Zero Project Call for Nominations 2026

#ZeroCall26: Accessibility, ICT, and Crisis Response

#ZeroCall26 update:

586

nominations

93

countries

Learn more

Every year, the Zero Project invites changemakers from around the world—regardless of sector, organization size, or country—to nominate innovative solutions for the Zero Project Awards. The shared mission is to advance the implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD).

The Zero Project Call for Nominations 2026 (#ZeroCall26) focused on the topics of Accessibility, ICT, and Crisis Response and ran from mid-May to the end of June. A record-breaking 586 nominations from 93 countries were submitted during that time.

Jump to Section

#ZeroCall26 update:

586

nominations

93

countries

Learn more

About the Zero Project Awards

The Zero Project Conference: a unique global meeting place to innovate for disability inclusion

The iconic "Zero Project family photo" that is taken at each of the annual Zero Project Conferences. Hundreds of participants with and without disabilities from around the world pose for a group picture during the Award Ceremony; they are smiling and cheering. The Zero Project logo is visible in the background.
Hundreds of participants gather for a group picture at the #ZeroCon25 Award Ceremony.

Recognition and support through a global network of experts

The Zero Project Awards connect innovative solutions with a global network of experts, international visibility, and opportunities to strengthen their reach and impact.

Please note: The Zero Project Awards do not include a financial prize. Recognition and support is based on the opportunities listed below, such as presenting at global events and joining the Zero Project Network.

What Awardees Can Expect

Present at the Zero Project Conference 2026 (#ZeroCon26)

At the United Nations Office at Vienna

Awardees are invited to present their solutions at #ZeroCon26, held at the United Nations Office at Vienna. This annual gathering brings together around 1,000 global experts, innovators, and decision-makers from all sectors of society to advance disability inclusion.

Be Part of the Zero Project Network

Global and cross-sectoral

Awardees are welcomed into a global community of over 10,000 experts—from members of international organizations and government bodies to DPOs, corporations, investors, academia, technology experts, and non-profits. This network fosters collaboration and a strong commitment to drive innovation for disability inclusion.

Feature in the Zero Project Report

Publication series

Each Awardee is profiled in the annual Zero Project Report, and potentially other thematic publications. These publications are shared widely with stakeholders in the disability inclusion field in an accessible format.

Listed in the Zero Project Database

Free and public resource

Awarded solutions are published in the Zero Project Database—a public utility featuring hundreds of innovative practices, policies, and technologies from around the world. Disability-inclusive AI-based tools developed by the Zero Project in collaboration with partners are also based on this data to inform decision-making.

Involvement in regional and thematic Initiatives

Replication and scaling of solutions

Awardees may also be invited to speak at regional Zero Project events for Ibero-America, India, or the Asia-Pacific region, or to take part in targeted programmes aligned with their area of expertise to scale and replicate their innovative solutions.

Accessibility, ICT, and Crisis Response

The three topics of #ZeroCall26 explained

Each year, the Zero Project researches innovative solutions from around the world. These efforts are guided by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), with the goal of advancing the implementation of these rights.

Every four years, the Zero Project focuses its research on Accessibility, alternating with the topics of Education, Employment, Independent Living, and Political Participation. Since 2020, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has been included annually due to its growing importance and rapid development of ICT innovations for disability inclusion.

As part of #ZeroCall26, the topic of Crisis Response is being addressed for the first time. This reflects current global developments and the significance of the topic—a point emphasized by numerous experts from the Zero Project Network in recent years.

 

Definitions and examples

  • Accessibility

    Accessibility is the precondition for persons with disabilities to live independently, participate fully and equally in society, and have unrestricted enjoyment of all their human rights and fundamental freedoms on an equal basis with others.

    The Zero Project defines accessibility in alignment with Article 9 of the UN CRPD; solutions that remove barriers and ensure equal access to environments, ICT, and services. Nominations can relate to the built environment, access to healthcare, inclusive arts, and workplace adaptations, to name a few.

