Hamburg, 22 April 2021 – Aquila Capital is pleased to announce its second “Transformation Award”. Themed "Solving the Climate Crisis through Innovation", this year's research award is aimed at academic research that contributes to finding implementable solutions to mitigate climate change. From today until 31 August 2021, scientists and researchers can apply for the award, which is endowed with 20,000 euros.
The expansion of renewable energies is usually the focus of discussion when governments and institutions outline their strategies for reducing emissions. However, other fields of innovation are needed to achieve the ambitious plan of a climate-neutral global economy by 2050. As Bill Gates pointed out in his recent publication “How to avoid a climate disaster”: “We need to change the way we do almost everything.”
Entitled “Solving the climate crisis by innovation”, the award will recognise outstanding work that focuses on applicable and unconventional solutions to combat climate change in Europe. In addition to financial support for research, the research award focuses on cooperation in the practical implementation of the solutions.
Roman Rosslenbroich, Co-founder and CEO of Aquila Capital, comments: “The challenges associated with climate change affect us all. As an investment manager, we feel obliged to contribute to the energy transition and decarbonization in Europe by financing sustainable investments. With the “Transformation Award”, we build on our commitment to close the gap between knowledge and action by supporting innovative scientific concepts and promoting academic research.”
The call for proposals is aimed at scientists worldwide whose work is directly related to the topics of sustainability, climate change and the energy transition with a geographical focus on Europe.
The top-class jury consisting of Prof. Hans-Joachim Schellnhuber, Director Emeritus at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, Prof. Eicke R. Weber, former director of the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE, and Prof. Yukari Takamura, professor at the University of Tokyo's Institute for Future Initiatives, as well as Hendrik Bohne and Cristina Asenjo from Aquila Capital, will determine the winners in a multi-stage selection process. The award ceremony takes place at the end of the year.
In 2020, the prize was awarded to Dr Galina Churkina, visiting lecturer at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK). The jury selected Ms Churkina's research on “Buildings as a global carbon sink” as the best from a high number of submissions from renowned universities and research institutions worldwide. According to the jury, Dr Churkina's work illustrates the importance and feasibility of replacing cement, steel and other building materials with wood in mid-rise urban buildings to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the construction industry.
About Aquila Capital:
Aquila Group is a leading investment manager in real asset solutions. Its sustainable investment strategy focuses on investments in renewable energy, energy efficiency, infrastructure, residential real estate, green logistics as well as timber and agriculture. Founded in 2001 as one of the first German alternative investment firms, Aquila Group currently manages EUR 12.5 billion for institutional investors worldwide (as of 31 December 2020).
Over the last decade, Aquila Group has built a truly pan-European asset portfolio with investments in the renewable energy sector amounting to a total capacity of 10.7 GW and over 2 million square meters of sustainable real estate and green logistics projects completed or under development. Through its investments, Aquila Group is committed to contributing to the European energy transition.
To create value for its investors, Aquila Group employs a fully integrated investment and asset management approach. With 14 offices in 12 countries, Aquila Group’s dedicated expert investment teams draw on their sector networks and experience to screen, develop, finance, manage and operate investments along the entire value chain.
Press contact Aquila Capital:
Daniela Hamann
Head Corporate Communications
Aquila Capital
Phone: +49 40 87 5050-150
Email: daniela.hamann@aquila-capital.com
Henry Schmees
Finsbury Glover Hering
Phone: +49 69 921 874 11
Email: henry.schmees@fgh.com