Since 1976, Rolex has been doing its share to give back to the community through the Rolex Awards for Enterprise. Applications are open for the 2018 awards, which are now twice as lucrative.

How do you keep a beer cold in the middle of the desert? With a desert refrigerator, of course!

This innovation – which in reality does a lot more than keep a beverage cold – as well as many other projects are the result of the excellent work done by previous laureates of the Rolex Awards for Enterprise.

The prestigious award is offered each year to young leaders, between the ages of 18 and 30, from across the globe that have ground-breaking proposals or initiatives that will simply make our planet a better place.

The scheme has been in place since 1976, when Rolex started it to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Oyster chronometer, the world’s first waterproof watch. The Oyster itself was a ground-breaking innovation in the watch industry, so it only makes sense that the awards try to capture the spirit. The winners even receive a Rolex chronometer of their own, as well as a handsome cash price of 100,000 Swiss francs, which is now double the amount previously offered to young award winners.

How are winners chosen, you might ask? An international jury of independent experts, which typically includes explorers, conservationists, scientists, doctors, educators and innovators, chooses the winners.

Awarded projects are typically concerned with the environment, applied science and technology, or exploration. Previous winners of the awards have helped fight the threat of extinction of engendered species by developing innovative tracking technologies. And some of the most inspiring stories have come from laureates who have worked on helping the liberation of women from dependencies and the oppression of poverty.

The areas of the work are typically in the field of the environment, applied science and technology, or exploration. Previous winners of the awards have helped fight the threat of extinction of engendered species by developing innovative tracking technologies. And some of the most inspiring stories have come from laureates who have worked on helping the liberation of women from dependencies and the oppression of poverty.

If you, or someone you know, might have what it takes to be a Rolex Award Laureate, five prizes are up for grabs in 2018. For more information, find out how to apply here.