NEO Innovation Award

Climate change, sustainability and the growing world population: the major challenges of our time can only be tackled with a wealth of ideas and curiosity. This requires clever minds that are always thinking one step ahead. The NEO Innovation Award honors pioneering innovations and offers a platform for decision-makers from business and science.

On this page:

Die Bewerbung zum Innovationspreis NEO2026 ist eröffnet.

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Bewerbungsseite.

Innovations for the world of tomorrow

Wir brauchen Innovationen dringender denn je. Sie sind der Schlüssel, um den großen Herausforderungen unserer Zeit wie Energiewende, Miniaturisierung, Nachhaltigkeit und der steigenden Weltbevölkerung zu begegnen und unsere Position im sich international verschärfenden Wettbewerb zu sichern. Bewerben können sich Unternehmen, Institutionen und Wissenschaftseinrichtungen aus ganz Deutschland und dem Elsass in Frankreich.

What are the aims of the NEO Innovation Award?

With its Innovation Award, the Karlsruhe TechnologyRegion honors promising innovations with a focus on current future topics.

With the NEO, we honor innovations for the world of tomorrow. Each year is dedicated to a current topic of the future. But the NEO is more than just an award - it guarantees you an interesting platform and a lot of attention from decision-makers from business, science and local authorities.

Video of the NEO 2023 Innovation Award ceremony

These are the NEO evaluation criteria

Every year, the Karlsruhe TechnologyRegion Innovation Award honors outstanding ideas on a current future topic with prize money of 20,000 euros and makes innovations visible to a wide audience. The NEO Innovation Prize is awarded according to these criteria:

  • Originality of the central idea: We look for innovative solutions that are based on a strong and clearly defined central idea and can be easily communicated to a broad public.
  • Marketability: We welcome the submission of marketable solutions that have an innovative character.
  • Social relevance and international potential: The NEO jury is looking for innovations that contribute to solving current social challenges and have the potential for international positioning.

Drivers of innovation

The Karlsruhe TechnologyRegion honors innovative materials with smart and sustainable properties with the NEO Innovation Award.

2010

Project start

20k

Euro price

16

Innovation prizes

The winners so far

The previous winners differ from year to year. However, they are all united by the common vision of making tomorrow's world a better place.

  • NEO2025: KI-gestützte Digitalisierungsplattform (DIEFFENBACHER GmbH Maschinen- und Anlagenbau)
  • NEO2024: Rement – Aus Beton und CO₂ Mehrwert schaffen (Rement/ Spin-off KIT IMB/MPA )
  • NEO2023: Using nanostructures against implant infections (nanoshape GmbH)
  • NEO2022: Virus detection through image recognition using artificial intelligence (INLYSE GmbH)
  • NEO2021: Metal 3D printing (Rosswag GmbH)
  • NEO2020: PLAFCO - biobased and sustainable material (DHBW Karlsruhe)
  • NEO2019: HoloMed (KIT research group)
  • NEO2018: Mobility-promoting future districts through integrated public transport EVA shuttle buses (consortium consisting of Verkehrsbetriebe Karlsruhe, FZI Forschungszentrum Informatik, Robert Bosch GmbH, Ioki and TÜV SÜD Auto Service GmbH)
  • NEO2017: Smart solution for mobility (Volocopter Bruchsal)
  • NEO2016: Phontasia (Baden-Württemberg Cooperative State University)
  • NEO2015: 3D ultrasound computed tomography (KIT)
  • NEO2014: Plug and Work - the universal interface for the factory of the future (Fraunhofer IOSB)
  • NEO2013: MeRegio - Minimum Emission Region (EnBW AG)
  • NEO2012: Online analysis system "ORGANOTRACE 100" (UNISENSOR Sensorsysteme GmbH)
  • NEO2011: Inductive energy and data transmission system for wireless battery charging for cars and two-wheelers (SEW-EURODRIVE)
  • NEO2010: Pioneering hydropower plant (Hydro-Energie Roth GmbH)
Do you have any questions?
Please feel free to contact us!
Nurzhan Iunusalieva
Project management
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