Eni Award Open for Innovations in Energy and the Environment

This international award scheme promotes and rewards researchers or groups of scientists for research and technological innovation in the fields of energy and sustainability.

Eni, based in Italy, is a major integrated energy company and seeks to promote and reward research and technological innovation in the fields of energy and the environment.

Launched in 2008, the Eni Award is an international award aiming to promote and reward research and technological innovation in energy. In particular, proposals are welcome that are devoted to promoting the use of breakthrough, experimental and innovative technologies, processes and tools, enabling a holistic perspective, and contributing to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The initiative seeks to recognise achievements in the following categories:

  • Energy Frontiers – Technological innovation in the field of renewable energy and related energy management and storage technologies, in the context of decarbonising energy systems.
  • Advanced Environmental Solutions – Technological innovation to foster the development of a sustainable and resilient nature within a continuously changing climate scenario, through the enhancement of nature-based solutions, and the preservation and restoration of natural capital.
  • Energy Transition – Technological innovation aimed at reducing carbon footprint during the transition towards an environmentally neutral energy production system.
  • Young Researcher of the Year (two awards available) – Awarded for PhD research theses, from candidates at Italian universities, addressing specific topics concerning nature-based solutions, renewable energies and energy storage, new technologies for H2 production, and decarbonisation of the energy system.
  • Debut in Research – Young Talents from Africa (four awards available) – For graduates from African countries for a degree or Master’s thesis carried out in an African university on specific themes concerning nature-based solutions, renewable energies and energy storage, new technologies for H2 production, and decarbonisation of the energy system.
  • Recognition at Innovation Eni (internal award for Eni employees only; three awards available) – For ideas with the greatest potential for impact in terms of the innovation they could generate and for the best technological innovations resulting from Eni research.

Awards are open to researchers or groups of scientists worldwide who have achieved internationally significant results in the research and development of technologies in the specific award fields. Self nomination is permitted.

The Young Researcher of the Year category must be entered by professors, department heads, faculty deans and chancellors of universities operating in Italy. The student must have been born in or after 1990. Self nomination is not permitted.

For the Debut in Research – Young Talents from Africa category, candidates must possess a Master’s degree or any equivalent academic qualification granting access to a PhD course in an Italian university. This category is for students who have graduated from an African university, are of African citizenship and are resident in an African country. The student must have been born in or after 1992. Self nomination is not permitted.

The Recognition at Innovation Eni award is for Eni employees only. The entry is to be submitted by the supervisor in charge of the related technological area.

The awards are:

  • Energy Frontiers, Advanced Environmental Solutions and Energy Transition categories: Specially struck gold medal of the Italian State Mint and an indivisible sum of €200,000.
  • Young Researcher of the Year: Specially struck gold medal of the Italian State Mint and the sum of €25,000.
  • Debut in Research – Young Talents from Africa: Each of the four winners will be awarded with a customised plaque and scholarship for attendance on a three-year PhD course in an Italian university or research institute.
  • Recognition at Innovation Eni: Personalised plaque.

Eni will grant hospitality for winners (and a maximum of one accompanying person) participating to the prize-giving ceremony (to include travel tickets and transfers to reach the ceremony location, and board and lodging expenses during the period of the ceremony for up to two overnight stays). The ceremony takes place annually at a venue in Italy.

Applications for the 2023 awards programme must be submitted by the deadline of 25 November 2022 (17:00 CET).

(This report was the subject of a RESEARCHconnect Newsflash.)