Every two years, the Innovation Award for Climate and Environment (IKU) seeks innovative climate- and environmentally friendly processes, products, and services, as well as technology transfer solutions for emerging and developing countries. The IKU focuses on seven categories:
- Process innovations for climate protection
- Product and service innovations for climate protection
- Environmentally friendly technologies
- Environmentally friendly products and services
- Cooperation with developing and emerging countries on technical and social innovations for environmental and climate protection
- Innovation and biodiversity
- Using digital transformation for climate- and environmentally-friendly innovations
Federal Environment Minister Svenja Schulze gives climate and environmental protection a special role:
"An economic recovery after the COVID-19 pandemic must combine climate protection and economic strength. To achieve this, we need the know-how, courage, and creativity of companies and research institutions that set a good example. As pioneers, they can motivate others to follow suit."
And Maja Göpel, transformation researcher and patron of the IKU, explains:
"We shape the future every day: with our innovations and technologies, with our behavior, our decisions, and our rules of coexistence. The German Innovation Award for Climate and Environment encourages companies and institutions to use this creative part of our reality for the right goals."
Apply for the Climate and Environment Innovation Award
Participate in the competition All companies, research institutions, and individuals based in Germany are eligible to apply. The Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research ISI evaluates all applications and makes a shortlist for the jury. Participants also receive support from the IKU press team in their media activities related to the award.
The winners will be honored at a festive awards ceremony in Berlin in March 2022. The winners in the seven categories will receive a personal award and prize money of €25,000. Applications are open until June 21.
With Gorotor A Munich startup has already won the IKU in the past: The startup, which specializes in energy management, was honored in the category “Process Innovations for Climate Protection” in 2020.
All information can be found at www.iku-innovationspreis.de
