Terms & Conditions
The Flush Forward Challenge (the “Challenge” or the “Prize”) is run by Challenge Works, part of Nesta, working with The Gates Foundation, Bluechain Consulting and Cranfield University (the “Challenge Partners”). These terms and conditions govern entry to and participation in the Prize and form a contract between Nesta (company number 7706036 and charity number 1144091) and the organisation submitting an entry to the Prize (referred to in these terms and conditions as “you”).
Please read these terms and conditions and all additional information on the Prize website carefully before submitting an entry to the Prize. By submitting an entry, you accept these terms and conditions and agree to comply with them. If you are submitting an entry on behalf of multiple organisations, you undertake to Nesta that you have authority to bind each of them. You are responsible for ensuring that your staff, partners, contractors, and anyone else involved in your entry comply with these terms and conditions.
Entering the Challenge
1. Entry rules. Entries must be complete, in English and submitted between 5th October 2026 12pm GMT 16th December 2026. Nesta is not responsible for entries which are lost, incomplete, damaged or late due to computer, network or telecommunications failures. Unless otherwise stated, you may make only one entry to the Challenge and must bear all your costs of entering and participating in the Challenge.
2. Eligibility. The following are not eligible to enter:
2.1 members of the Nesta group;
2.2 organisations where an individual in the project team or any senior member of the organisation’s staff is an employee of a member of the Nesta group or an immediate family member of such employee;
2.3 organisations where an individual in the project team or any senior member of the organisation’s staff is an employee of a member of a Challenge Partner or an immediate family member of such employee;
2.4 any individual that is working or has worked on the research, design, administration, delivery and/or evaluation of the Challenge or an immediate family member of such individual; and
2.5 existing recipients of funding or investment from members of the Nesta group.
3. Assessment. Entries will be assessed against the relevant eligibility requirements and judging criteria and due diligence will be conducted. The judges’ and Nesta’s decisions about eligibility, shortlisting and Prize awards are final and not subject to appeal. Nesta reserves the right at its sole discretion to refuse any entry or to make no award if no entry meets the requirements. Judges may use AI tools to aid their assessment of the entries.
4. Communications. All communications must be in English. If you fail to respond to any communication within 14 days, Nesta may treat you as having withdrawn from the Prize.
Participating in the Challenge
5.Your promises to Nesta. To participate in the Challenge, you represent, warrant, and shall ensure that:
5.1 you satisfy the relevant eligibility criteria at all times and all information submitted by you is true, accurate and complete. You will promptly notify Nesta of any changes to information you have previously submitted;
5.2 you will promptly provide Nesta with any information it may reasonably request, including but not limited to completion of a due diligence questionnaire. Nesta reserves the right to ask for additional evidence of claims made by you, to validate claims by any means it sees fit or to reject claims at its sole discretion;
5.3 your entry is your own original idea and does not infringe any intellectual property or other third party rights or breach any contractual obligation;
5.4 you have, or will obtain, all authorisations, consents and permissions necessary to submit your entry and carry out your entry;
5.5 you will act lawfully, ethically and in good faith and comply with the rules of the Challenge and any relevant laws, regulations, guidelines and codes of practice including (without limitation) in relation to the processing of personal data, safeguarding of children or adults at risk, anti-bribery and corruption and non-discrimination and harassment;
5.6 you will not do anything which, in the opinion of Nesta, damages the reputation of Nesta or the Challenge Partners;
5.7 you will comply with Nesta’s reasonable instructions while participating in the Challenge, including in relation to health & safety and security.
5.8 you will immediately inform us if you become aware of any actual or potential conflict of interest with the Nesta group, the Challenge Partners or any staff, officers or trustees of the Nesta group or the Challenge Partners; and
5.9 during your participation in the Challenge, you will maintain in force an appropriate insurance policy with reputable insurers against risks which may arise in connection with your entry.
6. Right to vary, suspend or terminate. Nesta reserves the right to vary these terms and conditions at any time. Variations will take effect from the date they are posted on the Prize website so please check regularly to see the current version. Nesta may also vary the form or substance of the Challenge as it deems appropriate. Nesta may also suspend or withdraw the Challenge if funding is withdrawn or if Nesta considers that the Challenge will no longer achieve its aims.
7. Removal. Nesta reserves the right at its sole discretion to remove you from the Challenge if you do not comply with these terms and conditions, if you cheat or behave in a way which is disruptive, inappropriate or potentially dangerous, if you fail to participate fully or if, in the opinion of Nesta, you do anything that may damage the reputation of Nesta or the Challenge Partners.
