Start Up Energy Transition Award Offers €10,000 Prizes for Energy Innovators
International competition offers equity-free prizes and funded travel for energy transition start-ups
The Start Up Energy Transition (SET) Award has opened for 2027, inviting applications from start-ups and young companies developing solutions that support the global energy transition and address climate change.
Five category winners will each receive €10,000 in equity-free prize money. The awards are provided as cash prizes rather than equity investments, meaning recipients will not have to give up ownership of their businesses.
The 15 finalists will receive travel support for two representatives to attend the SET Tech Festival 2027 in Berlin, including flights and accommodation. They will have the opportunity to pitch their solutions, showcase their businesses and meet an international jury of investors and corporate representatives. Other benefits include international exposure, media coverage and access to an energy innovation network.
National and international start-ups and scale-ups developing products or solutions that contribute to the global energy transition can apply. Applicants may enter only one of these categories:
- Clean Energy and Storage
- Industry and Value Chains
- Buildings and Construction
- Digital Energy, Markets and Economy
- Mobility and Transportation
Eligible companies must have been founded in August 2016 or later and must be registered or in the process of registration. Their solutions must be beyond the idea stage and demonstrate at least a proof of concept.
Applicants must also provide evidence of a client, an industrial, corporate or institutional partner, or a functioning prototype. Hardware solutions should generally have reached Technology Readiness Level 4 or above.
