sponsors, Regardless of Package:
- Display your logo, website link, and organization profile on the WSF-12 webpage.
- Your logo will appear in our digital and printed Book of Abstracts.

Exclusive Networking Opportunities:
Engage directly with our VIP guests, keynote speakers, and institutional partners at dedicated networking sessions and appreciation dinners.

Email us to find out more:
Feel free to contact our partnerships and sponsorships representative at wsf12@mdpi.com.

Most nationalities can visit Hong Kong for a short period without a visa; however, the requirements vary by country, with visa-free stays ranging from 7 days to 180 days. To confirm your specific requirements, visit the Hong Kong Immigration Department website. For longer stays, you must apply for a visa in advance, either through the nearest Chinese diplomatic mission, a local sponsor, or directly by post to the Immigration Department. You will need your passport, sufficient funds, proof of accommodation, and your travel itinerary to apply for a visa.

1. Check Your Visa-Free Status
Varying Periods: Hong Kong allows visa-free entry for short visits for nationals of many countries, but the duration of stay differs.
Specific Information: Check the official Hong Kong Immigration Department (immd.gov.hk) website or the Hong Kong Tourism Board for details specific to your country of origin.

2. When a Visa is Required
Extended Stays: You need to apply for a visa or entry permit if your planned visit exceeds the visa-free period allowed for your nationality.

3. How to Apply for a Visa
Visa Application: Applicants must submit their visa application to the nearest Chinese diplomatic and consular mission or directly to the Hong Kong Immigration Department.
Sponsor: A local sponsor can also be used to submit the visa application on your behalf.
e-Visa: The Immigration Department issues "e-Visas," which are PDF-formatted notification slips, upon approval of the application.

4. Required Documents
Passport: A valid passport with at least six months of validity beyond your planned stay.
Application Form: A completed Hong Kong visitor visa application form.
Financial Proof: Evidence of sufficient funds to cover your stay, such as bank statements.
Travel Documents: Proof of onward or return transportation arrangements, like flight bookings.
Other Documents: Passport-sized photographs and proof of accomodation may also be required.

Visa Support Letter

• Applicants must have paid for registration and submitted an abstract in order to get a letter of support.
• Applicants must provide us with a scan of their valid, in-date passport that contains a photo of them.
• Applicants must provide us with a letter of support from their institution to confirm that they support the delegate attending the meeting.
• This must be carried out in good time before the meeting; “last minute” requests will not be processed.

Request for Visa Application Document(s) - Invitation Letter
If, for visa purposes, you require an invitation letter to allow you to travel to Hong Kong, please email wsf12@mdpi.com the following details to the conference secretariat:

• Photocopy of your passport;
• Name (as it appears on your passport);
• Passport number;
• Nationality;
• Date and Place of Birth;
• Place of Issue;
• Date of Issue: dd/mm/yyyy;
• Expiration Date: dd/mm/yyyy;
• Country of departure;
• Job title;
• Organization;
• Mailing address;
• Email.

Kindly ensure that you have completed your registration and made payment before sending in your request for your visa application document(s) to the conference secretariat. The document(s) will be prepared and sent by email. Failure to provide the above information will result in the delay of your invitation letter.

Mrs. Amy Cheng
Mrs. Katrina Zhang
Mrs. Fionn Ee
Dr. Alina-Andrada Igna
Mrs. Flora Li
Email: wsf12@mdpi.com

For inquiries regarding submissions and sponsorship opportunities, please feel free to contact us.