The Journey From
Submission To Recognition

Government and Public Sector Entities
Public-sector entities established, owned, or controlled by a government and mandated to exercise public authority or deliver public functions. This includes ministries, government agencies, regulators, municipalities, public institutions, and eligible semi-government entities.

Private Sector
Privately owned, for-profit entities that are not controlled or operated by a government. This includes large enterprises & corporations, small and medium-sized enterprises, and start-ups.

Civil Society
Independent, non-governmental, not-for-profit organizations that advance public or community interests. This includes NGOs, foundations, associations, charities, and advocacy or community-based organizations.

Applications may be submitted by an eligible government or public-sector entity from a DCO Member State, an eligible private-sector or civil-society organization, or a team of at least two adults (18+) submitting a jointly developed solution with the formal endorsement of an eligible institution. The endorsing institution must verify the team members’ identities, confirm its relationship with the team and accept the responsibilities set out in the Awards rules.

Yes. You may nominate an eligible organization delivering an impactful digital solution through the official Nomination Form. DCO will contact the nominated organization and invite it to complete the full Application Form.

A nomination is not an application and does not guarantee eligibility, shortlisting, or selection.

Yes. Eligible civil-society organizations based outside DCO Member States may apply through the applicable international stream. Other eligible international non-government entities may be considered through the Bridging the Gap pathway, subject to the published requirements.

Applications may be submitted by:

• An eligible government (only DCO Member States), public-sector, private-sector or civil-society organization; or
• A team or cohort of individuals submitting a jointly developed solution with the formal endorsement of an eligible institution.
• A team may apply where it has at least two members and is formally endorsed by an eligible university, research institution, incubator, accelerator, company, public institution, civil-society organization or comparable body. The team members must be adults (18+), and the endorsing institution must verify the team’s identity, confirm its relationship with the team and accept the responsibilities specified in the Awards rules.

Application and implementation requirements

• The application must concern a solution that has been implemented and has produced evidence of results.
• Digital technology must play a material role in delivering the claimed outcomes.
• The application must be completed in English and submitted through the Awards Platform by the published deadline.
• All mandatory sections and supporting documents must be provided.
• An organization or institutionally endorsed team may submit one application per category. The same application may enter only one category.
• Applicants must accept the declarations, permissions and other DPA rules.

The deadline for all submissions is 4 January 2027.

Applications must be submitted through the DPA Awards Platform by the published closing time. Applicants are encouraged to submit early to avoid last-minute technical issues.

Applications first undergo administrative and eligibility screening, including independent third-party reputational and integrity due diligence.

Eligible applications then proceed through 3 assessment and selection stages:

• Stage 1: Technical Committee Assessment and Shortlisting
• Stage 2: International Judging Panel Assessment
• Stage 3: Cross-Pillar Flagship Assessment

Applications are assessed against 4 core criteria:

• Creativity and innovation;
• Demonstrated performance and impact;
• Social responsibility and sustainability; and
• Collaboration and feasibility at scale.

Detailed scoring guidance is provided to judges to support consistent and evidence-based assessment.

The Awards Ceremony is planned for March 2027. The final date and venue will be announced through the official DPA website and communication channels.

Organizations interested in partnering with the Digital Prosperity Awards may submit their interest through the official Partner Interest Form.

Yes. Technical support is available through the official support channels during the application period and until the published support cut-off date.

The support team can assist with technical or platform-related issues but cannot advise applicants on the substantive merits of an application or how it should be scored.

Once the final decisions have been approved, winners will be notified confidentially by the DPA Program Office. Results will then be announced publicly during the Awards Ceremony.

Each application undergoes:

• An administrative completeness check;
• A review against the mandatory eligibility requirements;
• Verification of the proposed category and competition stream; and
• Independent third-party reputational and integrity due diligence.

An application that does not meet a mandatory eligibility requirement will not proceed to judging.

The online Application Form consists of 7 sections covering:

• Applicant details;
• Solution overview and category selection;
• The problem, approach, and role of digital technology;
• Distinctiveness, demonstrated results, and supporting evidence;
• Scale, collaboration, and responsible implementation;
• Sustainable Development Goals, the Digital Economy Navigator, and social impact; and
• Intended use of the prize.

Applicants may also be required to upload supporting materials.

Details of the prizes and winner benefits will be announced through the official DPA website and communication channels once confirmed.

For technical issues relating to the DPA Awards Platform or the submission of an application, please contact us through the Enquiry Form or by email at dpa@dco.org.

When experiencing a problem with an online application, include your application reference number, a brief description of the issue, and a screenshot where relevant. Do not include passwords or other sensitive login information.

Interested experts may express their interest by completing the official Judge Expression of Interest Form.

Submission does not guarantee appointment. All expressions of interest will be reviewed, and candidates will be notified of the outcome.

For general inquiries, please contact us through the Enquiry Form or by email at dpa@dco.org.

No, your entry is free of charge.