The Naturgy Foundation and CSIC consolidate their award for the best innovation project in the field of energy, now in its fourth edition
This award recognises the winning project with 100,000 euros. Additionally, this year’s edition includes a runner-up prize of 30,000 euros.
The Naturgy Foundation and the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) are launching the fourth edition of the ‘Naturgy Foundation-CSIC Award for research and technological innovation in the field of energy’ with which they focus on innovation as one of the main axes of the energy transition to advance in decarbonising the economy. This award recognises the best project in Spain developed by research groups attached to public or private non-profit organisations with 100,000 euros. As a novelty in this year’s edition, there will also be a runner-up prize of 30,000 euros to encourage more research projects in the field of energy innovation.
The general manager of the Naturgy Foundation, María Eugenia Coronado, expressed her satisfaction with this new edition of the award, as “it is a consolidated call among the scientific community in Spain. And, as a result of the quality of the candidatures received, promoted by the largest research centres, this year’s edition will see the launch of an runner-up award, which will make it possible to increase resources to encourage research and scientific development in the field of energy in Spain to favour the energy transition”.
CSIC coordinates the scientific committee that evaluates projects submitted for the prize, which are assessed by a prestigious panel chaired by Eloísa del Pino, Chairwoman of CSIC. Del Pino underlined the strategic relevance of this initiative, highlighting “the fundamental role played by scientific and technical research in promoting a new economic and energy model based on renewable sources and the decarbonisation of human activity”. “This is a transformation that will not only affect energy production and consumption systems, but will also require a profound adaptation of our societies from individual habits to public policies,” she said.
Research in the field of energy innovation
The winner of the first edition was a project by the Bioeconomics Institute of the University of Valladolid (IB-UVA), led by researcher Ángel Martín Martínez, which proposes the development of an innovative technology in CO₂ capture and reduction processes.
The winning project of the second edition, entitled ‘Proton Exchange Membrane Water Electrolyzer Prototype with Improved Components (PRAGMATIC)’ and led by principal investigators María Retuerto Millán and Álvaro Tolosana Moranchel from the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) Institute of Catalysis and Petrochemistry, proposes an innovative technology through novel solutions for different aspects of the electrolyser in the field of hydrogen generation that provides a solution to the problems current experienced by this technology, thus helping to pave the way towards its commercial development.
In the third edition, the winning project entitled ‘Anomalous photovoltaic effects for 2-dimensional solar cells (APE2SOL)’ and led by researchers Elisa Antolín Fernández and Juan José Palacios Burgos from the Solar Energy Institute of the Polytechnic University of Madrid and the Autonomous University of Madrid, proposes the development of a new photovoltaic technology based on the anomalous photovoltaic effect (APE), using two-dimensional (2D) materials as the basis for future generations of solar cells.
Unpublished projects and a prestigious panel
This recognition is aimed at projects developed by non-profit public or private research organisations, including public and private universities (registered in the Registry of Universities, Centres, and Degrees), as well as other R&D centres. Additionally, the groups must engage in fundamental research or experimental development, possess legal personality, and have fiscal residency in Spain.
Candidates taking part must be unpublished projects, for research in progress or recently completed, and with an innovative potential liable to be incorporated into the market or generate value for society. Candidate research projects may address these aspects of technological innovation in the field of energy: efficiency, security of supply, renewable sources and the environment.
Applications may be submitted until 15 February 2026 on the Naturgy Foundation website and the winning project will be announced at a ceremony to be held in June 2026 in Madrid.
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