2025
Pioneer
Awards
Pioneering Change, Creating Impact
Introduction
Pioneer Awards 2025
The Pioneer Awards celebrate organisations implementing 'Efficient Solutions' across sectors, honouring their pioneering spirit in advancing ecological sustainability. A panel of Experts will confer the Pioneer Awards to the five winning pairs, each composed of an Efficient Solution and its client-adopter, in the sectors of Industrial Processes & Consumer Goods, Mobility, Agrifood & Natural Environment, Building & Construction, and Utilities (Water, Energy, Waste).
It recognises those who challenge the status quo, turning obstacles into opportunities, and inspiring others toward a greener, more sustainable world.
Key Dates
Mark your calendar
Entries Open
April 2025
Entries Close
June 30th, 2025
Final Judging
August 2025
Finalists Announced
September 2025
October 8th, 2025
Key Dates
Mark your calendar
Entries Open
April 2025
Entries Close
June 30th, 2025
Final Judging
August 2025
Finalists Announced
September 2025
Awards Ceremony
October 8th, 2025
The Awards
Application
Who can apply?
Solution providers worldwide with an implementation use case
Private/Public organisations who have implemented cleantech solutions worldwide
Why should you apply?
Pioneer
Get exclusive speaking opportunities
Finalists will have the chance to present on the main stage during the Pioneers Forum by the Solar Impulse Foundation in October 2025
Strengthen your Innovator-Adopter relationship
Celebrate your work and shared success, uniting teams through a powerful bonding experience
Increase your visibility
Gain prominent exposure on the Solar Impulse Foundation’s social media, showcasing your collaboration and impact
Gain recognition
Be featured in our official press release announcing the winners
Pioneers Booklet 2025
Be featured in our publication highlighting the 10 finalists' replicable use cases
Validate your commitment to sustainability
Highlight your achievements, and enhance your industry presence
Boost your credibility
Boost your credibility among potential partners, clients, investors, and innovative solutions
Awards
The Awards
Application
Who can apply?
Solution providers worldwide with an implementation use case
Private/Public organisations who have implemented cleantech solutions worldwide
Why should you apply?
-
•Get exclusive speaking opportunities: Finalists will have the chance to present on the main stage during the Pioneers Forum by the Solar Impulse Foundation in October 2025.
-
•Strengthen your Innovator-Adopter relationship: Celebrate your work and shared success, uniting teams through a powerful bonding experience.
-
•Increase your visibility: Gain prominent exposure on the Solar Impulse Foundation’s social media, showcasing your collaboration and impact.
-
•Gain recognition: Be featured in our official press release announcing the winners.
-
•Pioneers Booklet 2025: Be featured in our publication highlighting the 10 finalists' replicable implementation use case.
-
•Validate your commitment to sustainability: Highlight your achievements, and enhance your industry presence.
-
•Boost your credibility: Among potential partners, clients, investors, and innovative solutions.
Categories
Pioneer Awards Categories
Agrifood & Natural Environment
Solutions for the farming and cultivation of food and non-food items, including textiles and biofuels, covering activities across the value chain and focusing on agroforestry, ocean preservation, air pollution, and biodiversity.
Building & Construction
Solutions for the design, construction, operation, and maintenance of buildings, promoting sustainability and efficiency throughout the lifecycle of residential, commercial, and industrial structures.
Industrial Processes & Consumer Goods
Solutions for transforming raw materials into finished products at scale, optimizing processes, reducing environmental impact, and improving industrial efficiency. This also includes sustainable and circular consumer goods solutions.
Mobility
Solutions for the movement of people and goods, covering public and private transportation systems, and the infrastructure supporting them, including roads, railways, airports, and ports.
Utilities (Water, Energy, Waste)
Solutions for the planning and optimisation of essential services like water, energy, and waste management, ensuring efficient and sustainable resource distribution to support societal functions.
Categories
Pioneer Awards Categories
Agrifood & Natural Environment
Solutions for the farming and cultivation of food and non-food items, including textiles and biofuels, covering activities across the value chain and focusing on agroforestry, ocean preservation, air pollution, and biodiversity.
