Wubbo Ockels Innovation Award encourages talent to make sustainable impact
As an astronaut, Wubbo Ockels saw how vulnerable the Earth is. He dedicated himself to protecting our 'spaceship Earth' and pioneered innovative and sustainable solutions. To keep his philosophy alive, as of today, sustainable pioneers can compete for the Wubbo Ockels Innovation Award: a unique prize that encourages talent to make sustainable impact for our planet. The jury, consisting of Joos Ockels, Maurits Groen, Suze Gehem, Andy van den Dobbelsteen, Yvette Watson and Harm Edens, will announce the three winners of the Wubbo Ockels Innovation Prize at The Green Village in Delft on 3 November 2023. The winners will each receive € 10,000 in prize money and they will be supported to take their innovation further.
Participants
Are you an entrepreneur, inventor, innovator within a company, or a student, and do you have an inspiring, sustainable idea? Then you can compete for the prize. This means, for example, that you propose an effective solution for climate adaptation, biodiversity, carbon neutrality, circularity and/or liveability on our planet. "Wubbo was a big fan of prizes. By adding a reward to a solution for a challenging issue, you encourage people to innovate, be creative and show guts. An award in his name is a great way to continue his legacy," says Joos Ockels.
Kickstart
Participants have a chance to win a cash prize of three times 10,000 euros. The prize money is made available by ‘De Groene Grachten’ (English: The Green Canals), the latest initiative from Wubbo Ockels. "In 2012, Wubbo Ockels gave me € 3,000 out of his own pocket to co-found De Groene Grachten. I experienced myself how this gave us a kickstart. Ten years later, I think it would be great to do something similar for makers that make a difference with impactful ideas," said Suze Gehem. The finalists will go on a field trip to SpaceExpo with Joos Ockels and get a tour of TU Delft's Green Village by Andy van den Dobbelsteen. The winners will also get the floor in The Sustainable Podcast and a BNR radio broadcast.
You can compete by submitting your plan before 1 October 2023 via www.wubboockelsinnovatieprijs.nl. Here you will also find information about the prize and conditions.