Unearthodox Exploration Co-Lab ۲۰۲۷ – گرنت CHF 10,000 و برنامه ۱۰‌ماهه

Unearthodox Exploration Co-Lab 2027 یک alternative incubation programme برای innovators و early-stage initiatives است که می‌خواهند relationship میان humanity، nature و society را در سطح systems تغییر دهند.

Selected participants receive

• CHF 10,000 grant.
• 10-month incubation.
• tailored non-financial support.
• peer learning.
• coaching.
• expert guidance.
• systems mapping.
• futures thinking.
• visibility.
• global innovator network.

Programme

1 March–31 December 2027.

Application Period

15 September–16 November 2026.

Deadline

16 November 2026.

Format

primarily online.

Language

English.

Geographic Scope

global.

What Co-Lab Looks For

work beyond short-term/incremental solutions، exploring new systems، worldviews، relationships and regenerative futures.

Themes May Include

• reimagining human-nature relationships.
• challenging commodification/exploitation.
• questioning anthropocentric assumptions.
• examining coloniality/unequal systems.
• ecological/social wellbeing.
• regenerative and equitable futures.
• more-than-human relationships.
• systems change and collective transformation.

The programme recognizes that deep systems change needs time، experimentation، trust، reflection and relationships.

Financial Grant

CHF 10,000 to help

• research.
• pilot/testing.
• community engagement.
• tools/approaches.
• implementation.
• systems-change pathways.
• partnerships.
• operating model.
• impact capacity.

10-Month Incubation

focus on

• systems transformation.
• collective learning.
• collaboration.
• experimentation.
• changemaker wellbeing.
• strategy.
• regenerative impact.

Non-Financial Support

shared support pool estimated up to CHF 60,000 in value.

May include

• peer learning.
• individual coaching.
• expert guidance.
• systems mapping.
• futures thinking.
• strategic positioning.
• regenerative success measurement.

This is not necessarily cash; it represents expertise/resources/support.

Peer Learning

exchange experiences، question assumptions، build relationships and potential collaborations.

Coaching

may help clarify

• purpose.
• system influence.
• theory of change.
• strategic priorities.
• collaboration.
• progress measurement.
• sustainability.

Systems Mapping/Futures

understand

• actors/relationships.
• structures maintaining problem.
• assumptions.
• future scenarios.
• leverage points.
• enabling conditions.

Strategic Positioning

clarify

• distinctiveness.
• audiences/partners.
• communication.
• networks.
• visibility/findability/fundability.

Regenerative Success

look beyond short-term growth metrics to

• ecological wellbeing.
• community resilience.
• relationships.
• equity.
• long-term systems change.
• collective capacity.
• participation quality.
• sustainability of work.

Visibility

selected initiatives may be showcased through Unearthodox communication channels.

Global Community

access to systems innovators، mentors، network weavers، changemakers and collaborators.

Who Should Apply

innovators committed to just، vibrant، regenerative futures who value

• participation.
• trust.
• empathy.
• critical/creative thinking.
• collective learning.
• community engagement.
• long-term change.
• interdisciplinary collaboration.

Stage

initiative should be early-stage but beyond pure idea stage.

Some groundwork should exist

• research.
• early testing.
• pilot.
• community engagement.
• emerging intervention.
• developing model.
• early evidence.

Recognized Stages

• Testing:

limited-resource experimentation with communities/stakeholders/living systems.

• Proving:

proof of concept exists; need more testing/refinement/evidence.

• Deepening:

initiative already shows possibility and seeks deeper relationships/pathways rather than simply scaling size.

• Pivoting:

more established initiative needing major change in direction، strategy، model or theory of change.

• Other:

still eligible if aligned; explain current stage and needed support.

Diversity

Unearthodox particularly welcomes underrepresented voices/global majority/historically excluded communities. Diversity includes age، gender identity، geography، culture، professional background، lived experience and community context.

Swiss Dimension

organisation seeks exchange between Swiss-based and global innovators and aims for at least one Swiss-based initiative per annual cohort، selected competitively.

Time Zones

online calls generally scheduled within UTC−6 to UTC+6. Outside-zone applicants may apply but should assess participation feasibility.

Nature-Society Challenges May Include

• climate change.
• biodiversity loss.
• habitat destruction.
• environmental degradation.
• unsustainable resource use.
• anthropocentric systems.
• environmental/social inequality.
• extractive structures.
• disconnection from more-than-human world.

Possible Fields

• environmental justice.
• climate action.
• biodiversity.
• regenerative agriculture.
• ecological restoration.
• community resilience.
• alternative economies.
• Indigenous/traditional ecological knowledge.
• environmental education.
• sustainable livelihoods.
• social innovation.
• food systems.
• urban ecology.
• governance.
• community conservation.
• post-growth.
• collective wellbeing.

Work That May Not Fit

• reinforcing extractive/dominant systems.
• prioritising profit/speed/growth over purpose.
• surface-level symptom fixes only.
• individual advantage without collective learning.
• no real allyship.
• exclusively short-term focus.
• communities treated as passive recipients.

Timeline

• Applications open: 15 Sep 2026
• Deadline: 16 Nov 2026
• Shortlisting/evaluation: 17 Nov–11 Dec 2026
• Applicant conversations: 14–18 Dec 2026
• Final selection: 5 Jan–4 Feb 2027
• Notification/onboarding: 5–28 Feb 2027
• Programme: 1 Mar–31 Dec 2027

How to Apply

review official applicant information document containing

• form preview.
• eligibility.
• evaluation criteria.
• FAQ.
• terms.
• prior application guidance.

Then submit via official Co-Lab portal.

Strong Application

• Explain the nature-society problem and underlying system.
• Prove you are beyond idea stage.
• Describe systems-change approach.
• Show real community participation.
• Identify specific development needs.
• Explain realistic use of CHF 10,000.
• Demonstrate openness to collective learning.
• Consider accessibility/time-zone participation.

Possible Grant Uses

research، testing، community activities، materials، project travel، specialist support، pilot implementation، communications، monitoring/learning، coordination.

Contacts

• [email protected]
• partnership enquiries: [email protected]

Deadline

16 November 2026.

However, applicants must be beyond the basic idea stage.

Applicants should be working on an early-stage initiative at the intersection of environmental and societal change. The initiative does not need to be fully developed or have every detail resolved. However, applicants must be beyond the basic idea stage.

Applications can be submitted through the Unearthodox Exploration Co-Lab 2027 application portal.