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NEO2024 Innovation Award

With its NEO Innovation Award, the Karlsruhe TechnologyRegion (TRK) sets standards in the promotion of future-oriented developments. Every year, it emphasizes its role as a prestigious platform for decision-makers from business and science with a topic relevant to the future. The prize is endowed with 20,000 euros and is awarded throughout Germany and across the border in Alsace.

On this page:

Award ceremony NEO2024 - Innovation Award of the Karlsruhe TechnologyRegion

As all places are taken, registration for the award ceremony is closed. Thank you very much for your overwhelming interest!

This year's NEO Innovation Award of the Karlsruhe TechnologyRegion is all about the circular economy. Together with you, we would like to honor the most innovative projects that make an important contribution to resource conservation and climate protection with their sustainable concepts.

We cordially invite you to the

NEO2024 award ceremony

on Thursday, December 05, 2024, from 18.00 hrs,

SWR Media Center Baden-Baden,

Hans-Bredow-Straße, 76530 Baden-Baden

in.

Experience the exciting pitches of our five finalists and be there when we select the winners in the jury and audience award categories.

You can look forward to greetings from Stefanie Schneider, State Broadcasting Director of Baden-Württemberg and Deputy Director of SWR, Mario Brandenburg, Member of the Bundestag, Parliamentary State Secretary to the Federal Minister of Education and Research and Dr. Frank Mentrup, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of TechnologieRegion Karlsruhe GmbH and Lord Mayor of the City of Karlsruhe. The laudatory speech will be given by Alexander Bonde, Secretary General of the German Federal Environmental Foundation.

In addition, a varied supporting program awaits you in the modern SWR Media Center. We look forward to seeing you there.

NEO2024 - The Innovation Award of the Karlsruhe TechnologyRegion is supported by:

These are the five finalists for the NEO2024 Innovation Award

  1. Concular GmbH with "Concular - Software for Circular Construction "
    Concular GmbH is revolutionizing the construction and real estate industry through the digital collection and reuse of building materials. The innovative software solution helps to use materials more efficiently and reduce CO₂ emissions.
  2. EDENenergy / Fraunhofer ISE spin-off with "EDENenergy - Sustainable electricity storage using second-life batteries"
    EDENenergy integrates discarded batteries from e-bikes and e-scooters as electricity storage for photovoltaic systems. Through the innovative use of gallium nitride-based technology, EDENenergy enables an efficient and sustainable storage solution that both saves costs and reduces the carbon footprint.
  3. Gerhard Lang Recycling GmbH with "New aluminum scrap sorting using laser-induced plasma spectroscopy (LIBS)"  

    In one of the world's most modern sorting plants in Gaggenau, aluminum alloys are recycled by type. The use of LIBS laser technology makes it possible for the first time to sort automotive aluminum scrap in such a way that it can be recycled without the addition of primary aluminum. This leads to considerable energy savings.

  4. Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) - TVT with "NECOC - Negative emissions through carbon generation from atmospheric CO₂"

    NECOC technology uses an innovative combination of several process steps to convert CO₂ into solid carbon, which can then be used as a raw material, e.g. in the construction sector or in the production of batteries for electromobility in long-lasting, sustainable products. This globally unique process contributes to CO₂ reduction.

  5. Rement/ Spin-off KIT IMB/MPA with "Rement - Creating added value from concrete and CO₂"
    Rement offers a CO₂-negative technology for upcycling concrete. Sand and calcium carbonate are recovered and fed back into the cycle. This process enables economically efficient and environmentally friendly concrete recycling.

The jury

The NEO2024 Innovation Award is characterized by clear guidelines: A renowned jury from science, business and politics selects up to five finalists from the entries in a two-stage process and chooses the winner. The award ceremony will take place on December 5 at the SWR Baden-Baden media center.

The jury members are:

  • Walter Bantleon
    Managing Director of the Karlsruhe Chamber of Skilled Crafts
  • Prof. Dr. phil. habil. Rose Marie Beck
    Rector of Karlsruhe University of Applied Sciences
  • Mario Brandenburg, MdB
    Parliamentary State Secretary to the Federal Minister of Education and Research
  • Katharina Brockstedt
    Institute Director Envirobat Grand Est energivie.pro, Institute for Sustainable Construction at the Strasbourg School of Engineering and Architecture INSA
  • Prof. Dr. Thomas Hirth
    Vice President for Transfer and International Affairs at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)
  • Alice Knorz
    Board Member, Fairantwortung gAG & Managing Director, 4L Impact Strategies GmbH
  • Sabine Mesletzsky
    Managing Director of Innovationsagentur Rheinland-Pfalz GmbH
  • Dr. Arne Rudolph
    Managing Director of the IHK Karlsruhe
  • Prof. Dr.-Ing. Stephan Schenkel
    Rector of DHBW Karlsruhe
  • Dr. Hannes Spieth
    Managing Director Umwelttechnik BW GmbH
  • Klaus Teizer
    Managing Director Vollack Group GmbH & Co. KG
  • Andreas Tews
    Managing Director Marketing & Sales, Nussbaum Medien

Evaluation criteria

Guiding principle with persuasive power:

We are looking for innovative solutions that are based on a strong and clearly defined central idea and can be easily communicated to a broad public.

Marketability as a priority:

Submissions should be marketable innovations with an innovative character. We focus on solutions that are not only innovative, but also demonstrate economic potential and contributeto the long-term economic strength of the region .

Social relevance and international scope:

NEO2024 aims to recognize innovations thataddress significant societal challenges and have the potential to berecognized on the international stage. These innovations should offer sustainable and smart solutions that can have aglobal impact .

The previous award winners

Here you will find an overview of the award winners since 2010

nanoshape GmbH:

Using nanostructures to combat implant infections

INLYSE GmbH:

Virus search using image recognition and neural networks

Rosswag GmbH:

New materials for metal 3D printing

PLAFCO from the DHBW Karlsruhe:

Bio-based and sustainable replacement material for plastic packaging and products

Holo-Med from KIT:

Artificial intelligence and augmented reality-supported glasses that support surgeons in the operating room

EVA shuttle buses from VBK:

Public transport feeder system through the use of autonomous electric minibuses

Volocopter from Volocopter GmbH:

Aircraft for two passengers with purely electric drive

Phontasia from DHBW Karlsruhe:

Learn the German language playfully, both in writing and phonetically

KIT:

Breast cancer early detection method using 3D ultrasound computed tomography

Frauenhofer Institute of Optronics, System Technologies and Image Exploitation (IOSB):

Universal interfaces for the automation of elements for integration into the production process

MeRegio from EnBW AG:

Intelligent electricity meter that recognizes when electricity is particularly cheap and then switches on appliances

ORGANOTRACE from UNISENSOR Sensorsysteme GmbH

Determination of hazardous substances in drinking water

SEW-Eurodrive GmbH & Co. KG:

Development of an inductive energy and data transmission system for wireless battery charging of cars and two-wheelers

Hydro-Energie Roth GmbH:

Pioneering, mobile, overflowing and underflowing waterworks

Do you have any questions?
Please feel free to contact us!
Iris Scheuermann
Project management & communication
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