Zurich Insurance is looking for Switzerland's best climate projects. Innovative ideas can be submitted until midway through this year. The total prize fund is CHF 150,000. Young clean-tech firms now have the chance to win a special prize.
Zurich Insurance is once again seeking out the best climate projects. Whether they are lateral thinkers, clean-tech pioneers or innovative entrepreneurs, all persons and businesses in Switzerland and the Principality of Liechtenstein are invited to submit their projects for the Zurich Climate Prize Switzerland & Liechtenstein. The submission deadline is June 16, 2014. Clean-tech startups also have a shot at winning a special prize. An independent panel of experts and well-known public figures chaired by ETH Professor Emeritus René P. Schwarzenbach will announce the winners at the end of 2014.
Joachim Masur, CEO of Zurich Switzerland, says: "The determination and creativity that people in Switzerland and Liechtenstein employ in the face of climate change is truly remarkable. I am convinced that there are countless ideas and concepts just waiting to be discovered. With the Climate Prize we support sustainable projects with a widespread impact – and make an active contribution to sensitizing people to climate protection."
Competition in three categories
The Zurich Climate Prize Switzerland & Liechtenstein honors projects that make a sustainable contribution to climate protection. It focuses on ideas, schemes and concepts that contribute to cutting CO2 emissions by reducing resource consumption, improving energy efficiency or bringing about changes in behavior.
Prizes are awarded in three categories: "Buildings & Housing," "Production & Consumption" and "Transport & Mobility." Private individuals, SMEs, startups, local authorities, institutions, clubs and associations as well as national and international companies that have a head office in or are resident in Switzerland or the Principality of Liechtenstein are eligible to take part.
Z Zurich Foundation donates prize money
The Z Zurich Foundation and the return distribution of the CO2 incentive tax to Zurich will finance the execution of the competition and the awarding of prizes. The Swiss research and advice office INFRAS will support Zurich with its profound expertise in designing the content and in the organizational handling of the prize.
Zurich is doing something to help
The Zurich Group has concentrated on understanding the risks associated with climate change and developing products and services that help customers to cope with these risks. By supporting innovative climate projects through the Zurich Climate Prize, Zurich aims to make an active contribution toward raising awareness and stimulating changes in behavior.
Zurich Insurance Company Ltd and Zurich Life Insurance Company Ltd are responsible for dealing with the commercial and personal lines of the Zurich Insurance Group in Switzerland and the Principality of Liechtenstein. Zurich Switzerland is one of the largest insurers in Switzerland and appears on the market under the names Zurich and Zurich Connect.
Zurich Insurance Group is a leading multi-line insurance provider with a global network of subsidiaries and offices in Europe, North America, Latin America, Asia-Pacific and the Middle East as well as other markets. It offers a wide range of general insurance and life insurance products and services for individuals, small businesses, mid-sized and large companies as well as multinational orporations. Zurich employs about 60,000 people serving customers in more than 170 countries. The Group, formerly known as Zurich Financial Services Group, is headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland, where it was founded in 1872. The holding company, Zurich Insurance Group Ltd (ZURN), is listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange and has a level I American Depositary Receipt program (ZURVY) which is traded over-the-counter on OTCQX. Further information about Zurich is available at www.zurich.com.