About
The Net-Zero Industries Award recognises and celebrates outstanding innovations in industrial decarbonisation. It shines a light on the people and projects that are revolutionising energy-intensive industries and driving substantial reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.
To celebrate the trailblazers spearheading this transformation, Mission Innovation’s Net-Zero Industries Mission established the Net-Zero Industries Award as the first global competition for outstanding work on industrial decarbonisation.
2024 Net-Zero Industries Award
In 2024, the Mission Innovation Net-Zero Industries Award again recognised and celebrated pioneering advances in industrial decarbonisation.
The Mission Innovation (MI) Net-Zero Industries Award, organised by Mission Innovation’s Net-Zero Industries Mission (NIM), has recognised exceptional contributions to industrial decarbonisation on the global stage. Held at COP29 in Baku on November 18, the award ceremony marked a pivotal moment in the global efforts to transform energy-intensive industries and achieve significant greenhouse gas reductions.
The inaugural NIM Award 2024 received an impressive 70 submissions from 26 countries, showcasing the active participation of the global community in the crucial mission of decarbonising heavy industry. This recognition serves as a spotlight for innovation and collaboration across the globe, as industries strive towards a sustainable, low-carbon future.
The winners and runners-up of the Mission Innovation Net-Zero Industries Award 2024 in three categories are as follows:
Young Talents
- Winner: Dr Cameron Halliday, Co-Founder & CEO, Mantel, USA
- First Runner-up: Dr Pouriya H Niknam, Senior Lecturer in Chemical Engineering, University of Lincoln, United Kingdom
- Second Runner-up: Dr Guillermo Martinez Castilla, Scientific Project Officer, Joint Research Center, European Commission, Netherlands
Female Innovators
- Winner: Prof. Karen Scrivener, Head of Laboratory of
Construction Materials, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Switzerland - First Runner-up: Dr Elizabeth Gilligan, CEO, Material
Evolution, United Kingdom - Second Runner-up: Dr Etosha Cave, Co-Founder & CSO,
Twelve, USA
Outstanding Projects
- Winner: ZESTY – Zero Emissions Steel TechnologY, Calix
Ltd, Australia - First Runner-up: Steelanol: Converting steel mill gas to
ethanol, ArcelorMittal, Belgium - Second Runner-up: Hysata 5 MW electrolyser demonstration
with Stanwell, Hysata, Australia
Special Prize for the International Advancements in
Industrial Decarbonisation from the Global South
- Winner: SOLAR CLINKER with the project Harnessing Solar
Radiation to Drive CO2-Free Clinker Manufacturing
The transition to net-zero emissions demands global cooperation. Recognising exceptional contributions from the global south, the NIM celebrates innovation and progress in industrial decarbonisation across diverse regions, ensuring a more inclusive and effective transition.
The Special Prize for International Advancement in Industrial Decarbonisation encourages collaboration, knowledge sharing, and policy alignment, reaffirming that the path to net-zero emissions is a collective and borderless effort.
Chris Bowen MP, Australian Minister for Climate Change and Energy, said:
‘My congratulations to the winners of the 2024 Net-Zero Industries Award. Your pioneering works deliver innovative solutions that reduce emissions effectively and affordably and you are leading the charge towards a decarbonised global economy. Australia is proud to support the Net-Zero Industries Awards, and we look forward to seeing how your projects, initiatives, and research contribute to our shared journey to a net zero future.’
Leonore Gewessler, Austrian Minister for Climate Action, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology, said:
‘Achieving industrial decarbonisation requires collective action, innovative solutions, and collaboration across borders. The winners of this year’s Net-Zero Industries Award show us that progress is possible, and their pioneering work sets the stage for a greener, more sustainable industrial future. Congratulations to all the award winners – you are trailblazers, demonstrating through your innovative work how transformative change is possible. Your achievements inspire others to take bold steps towards a decarbonised future.’
As COP29 unfolded in Baku, the Net-Zero Industries Award Ceremony became a vibrant showcase of ground-breaking advancements in industrial decarbonisation. This event underscored the essential role of collaboration between research and industry, reflecting the collective effort required to meet the challenges of climate change and build a sustainable, decarbonised future for all.
Previous Awards
In 2023, the inaugural Mission Innovation Net-Zero Industries Award recognised and celebrated outstanding innovations in industrial decarbonisation. Receiving nearly 70 submissions spanning 16 countries, the Award highlighted ways the global community is actively engaging in the critical mission of decarbonising heavy industry.
Winners & runners-up 2024
Winners & runners-up 2023
Booklet: 2023 Net-Zero Industries Award Winners And Runners-Up (PDF)
