Zayed Sustainability Prize, UAE's pioneering global award for sustainability, invites innovators from around the world to submit entries for the 13th edition of the award. Winners of each category will receive US$600,000 to further implement their sustainability solutions to transform lives around the world.
HE Dr Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, UAE Minister of State and Director General of the Zayed Sustainability Prize says: “With a 12-year record of recognising and rewarding excellent solutions, we are confident the Prize will
continue to attract more of the world’s most dedicated innovators to
submit their entries, in support of resolving the world’s most pressing
sustainability challenges.”
“Inspired by Sheikh Zayed’s legacy of commitment to global sustainability and humanitarianism, the Prize also
aligns with the emphasis our leadership has given this year to
planning, preparing and finding solutions for the next 50 years,” he
added.
Accepting entries until 11 June 2020 via its online portal, the Prize received a record 2,373 entries from 129 countries last year. There are five categories – Health, Food, Energy, Water and Global High Schools, with innovative solutions in sustainable and humanitarian development recognised across these sectors.
The Prize’s US$3 million annual fund rewards winners
US$600,000 in each category. While the scope of the submissions vary,
core elements of each entry lie in the innovative ways in which
technology, applications and solutions are driving positive
transformations of people’s lives.
For the Health, Food, Energy and Water categories,
organisations should demonstrate that they are improving access to
essential products or services and have a long-term vision for improved
living and working conditions. Only small and medium enterprises (SMEs)
or non-profit organisations (NPOs) are eligible to take part in these
categories.
The Prize has named 86 winners in its history. One of them is water management company, ECOSOFTT, which became the first organisation from Singapore to receive the award when it won the Water category in 2019. ECOSOFTT’s technologies enable water sustainability through total management of the water cycle for living communities, including townships, homes, commercial buildings and villages.
Prior to winning, over 50 projects in five countries gave more than 500,000 people access to clean water. The prize money has allowed the company to reach even more communities. Marcus Lim, Co-Founder and MD at ECOSOFTT, said, “The Zayed Sustainability Prize has gained a reputation for recognising leading sustainability solutions globally. Winning the Prize was an important recognition of our unique and innovative approach to address the challenges communities face on account of water shortage, scarcity and quality.
"It has also helped us to connect with a global network of influencers and innovators that are working towards the Sustainable Development Goals."
This year, the Zayed Sustainability Prize also opens up nominations for potential candidates with its #FindThePioneer campaign – to recognise pioneers who are changing lives in any of the five competition categories. Nominations can be made by tagging the organisation or school in a social media post with the campaign hashtag #FindThePioneer, or emailing the nomination to press@affluencepr.media.
Winners of the Zayed Sustainability Prize 2021 will be announced at the annual awards ceremony held during Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week in January 2021.