    Learn more

  • ICT

    ICT, or Information and Communication Technology, refers to all the technologies used to create, store, share, and manage information and communication. It includes devices like computers, smartphones, and telephones, services.

    The UN CRPD requires that all means and devices of ICT are accessible to persons with disabilities underlined by Article 20 among others. The Zero Project seeks ICT solutions that remove barriers such as translation tools, AI-powered systems, orientation systems, steering technologies, robotics, and 3-D printing, to name a few.

    Learn more

  • Crisis Response

    Crisis response is a set of humanitarian actions taken to support those affected by disaster, conflict, or climate change. 
    The UN CRPD embeds crisis response through several key articles and principles--specifically Article 11--ensuring that the rights and needs of persons with disabilities are protected before, during, and after crises. The Zero Project is seeking solutions that provide equal access and inclusion in aid efforts to ensure the protection and safety of persons with disabilities in situations such as armed conflicts, humanitarian emergencies and the occurrences of natural disasters.

    Learn more

Selection criteria and process

Are you interested in joining a peer review panel?

The #ZeroCall26 selection process involves hundreds of peer-review experts with and without disabilities from around the world.

Get in touch

Innovation, impact, and scalability

While the Zero Project's research topics rotate each year, there are three main criteria that inform the selection process: innovation, impact, and scalability.

Main selection criteria explained:

  • Innovation

    The nominated solution will have demonstrated to be innovative and effective in removing barriers for persons with disabilties. The research takes into account the local context, geographies, and groups of beneficiaries.

  • Impact

    The impact of a particular solution could refer to the number of beneficiaries or people using a service, the solution’s growth rate, or the influence on improved public services, among others. Any selected solution must have been deployed and have already had an impact; the selection process does not consider projects or products at a concept stage.

  • Scalability

    All nominations are reviewed for their potential in replicating and expanding to new geographies or growing in another way that allows a maximum number of persons with disabilities to benefit from the innovation. Among the 1,000+ solutions that have been identified since 2013, scalability has been indeed multifaceted, ranging from open-source applications to the replication of effective policies, to the expansion of inclusive start-up solutions to new countries.

Selection process: from nominations to Awardees

Once #ZeroCall26 closes on June 29, 2025, the selection process will begin and involve hundreds of people worldwide. Every nomination is carefully evaluated: over several months, the Zero Project's research team will engage with experts from the Zero Project Network across an extensive multi-step process, including screening against formal criteria, peer review, and fact checking.

In August, a shortlist of around 150 innovative solutions will be announced. Shortlisted nominations receive the Zero Project Shortlist Badge, certifying their achievement of reaching the shortlist stage. Moreover, all of them will receive an exclusive invitation to the Zero Project Conference 2026 (February 18-20, 2026), which will be hosted at the United Nations Office at Vienna.

On the occasion of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (December 3, 2025), the Zero Project will announce this year's Zero Project Awardees.

#ZeroCall26 timeline

Are you interested in joining a peer review panel?

The #ZeroCall26 selection process involves hundreds of peer-review experts with and without disabilities from around the world.

Get in touch

From Nomination to Award Ceremony

#ZeroCall26 timeline

May 19, 2025: #ZeroCall26 opens

May 22, 2025 (14:00-15:00 CEST): Info webinar on MS Teams

June 12, 2025 (14:00-15:00 CEST): Info webinar on MS Teams

June 29, 2025 (23:59 CEST): #ZeroCall26 closes

Final deadline: Nominations will not be accepted after this date.

[The original deadline of June 22 was extended by one week.]

Jun-Oct 2025: Selection process

Extensive multi-step process including peer-review and fact-checking

December 3, 2025: Zero Project Awardee Announcement

On the International Day of Persons with Disabilities

Feb 18-20, 2026: Zero Project Conference 2026

Zero Project Awardees will present at the United Nations Office at Vienna, Austria

Do you have questions?

Don't hesitate to send an email with your questions to the Zero Project Team!

Get in touch