Prize Awards
8. Award letter. If you are selected to be awarded funds (an “Award”), you will be required to sign a prize award letter (also referred to as a winner letter or grant agreement) before the Award is paid. The prize award letter will also be subject to these terms and conditions.
9. Use of the Award. The Award must only be used to develop your entry aimed at analysing social and environmental issues in your region and the development of a vision of potential solutions (the “Purpose”). The Award may only be used towards office, staff, overhead and other core costs to the extent they are directly linked to the Purpose. The Award must be held in a dedicated business account as a restricted fund, restricted to use for the Purpose.
10. Payment of the Award. Awards will be paid in pounds sterling. You are responsible for payment of any costs, charges or liabilities incurred in relation to transfer of the Award, and for any taxes, duties or assessments imposed in respect of the Award, including without limitation income tax, corporation tax and VAT, if applicable. You acknowledge that Nesta shall not pay any additional sum to you in respect of the Award or your participation in the Challenge other than the Award.
11. Monitoring. You must comply with all reasonable requests to monitor your use of the Award and to evaluate your entry. Nesta reserves the right to impose additional conditions if appropriate in its reasonable opinion.
12. Claw back. Awards may be reclaimed if you fail to comply with these terms and conditions or if the funds are used for improper purposes.
13. Intellectual Property. You will retain ownership of all intellectual property rights in your entry to the Challenge and in the results and materials generated by you while participating in the Prize and no intellectual property rights shall be transferred to Nesta or the Challenge Partners. You shall have sole responsibility, at your own cost, for protecting and enforcing your intellectual property.
Communications
14. Privacy. Nesta will use information which you provide, including personal data, to process your entry to the Challenge, administer the Challenge, let you know about other Nesta events and activities and evaluate the Challenge. Nesta may share your information with the Challenge Partners and contractors helping to run the Challenge, subject to confidentiality and data protection obligations. Some of these organisations may process personal data in countries outside of the UK or European Economic Area (EEA) where data protection laws are not the same as in the UK or the EEA. Please see the Flush Forward Challenge [Privacy Policy] for more information about how personal data may be used.
15. Impact. You agree to provide, on request from Nesta, information that will help Nesta understand the impact of your entry, as well as improve future challenges. Nesta may share such information in order to demonstrate the impact of the Prize, save where you indicate that information is commercially sensitive. In cases of commercially sensitive information, you agree to assist Nesta in developing public messages that are acceptable to you, acting reasonably, if Nesta would like to publicly share aggregate information relating to the Prize.
16. Nesta’s publicity. Nesta and the Challenge Partners may carry out publicity and promotion for the Challenge and publish our research and evaluation in relation to the Challenge. You agree to participate in publicity for the Challenge and consent to use of your name, logo, a summary of your entry and photographs and recordings of your participation in the Challenge in promotion and publications in any media and online. Before publication, Nesta will take into account any reasonable concerns you may have about confidentiality and intellectual property rights in your entry.
17. Your publicity. Any public statements you make in relation to the Challenge during the Challenge and for the following year must acknowledge the support of Nesta and the Challenge Partners and must be approved by Nesta in advance. You shall inform Nesta with at least 3 days’ notice of statements you intend to publish or any public events at which you plan to discuss your involvement in the Prize.
Limitation of Liability
18. Exclusions. To the extent permitted by applicable law, Nesta excludes all liability for any direct or indirect loss or liability, costs, claims, taxes, charges or expenses arising from your participation in the Challenge or your reliance on statements made or advice given by Nesta, its contractors or the Challenge Partners. If you submit any materials or items as part of your entry to the Challenge, this is at your own risk.
19. Maximum. Without prejudice to Clause 18, Nesta’s maximum liability to you in connection with the Challenge is limited to £500. Nothing in these terms and conditions excludes or limits Nesta’s liability for death or personal injury caused by negligence or fraudulent misrepresentation.
General terms
20. Force Majeure. Nesta shall not be liable for any delay or failure to perform obligations pursuant to these terms and conditions if such failure results from events or circumstances beyond reasonable control.
21. Assignment. This contract is personal to you. You may not assign, transfer or novate your rights under this contract to anyone else without Nesta’s prior written consent. Nesta may assign, transfer or novate any or all of its rights or obligations under this contract to anyone else.
22. Status. Nothing in these terms and conditions creates or implies any partnership, joint venture, agency or employment relationship between you and Nesta. You have no authority to make any representation or commitment, nor to incur any liability, on behalf of Nesta.
23. Governing Law and Jurisdiction. These terms and conditions shall be governed by and interpreted in accordance with the laws of England and Wales and you hereby submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the English courts.