The Innovation Prize for Climate and Environment.
Klaus Töpfer takes over as jury chair
The Federal Environment Ministry and the Federation of German Industries (BDI) are jointly awarding the Innovation Prize for Climate and Environment (IKU) for the first time. The prize rewards technological innovation in the field of climate and environmental protection. Companies and research institutions in Germany can apply for the award; this year's deadline for entries was 17 July 2009.
Professor Klaus Töpfer has taken over as chair of the jury, which selects the winners. Other jury members include Friedhelm Loh, President of the German Electrical and Electronic Manufacturers' Association (ZVEI) and ZDF journalist Volker Angres, himself the recipient of numerous awards.
Poster: The Innovation Prize for Climate and Environment
Many companies in Germany are making a contribution to reducing energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. The Innovation Prize for Climate and Environment is intended to reward these endeavours. It sends out a clear message that a commitment to the environment is good for the economy, with innovative climate technologies creating and safeguarding jobs throughout Germany.
The scientific partner is the Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research (ISI), which assesses all the entries received against a set of expert criteria. Based on this expert assessment, the jury - drawn from industry, civil society and politics - then selects the winners.
With a total of 145 entries, the Innovation Prize has already proved to be a success in its first year. Winners will be invited to an award ceremony in January 2010, when they will receive their prizes from the Federal Environment Minister and the BDI President. There are five prize-winning categories, with prize money totalling € 125,000.
The categories are:
1. Innovation for climate protection - processes
2. Innovation for climate protection - products and services
3. Green technologies
4. Green products and services
5. Technology transfer to developing countries, emerging economies and the countries of Eastern Europe.
