Applications Open for the 2026 APEC Healthy Women Research Prize
The 2026 APEC Healthy Women, Healthy Economies Research Prize (HWHE) is now open, calling for innovative, evidence-based research that strengthens understanding of how women’s health underpins economic participation across the Asia-Pacific.
The annual prize encourages the generation of robust women’s health data and research to inform policy and business decisions across APEC member economies.
“Women’s full engagement is a cornerstone of inclusive and sustainable economic development,” said Anita Peña Saavedra, Chair of the APEC Policy Partnership on Women and the Economy.
“By prioritizing women’s health and addressing the structural challenges that limit their opportunities, we build stronger foundations for prosperity across families, communities, and markets. Initiatives such as APEC Healthy Women, Healthy Economies play a vital role in advancing equality while supporting long-term growth and resilience,” she added.
Applications for the 2026 prize are open to individuals or teams from APEC member economies. Applicants do not need to come from academia, provided the research is evidence-based and addresses at least one pillar of the Healthy Women, Healthy Economies Policy Toolkit: workplace health and safety, health awareness and access, sexual and reproductive health, gender-based violence, or work–life balance.
The prize winner will receive USD 20,000 and be recognized at a ceremony held on the margins of the Women and the Economy Forum. Two runners-up will each receive USD 5,000.
Awarded research spans priority areas such as non-communicable diseases, family- and workplace-policy reforms and caregiving and long-term care, highlighting how health and care responsibilities shape women’s economic outcomes.
In 2025, the research prize was awarded to Professor Jun Zhu of the National Maternal and Child Health Surveillance Office under China’s National Health Commission.
Her project integrated population and hospital-based data to guide maternal health policy, covering more than 140 million people and contributing to a reduction in China’s maternal mortality rate from 31.9 to 15.1 deaths per 100,000 live births between 2009 and 2023.
“Advancing women’s health is fundamental to building stronger societies and more resilient economies,” said Terri Stewart, Senior Vice President and Head of Global Healthcare Government and Public Affairs at Merck Healthcare.
“Health and life science companies have a critical role to play in accelerating this progress. Through partnership with governments and civil society, we can develop innovative, sustainable solutions that respond to women’s health needs across the life course and deliver meaningful, long-term impact,” she added.
The HWHE Research Prize was initiated during Chile’s APEC host year in 2019. Since then, it has been supported by Merck as prize sponsor, recognizing research that equips policymakers and business leaders to enable women to join, rise and thrive in the workforce.
Since its launch, the prize has recognized seven winners from four APEC economies including China; Hong Kong, China; Chinese Taipei; and the Philippines, as well as runners-up from eleven economies, including Australia; Canada; Chile; Singapore; the United States; and Viet Nam.
Interested candidates can access this link. Applications close on Friday, 6 March 2026. To learn more, please visit the APEC Healthy Women, Healthy Economies website or contact [email protected].