Impact Pioneers is a global platform for ecosystem leaders seeking to strengthen local entrepreneurship and innovation. The programme is both a leadership networking opportunity and a collaboration accelerator, gathering impact-driven leaders to find new ways forward.
This year’s MENA edition will bring together 80 leaders and experts who promote entrepreneurship and innovation that can accelerate solutions to global climate challenges. Join us online and in Sweden to shape the future, together.
12 weeks online with a one-week onsite module in Sweden
Running over approximately 12 weeks in total, the programme offers new insights from the entrepreneurship and innovation ecosystem forefront through practical cases and exchange of perspectives, tools , and frameworks to grow collective efforts and impact.
The programme takes a highly practical approach, featuring regular online workshops, networking sessions, practical work , and coaching support delivered by practitioners and experts with extensive experience from the field.
Impact Pioneers ’26 MENA will give you:
- A unique opportunity for collaboration and exchange with a regional community of peers, fostering a strong and enduring professional network.
- Support and inspiration by new insights from the climate entrepreneurship and innovation forefront, such as practical cases, tools and frameworks.
- First-hand experience of the entrepreneurship and innovation ecosystem in Stockholm and Sweden, recognised as one of the leading ecosystems in the impact entrepreneurship domain.
- A chance to build long-term relations with Swedish foreign missions as well as Swedish entrepreneurs and organisations.
Benefits
Costs covered and arranged by the Swedish Institute
Participation in Impact Pioneers is free of charge. The Swedish Institute arranges and covers costs related to:
- Learning programme
- Your flights to and from Stockholm
- Your accommodation and meals in Stockholm during the on-site meeting in Sweden
- Your insurance during the on-site meeting in Sweden
- All training materials online and on site
Eligibility
The application is open to entrepreneurship ecosystem leaders and practitioners who work in organisations and networks that want to develop their support for climate entrepreneurship and innovation (e.g. in areas such as water, energy, food production, circularity, waste, infrastructure , and transportation). Applicants should hold strategic, decision-influencing, or system-shaping roles within their organisation.
Applicants could for example be:
- Founders and managers of startup hubs, accelerators, or incubators
- Founders and managers of technology and innovation hubs
- Representatives of business support organisations and networks
- University ecosystem leaders working to bridge research and entrepreneurship, e.g., at innovation offices, research centres, or commercialisation units
- Investors actively engaged in activities that support climate entrepreneurship and innovation *
- Public sector professionals involved in initiatives that advance climate entrepreneurship and innovation at the level of national, regional or municipal government*.
In 2026, the application is open to seven programme countries. Applicants must be a citizen and resident of one of them: Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Palestine and Tunisia.
Applicants must meet the following requirements:
- Be a citizen and resident of one of the seven programme countries.
- Work in an organisation that nurtures and grow climate entrepreneurship and innovation.
- Have a good working knowledge of both written and spoken English.
- Be willing to actively participate, provide support, and share their experience and knowledge with other participants.
- Have identified opportunities and challenges that could be worked on during the programme to help their organisation improve its contribution to the local climate entrepreneurship ecosystem.
Application Process
These are the steps you need to go through to submit your application
- Register your profile in our application portal Dream Apply.
- Select what programme you would like to apply for (Impact Pioneers ’26 MENA is available 17 February – 24 March 2026).
- Answer all the questions for the different sections in the application portal (found in the left-hand menu).
- Upload your CV under the document section and a short pre-recorded video as per the instructions in the portal.
- After you’ve submitted your application, you’ll receive a confirmation to your inbox in Dream Apply.