Building & Construction
Solutions for the design, construction, operation, and maintenance of buildings, promoting sustainability and efficiency throughout the lifecycle of residential, commercial, and industrial structures.
Industrial processes & Consumer Goods
Solutions for transforming raw materials into finished products at scale, optimizing processes, reducing environmental impact, and improving industrial efficiency. This also includes sustainable and circular consumer goods solutions.
Mobility
Solutions for the movement of people and goods, covering public and private transportation systems, and the infrastructure supporting them, including roads, railways, airports, and ports.
Utilities (Water, Energy, Waste)
Solutions for the planning and optimisation of essential services like water, energy, and waste management, ensuring efficient and sustainable resource distribution to support societal functions.
Discover last year's Finalists and Winners
The Pioneer Awards 2024 Booklet
Check out the finalists from last year’s Pioneer Awards 2024! Selected from over 160 remarkable entries, these ready-to-deploy innovations have showcased significant impact and scalability, driven by the pioneering spirit of their Adopters.
Read the Pioneer Awards Booklet
Jury
Our Independent Jury of Experts
The Expert Jury of the Pioneer Awards by the Solar Impulse Foundation is a distinguished panel carefully curated to bring extensive experience and expertise in the five key sectors of the awards: Industrial Processes & Consumer Goods, Mobility, Agrifood & Natural Environment, Building & Construction, and Utilities (Water, Energy, Waste).
The Scoring process is divided in 2 parts:
Impact Score: The current impact of the case study, assessing the real-world results it has achieved.
Replicability Score: The potential for the case study to be duplicated or implemented elsewhere and achieve a similar impact.
Experts
Awards Jury & Evaluation Criteria
The Scoring process is divided in 2 parts:
- Impact Score: The current impact of the case study, assessing the real-world results it has achieved.
- Replicability Score: The potential for the case study to be duplicated or implemented elsewhere and achieve a similar impact.
Sebastien Spangenberger
Managing Director at
Wincel Kauffman
Former Head of Sustainable Investing at
Thomas Gibon
Research & Technology Associate at
Sergio Barbarino
Senior Director Research Fellow at
Sacha Stolp
Director of Innovation for Future Proof Assets at
Pioneer Awards 2024
Winners
Agrifood & Natural Environment
Solutions related to the farming and cultivation of both food and non-food items, such as textiles and biofuels, and all activities associated in their value chain. The focus extends to Solutions that within agroforestry, ocean preservation, air pollution mitigation, nature-based solutions and biodiversity.
Building & Construction
Solutions related to the design, construction, operation, and maintenance of physical structures including residential, commercial, and industrial buildings. The Solutions in this sector aim to promote sustainability and efficiency in the construction and building industry, addressing challenges and innovating across the entire lifecycle of structures.
Industrial processes & Consumer Goods
Solutions related to the operations that transform raw materials, components, or substances into finished products on a large scale. Solutions in this sector strive to optimise processes, reduce environmental impact, and enhance the overall efficiency of industrial activities. This sector also includes solutions that aim to provide consumer goods for individuals that are more sustainable, circular, and environmentally friendly.
Mobility
Solutions that involve the movement of people and goods, encompassing various modes of transportation. This includes both public and private transportation systems, along with the infrastructure that supports them, such as roads, railways, airports, and ports.
Utilities (Water, Energy, Waste)
Solutions that allow for the comprehensive planning, coordination, and optimisation of essential services related to water, energy, and waste. This sector involves the responsible and efficient provision, distribution, and management of these critical resources to support societal functions and ensure sustainable practices. It includes water management (sourcing, treatment, distribution), energy management (generation, storage, distribution) and waste management (collection, recycling, and treatment).
Promoters
Amplified actions through our promoters
Partners
A shared vision with partners
A support to fulfill its mission. Thanks to the continued support of its partners, the Solar Impulse Foundation can fulfill its mission, fund the World Alliance for Efficient Solutions and offer all services to its Members entirely free of charge.
