Stuttgart – FSK, Germany’s association for foamed plastics and polyurethanes, is looking for submissions for its third Innovation Prize (Innovationspreis). The association is inviting young people, industry specialists, professionals, and companies – from across Europe –to submit innovative ideas, forward-looking concepts and new developments in the field of foamed plastics and polyurethanes.
FSK is particularly interested in celebrating young people in the industry, and motivating them to submit new ideas, concepts and developments: particularly in the “Technology” and “Design” categories. There is also a category for “Sustainability”, which was launched for the second Innovation Price.
Individuals and groups, from universities and companies, from all over Europe have until 30 June 2023 to apply. To ensure a fair and appropriate assessment – and bestow awards based on relative knowledge and experience – submissions from young people will be evaluated (and awarded) separately from submissions by established professionals or companies. The evaluation will be carried out by a jury of experts selected by the FSK.
Criteria for shortlisting include the novelty, and innovative strength of submitted products and solutions, as well as their marketability and competitiveness. Application documents can be requested from the FSK office by email or downloaded from its website (German | English).
The award ceremony will take place as part of the International FSK Conference on Polyurethanes and Foamed Plastics on 22 November 2023 in Covestro’s facility in Leverkusen, Germany.
The winners in the junior staff categories will receive additional funding of up to €3,000 to help establish their innovations on the market
“The Innovation Award is one of the many highlights of our international conference. Applicants keep surprising us with unusual, but also future-oriented, ideas and products. Against the background of energy-saving measures and resource conservation, developments – such as last year's sun-independent energy storage system – are outstanding innovations. But prizewinners also included artists, whose artworks were made using these materials, and also comfort objects – including a ‘soft bathtub’. We are already looking forward to strong and innovative applications in all categories,” said FSK managing director Klaus Junginger.
