Francesco Morelli GRANT 2026
Eligible graduates may apply independently by uploading and completing the following documents no later than midnight (CEST) on 15 October 2026:
- Application & Development Form, available on this page;
- a non-professional video (maximum 3 minutes) answering the following questions:
- Who are you? / Why this project? / What is the biggest challenge you still need to overcome to make this project a reality?
- a PDF copy of the original thesis.
The working language of the Grant is English. All application documents must therefore be submitted in English, with the exception of the original thesis, which may remain in its original language.
The Grant is open to all students from the IED Network graduating between September 2025 and July 2026 from the following programmes:
- IED Italy: DAPL and DASL programmes, three-year programmes, MIED programmes, MPL programmes;
- Accademia Aldo Galli: DAPL and DASL programmes and the five-year Restoration programme, MPL programmes;
- IED Spain: four-year IED Diplomas, TGEAS and BA (Hons) programmes, three-year programmes, MIED programmes, MOF programmes, Post-Graduate programmes;
- IED Brazil: Bachelor's Degree programmes, Post-Graduate programmes, one-year programmes.
Both individual and group thesis projects are eligible.
The Francesco Morelli Grant is open to projects from all design disciplines, provided they demonstrate an intrinsic social impact, understood as the ability to generate meaningful and intentional benefits for people, communities, territories or the environment.
Social impact may take different forms, including improving the quality of life of vulnerable groups, addressing environmental challenges, reducing inequalities or giving visibility to underrepresented communities. Applicants must clearly identify the project's intended beneficiaries and expected outcomes in the application.
Projects at different stages of maturity are welcome, provided they demonstrate a credible development trajectory. Only projects meeting these eligibility requirements will proceed to the qualitative evaluation stage.
The Francesco Morelli Foundation aims to promote access to design culture and design professions. As part of its 2026 initiatives, the Foundation presents the fifth edition of the Francesco Morelli Grant, dedicated to supporting the development of thesis projects by graduates of IED and Accademia Aldo Galli.
The Grant supports promising thesis projects with strong development potential through a structured programme of training, mentorship and financial support. The programme is designed to help participants validate their ideas, strengthen their projects and prepare them for implementation, with the aim of generating meaningful social impact.
The Francesco Morelli Foundation invests a total of €150,000 in the programme. This includes €100,000 in direct financial support for selected projects, as well as additional resources dedicated to training, mentorship and programme delivery.
The Francesco Morelli Foundation will evaluate all submitted proposals and, at its sole discretion, allocate specific amounts to selected projects until the available funding has been exhausted. Any remaining funds may be redirected to other Foundation activities.
Evaluation Criteria
Applications will be assessed against three main criteria:
- Project Quality and Social Relevance – the significance of the challenge addressed, the quality of the proposed solution and its potential to generate meaningful social impact.
- Development Potential – the project's capacity to evolve through the Grant programme, including the credibility of its development trajectory, awareness of its main challenges and its long-term sustainability.
- Applicant Motivation and Commitment – the motivation, commitment and availability of the applicant(s) to actively engage in the programme.
The Assessment Committee will evaluate both the current quality of the project and its potential for future development.
Special Award – Intesa Sanpaolo
An additional Special Award, supported by Intesa Sanpaolo, will be assigned to one or more projects demonstrating outstanding innovation in the fields of Blue Economy and Global Health.
For further information on the programme phases, please refer to the Regulations available for download below.
