Full Steam Ahead: ÖGUT Environmental Award 2026 – Special Prize from the Energy Park Research Foundation
ÖGUT—the Austrian Society for Environment and Technology —is once again presenting its awards, and we are especially pleased to be participating as a partner again this year and to be presenting, for the third time, the Special Award for Renewable Energy Projects at the prestigious ÖGUT Environmental Award 2026 !
With this special award, we are specifically honoring those inventors and pioneers of renewable energy who have already achieved their first measurable successes with their ideas and projects and have successfully grown beyond the early stages. It is this courage to innovate and these first important milestones that we want to celebrate with you!
About our special prize for renewable energy
The “Energiepark Research Foundation” Special Award,which weestablished as part of the2026 ÖGUT Environmental Award ,honors projects that have not only been planned but have already been implemented—with measurable impact, innovative strength, and exemplary character in the field of renewable energy. The focus is on ongoing or completed initiatives that, through applied research, creative use, or technological implementation of renewable energy solutions, make a concrete contribution to reducing the use of fossil fuels and to a shared climate-positive energy future. Particular consideration is given to projects with demonstrable initial results in the areas of renewable energy generation, distribution, or storage.
"Our focus is clearly on promoting visionary projects with a strong practical focus and the transfer of knowledge and technology - in line with our guiding principle: A foundation with an impact."
Which projects or initiatives can be submitted?
- Projects with a focus on applied research in the field of renewable energy
- Projects in which new technologies for renewable energy are developed or existing technologies are adapted and used
- Projects that offer innovative solutions for reducing the proportion of fossil energy
- Projects that stand out for their creativity and make significant progress in the field of renewable energy
- Requirements Project status: Project start should not be longer than 5 years ago
- Completed or ongoing projects in which the first major milestones have already been reached and the results are presented clearly and comprehensibly
- National effectiveness; international projects are also welcome, provided a potential or actual impact in Austria can be demonstrated
Who can submit?
- Individuals or small groups of people who are not bound to an organization (e.g. hobby researchers)
- Associations and initiatives
- Universities and non-university research institutions
- Students
- Start-ups and micro-enterprises
Assessment criteria
- Innovation content (compared to the state of the art)
- Transferability and market potential
Special prize "Renewable energy"
- First-mover approach: Innovative approach and pioneer in the use of renewable energy and sustainable technologies
- Impact criterion: Demonstrably quantifiable contribution to the reduction of fossil fuels and the promotion of renewable energy in Austria
Prize money
The Energiepark Forschungsstiftung will provide € 5,000 as prize money.
Submission details
Submissions should be made via this link: Call-for-Proposals-Special-Award-Energy-Park-Research-Foundation-2026.pdf
The deadline for submissions is July 13, 2026.
Show us your projects that are already having a real impact and making a tangible difference to the energy transition. We can't wait to give your impressive innovations the stage they deserve!
Contact:
Foundation management
Lisa Gärtner, MSc MA
l.gaertner@energiepark.at
+43 (0) 699 121 68 100
Reinforcing knowledge transfer 
