International recognition for two researchers from the AIT Austrian Institute of Technology: Tara Esterl and Sophie Knöttner were honored as winners in the categories "Best Female Innovator" and "Young Talents" at the "Mission Innovation Net-Zero Industries Awards 2024."
The Mission Innovation Net-Zero Industries Award (NIM Award) recognizes outstanding companies and individuals who contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions in industry through pioneering approaches and highlights their innovations. The Austrian winners were presented at the UN Climate Conference in Baku (COP 29) and honored on January 28, 2025, at the event "Climate-Resilient Industry: Research and Development for the Future of Industry" in Linz.
Brigitte Bach, Managing Director, AIT Austrian Institute of Technology:
“This award is a great honor for us and demonstrates that our experts are making an international and crucial contribution to the transformation of industry. I extend my heartfelt congratulations to Tara Esterl and Sophie Knöttner – their dedication and innovative spirit make them key players in the innovation and development of climate-neutral solutions. This success proves how important it is to continue bringing more women into research and supporting them. Because for me, one thing is clear: Diversity is the key to success – especially in science and research.”
Tara Esterl: Award in the "Female Innovators" Category
Tara Esterl leads the Integrated Energy Systems department at the AIT Austrian Institute of Technology and is responsible for the strategic development of this research area. Integrated energy systems play a crucial role in the energy transition by supporting the decentralization of renewable energy generation, thereby contributing to climate goals.
One example of her work is the NEFI Project Industry4Redispatch, which she leads. This project successfully brought together all relevant stakeholders, including grid operators and industrial companies, to develop a solution for utilizing flexibilities in the electricity grid.
Tara Esterl: “I am personally very pleased to receive the award as Best Innovator. It encourages me to continue exploring new paths and researching innovative approaches. Additionally, the Net-Zero Industries Award highlights the significance of our research for a climate-neutral future on an international level and serves as great recognition of our collective efforts – my gratitude goes to my colleagues and project partners, without whom this success would not have been possible.”
Sophie Knöttner: Award in the "Young Talents" Category
In the "Young Talents" category, Sophie Knöttner impressed with her research on industrial energy systems and development pathways for digitalization and decarbonization. As a Research Engineer in the Sustainable Thermal Energy Systems department, she conducts research at AIT on concrete solutions for specific industries, such as the paper industry.
Sophie Knöttner: “This award is a fantastic recognition of my work and demonstrates the importance of developing innovative and sustainable solutions for industry. Digitalization and decarbonization, in particular, offer tremendous opportunities to make industrial energy systems future-proof – and I am excited to contribute to this progress.”
Award Ceremony in Linz
The Austrian winners of the NIM Award, including RHI Magnesita with their project "CCUpScale," were honored at the event "Climate-Resilient Industry: Research and Development for the Future of Industry" in Linz on January 28, 2025. The award ceremony emphasized the importance of research and collaboration for a climate-neutral future.
About the Net-Zero Industries Award
Initiated by Mission Innovation, the award was presented for the second time and recognizes groundbreaking innovations worldwide. With over 70 submissions from 26 countries, the award serves as a platform for outstanding projects and individuals driving transformation in heavy industry.
Net Zero Industries Mission
Mission Innovation (MI) is a global initiative involving 23 countries and the European Commission, aiming to accelerate innovations in energy technologies. Under the MI umbrella, seven missions address key challenges in renewable energy.
The "Net-Zero Industries" mission is jointly led by Austria and Australia. The goal is to make the first commercially viable and competitive solutions available by 2030. The mission focuses on projects in emissions-intensive sectors.
More Information
Net-Zero Industries Mission and Net-Zero Industries Award
Net-Zero Industries Mission: Country Insight Report 2024