Recognition of the 2025 Net-Zero Industries Award Winners
Join us for the official award ceremony of the 2025 Net-Zero Industries Award at the International Vienna Energy and Climate Forum (IVECF), taking place on 9–10 April 2026 at the Hofburg Palace in Vienna, Austria. The ceremony will celebrate the winning initiatives advancing industrial decarbonisation and innovation.
The International Vienna Energy and Climate Forum is a global solutions platform for accelerating low-emission and climate-resilient development. Initiated in 2008, it is co-organized by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), the Austrian Government and the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA). The forum brings together policymakers, industry leaders and experts to advance sustainable energy systems, strengthen international collaboration, and promote inclusive solutions that support the Sustainable Development Goals and the transition to net-zero emissions.
The winners and finalists of the 2025 Net-Zero Industries Award were first announced and celebrated online during COP30 in Belém, Brazil, during the hybrid session “Showcasing International Collaboration on Innovation” at the UK Pavilion. The live session took place on 15 November 2025 and was also streamed via the UK COP Pavilion YouTube channel.
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.
In 2025, the Mission Innovation Net-Zero Industries Award again recognises and celebrates pioneering advances in industrial decarbonisation.
Download the NIM Award 2025 Brochure
Why the Net-Zero Industries Award Matters
This award brings attention to the people and projects driving the transformation of industries towards a sustainable, net-zero future. It provides a unique platform for showcasing groundbreaking work, connecting with global innovators, and inspiring future leaders in the field of industrial decarbonisation.
The Net-Zero Industries Award serves as an important milestone in recognising and celebrating excellence in the decarbonisation of heavy industries, from iron and steel to cement and lime. By highlighting these achievements, the award aims to inspire further progress in tackling one of the most urgent global challenges: reducing industrial carbon emissions.
Main Categories
In 2025, the Net-Zero Industries Award recognises the extraordinary efforts made by individuals and organisations in three categories:
Outstanding Projects
We were looking for groundbreaking projects that transform industries, challenge the status quo, and establish new standards for decarbonisation in hard-to-abate and energy-intensive sectors. Within the Outstanding Projects category, top submissions in each of NIM’s four key sectors will be recognised, in addition to the overall best project. Awards will be given to the highest-ranked entries, in the following sectors:
- Iron & Steel
- Cement & Lime
- Chemicals & Refining
- Other energy-intensive industries (alumina, glass, etc.)
Female Innovators
Women play a pivotal role in shaping our society and have immense potential to lead the change towards a net-zero future. We want to honour exemplary women who have broken barriers and are driving change in industries. Your contributions are invaluable, and this is your moment to be acknowledged for your remarkable achievements.
Young Talents
We firmly believe that the power to drive change lies within young minds, brimming with fresh ideas and unwavering determination. We want to celebrate the young trailblazers, the visionaries of tomorrow, who are already making remarkable strides towards a sustainable world. If you are a young professional or a student, this is your opportunity to be recognised as a driving force in the fight for industrial decarbonisation.
Special prize 2025: TOP INNOVATION in Industrial Electrification
The Special Prize 2025 will recognise Outstanding Projects that have demonstrated significant innovation in industrial electrification, leading to substantial reductions in fossil fuel use at the process or site level. Eligible initiatives may also include enabling measures such as energy storage and demand-side response. Projects submitted under the Outstanding Projects Category will be considered for the Special Prize 2025 if they address the technology pathway of Electrification of production processes.
National Net-Zero Industries Awards
The best project submission from each Net-Zero Industries Mission core mission member country will be awarded: Australia, Austria, Canada, China, Finland, Germany, the Republic of Korea and the United Kingdom. The Net-Zero Industries Award will showcase the outstanding innovations in each country.
Award criteria
The Net-Zero Industries Award finalists and winners are selected based on the following evaluation criteria:
- Breakthrough innovation – the project/solution or work of the applicant is pioneering a breakthrough and disruptive innovation for the decarbonisation of heavy industries.
- Impact – the submission addresses a real need or challenge and contributes to enabling radical emissions reduction in heavy industries at lowest costs.
- Scientific excellence and overall quality of content.
- Inspiration – the application/applicant is a role model and or frontrunner, who inspires others (only applicable for the ‘Female Innovators’ category)
A more detailed description on the award criteria can be found in the Rules of Contest.
Contact us
For more information, please contact the Net Zero Industries Mission Secretariat:
- Catrin Haider Netzeroindustriesaward@ait.ac.at
- Oxana Schmidt Netzeroindustriesaward@ait.ac.at
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