Applications are open until 12 October 2026 for the second edition of the “Ideas for a Changing World” Award, promoted by AIDIA – Italian Association of Women Engineers and Architects to highlight the contribution of women professionals in the fields of architecture and engineering.
The Award was established to recognise actions, interventions, works, processes and completed projects capable of generating tangible change through technical expertise, technological, environmental and cultural innovation, design vision and social responsibility. At the heart of the initiative is the role of women in improving the quality of life, places, professional and business organisations, and communities.
The second edition features four award categories: Regeneration and Redevelopment, dedicated to projects capable of giving new uses and relationships to spaces and buildings; Environmental Improvement, for solutions focused on sustainability, energy efficiency and reducing environmental impact; Digital Systems, covering innovative services, platforms and processes; and Female Managerial Leadership, recognising professional experiences capable of fostering inclusive, participatory organisational models focused on the enhancement of skills and expertise.
Alongside the category awards, the 2026 edition also includes the Fondazione Inarcassa Special Award – Women Freelance Professionals, reserved for candidates who are duly registered with Inarcassa. The award aims to recognise professionals who have taken on technical, financial and organisational responsibility within complex assignments and processes, demonstrating decision-making autonomy, entrepreneurial skills, resilience and innovation in professional practice.
Each of the four categories carries a prize of €1,500, with an additional €1,500 awarded through the Fondazione Inarcassa Special Award. The two prizes may be awarded to the same candidate.
The competition is open to women graduates in Engineering or Architecture, who may apply individually or as part of a group, provided that the group leader is a woman.
Applications will be assessed according to four main criteria: impact and outcomes, innovation, strategic vision, and replicability and reproducibility. For the Fondazione Inarcassa Special Award, the assessment will instead consider professional experience, organisational and management skills, entrepreneurial capacity and innovation.
All required documentation must be submitted by 11:59 pm on 12 October 2026, in accordance with the procedures set out in the call for applications.
For further information, please visit the official AIDIA website.
