Intended to support the further development of innovative Arctic-based businesses, the award of 7,500 Euros has since 2022 recognised promising young entrepreneurs whose startups are legally based in the Arctic.

The winning startup will be honoured during the annual Arctic Futures Symposium in Brussels this December, at which they will have the opportunity to present their venture and participate in a panel discussion relevant to their business.

“The Laurence Trân Arctic Futures Award is an opportunity to not only get some money for your startup, but also an occasion to bring added visibility on an international stage to the work you’re doing,” remarked Joseph Cheek, who has been managing the award’s secretariat and the international jury at the International Polar Foundation since 2022.

The winners will also have access to the foundation’s vast professional network.

Eligibility and selection

Startups that apply must be legally based in an Arctic region, and the founder(s) must be 35 years old or younger on the last day that applications can be submitted (September 25th, 2026).

An expert jury composed of experts in Arctic entrepreneurship and startup development will select the winner according to the criteria outlined on the Arctic Futures Symposium website, including:

• How environmentally sustainable the business is
• To what extent the business helps the Arctic community where it is based and the broader Arctic (social sustainability)
• How innovative the business idea or model is
• How mature the business is (scalability potential, cross-border expansion)
• To what extent the Laurance Trân Arctic Futures Award will help the business

Further details on eligibility and how to apply can be found on the dedicated page on the Arctic Futures Symposium website.

Previous winners include:

• 2022: Containing Greens
• 2023: Gobmi
• 2024: Siu-Tsiu
• 2025: Marine Spark X

Your startup could be the next winner, so don't hesitate to apply!

If you have any questions at all about applying for the award, please contact the International Polar Foundation at events@polarfoundation.org and include “Laurence Trân Arctic Futures Award 2026” in the subject line of your email.

The deadline to submit applications is Friday, September 25th, 2026 at 11:59 PM Hawaii–Aleutian Time.

We look forward to receiving your applications and discovering the innovative entrepreneurial projects emerging across the Arctic!

This initiative is made possible by the Trân Family Foundation and administered by the International Polar Foundation.