Three Horizon Prize contests were launched by the European Commission under the framework of Horizon 2020, the EU’s research and innovation programme worth a total of €3.25 million.

A new set of challenge prizes under Horizon 2020, the EU’s €77 billion research and innovation programme running from 2014 to 2020, has been introduced by the European Commission.

Also called ‘inducement’ prizes, Horizon Prizes are challenge prizes offering a cash reward to those who can most effectively meet a defined challenge. By prescribing the goal, they act as an incentive for innovation; despite they do not establish how the goal should be achieved.

For more Horizon Prizes, have look at “Horizon Prizes: Three New Challenges to Crack.”

This set, aimed to promote innovation and get solutions to challenges in the area of energy, will reward innovative approaches to integrating solar energy into historical buildings, using renewable energy in hospitals, and developing products that help cut emissions by reusing carbon dioxide (CO2).

These three prizes will contribute to the objectives of both the Energy Union and the Strategic Energy Technology (SET) Plan, by generating breakthroughs and boosting innovation in low carbon energy technologies. This would lead to greater sustainability and efficiency, while increasing the European energy security and supporting the decarbonisation of the EU economy.

Horizon Prizes: Photovoltaics meets history, Low carbon hospital and CO2 reuse

The first Horizon Prize is called “Photovoltaics meets history” and addresses the technical constraints in integrating photovoltaic energy sources in historical urban districts. The most suitable architectural and aesthetical design for a photovoltaic energy system – also presenting an optimal technical solution – will receive 750.000 Euros.

With the second, entitled “Low carbon hospital”, the Commission aims at finding solutions for using 100% renewable energy sources for heat and power generation in hospital buildings. The award, worth 1 million Euros, will be awarded to an innovative solution both guaranteeing uninterrupted energy supply and integrating several technologies into one energy system.

As for the third, “CO2 reuse” prize, 1.5 million Euros will go to the developer of an innovative product able to reuse carbon dioxide (CO2) and make a genuine contribution to the reduction of net emissions.

The deadline for the submission of proposals is set on 26 September 2018 for the contest “Photovoltaics meets history”, while on 3 April 2019 for the two others.

 As for the rules of the contests, they are available on the Horizon Prizes website.