First Mission Innovation Net-Zero Industries (MI NZI) Awards Ceremony. Outstanding contributions to industrial decarbonization were recognized in the “Outstanding Projects”, “Best Innovators” and “Young Talents” categories.
Intensive industries such as steel, cement, chemicals and paper are working hard across the world to reduce their CO2 emissions. Currently, around a quarter of global CO2 emissions come from the industrial sector. The Net-Zero Industries Mission, led by Austria and Australia, is the leading global research initiative that promotes and supports innovation and investment in zero-emission production.
The presentation of the first Net-Zero Industries Award constitutes a milestone in the ongoing efforts to achieve climate neutrality. With almost 70 entries from 16 countries, the first MI NZI Awards showed how the global community is driving innovation for implementation.
Leonore GewesslerFederal Minister for Climate Protection, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology: “The path to decarbonization of industry needs innovative women and young talent. Their fresh perspectives, innovative ideas and tireless commitment are the catalysts for transformative change. Award Congratulations to all the winners – not only do they represent role models, but they also lead by example and inspire innovation and pave the way for a climate-neutral future.”
The 2023 Net-Zero Industries Award Winners
Exceptional projects
Top Innovators
- 1st place: Professor Mercedes Maroto-Valer, IDRIC, United Kingdom
- 2nd place: Dr. Ekaterina Kravchenko, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong SAR, China
- 3rd place: Sophia Hamblin Wang, MCi Carbon, Australia
Young talents
- 1st place: Dr. Suneeti Purohit, CSIRO, Australia
- 2nd place: Dr. Lukas Kasper, TU Vienna, Austria
- 3rd place: Dr. Serene Sow Mun Lock, Malaysia
In addition to these international award winners, national winners will also be honored in December 2023.
The winners of Austria's Net-Zero Industries Award took the stage in all three categories and were presented at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Dubai (COP 28): Takeda's NEFI AHEAD research project as an “Outstanding Project”, Gabriela Straka, board member of Brau Union Austria as the best “innovator” and Lukas Kasper, postdoctoral fellow at the Institute for Energy Technology and Thermodynamics at TU Vienna, as the best “young talent” in Austria.
Mission Innovation
Mission Innovation is a network of 23 countries and the European Union that aim to work together to accelerate the transition to renewable energy. Member States are positioning themselves as pioneers but also as providers of clean energy technologies in the global markets of the future. Austria joined Mission Innovation in May 2018. Since the start of the second phase in 2021, Austria has increased its commitment to the initiative and is taking a leading role in the areas of hydrogen, green industry and transformation urban.
Launched in 2022, the Net-Zero Industries Mission is the first global innovation coalition dedicated to developing and demonstrating competitive solutions to create a net-zero emissions industry of the future. The mission is led by Austria and Australia, in collaboration with Canada, China, the European Commission, Finland, Germany, the Republic of Korea, the United Kingdom and the United States, and will carry out at least 50 demonstration projects on a large scale across the world. the world by 2030.
Net-Zero Industries Mission members are responsible for 50% of global industrial emissions and $13.45 billion in annual research, development and demonstration investments in 2021. Since its inception, the mission has published a roadmap of innovation titled “Towards Net-Zero Industries”, as well as the most recent action plan that outlines the actions necessary to achieve the mission objectives.