The Swiss Sustainability Challenge is open to individuals, as well as startups or nonprofit organizations that have been in existence for less than five years. The innovative idea (concept or project) submitted for the competition addresses a social and/or environmental problem, thereby contributing to sustainable development.

An innovation can enter the competition once or repeatedly. Innovations that have already been awarded once in the Swiss (Student) Sustainability Challenge are excluded. The submitted concepts/projects must have a strong connection to Switzerland either through the respective team and/or the place of implementation. Innovations from all parts of the country are welcome. The correspondence languages are German and English.

The maximum number of projects/concepts that can reach the final of the Swiss Sustainability Challenge is limited to 10 projects. If more concepts/projects are submitted, a preliminary jury will decide which concepts/projects make it to the final. The Swiss Sustainability Challenge team also reserves the right to refuse participation without justification or to exclude participants from the competition.

Aus den maximal 10 Finalist*innen bestimmt eine Finaljury die Preisträger*innen. Das Bewertungsschema der Swiss Sustainability Challenge in beiden Phasen des Wettbewerbs basiert auf der neuen DIN SPEC 90051-1 "Standard für die Nachhaltigkeitsbewertung von Start-ups". Die finale Entscheidung über die Finalist*innen (nach Phase 1) und die drei Preisträger*innen wird nach einem Diskurs im Konsens der jeweiligen Jury getroffen. 

Payment of the prize money is only possible to the extent of the cash amount and is made to a legal entity registered in the commercial register (company, association, etc.) or a sole proprietorship with an entry in the commercial register. Registration can take place before or during the Challenge, but must be completed before the prize money is paid out.