Sustainable transformation of the maritime economyThe University of Hamburg and F. Laeisz GmbH Announce the Inaugural F. Laeisz Award for Maritime Innovation

Photo: Lena Buth/Alfred Wegener Institute (AWI)

The sea ice cover is subject to climatic changes. This can have an influence on the routes taken by ships.

The aim of the €20,000 prize is to highlight promising approaches that promote ecological sustainability in shipping and maritime value chains—for example in the areas of decarbonization, environment and ecosystem protection, sustainable value chains and logistics processes, as well as digitalization as a way of setting the course for sustainable shipping.

The F. Laeisz Award is expressly intended as an award for young talent and innovation. The award recognizes projects that have high transformation potential but have not yet established themselves as market-ready solutions. The public call for nominations is aimed at students, researchers, project teams, initiatives, and start-ups from German-speaking countries. Applications can be submitted using online form on the University of Hamburg web page.

“The F. Laeisz Award for Maritime Innovation is an important step on the path to sustainable transformation, as it recognizes innovative approaches and committed actors who are driving a sustainable future for our oceans and marine resources. It is essential for the University of Hamburg to promote this process of change and build a bridge between research, business, and society in order to jointly develop sustainable solutions for the maritime industry,” explained Prof. Dr. Laura Marie Edinger-Schons, Professor of Sustainable Management and Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO) at the University of Hamburg.

“We are delighted to support sustainable maritime transformation projects together with the University of Hamburg—it’s part of our DNA,” emphasizes Nikolaus H. Schües, owner of F. Laeisz GmbH, a long-established German shipping company.

The award winners are selected by an interdisciplinary jury made up of representatives from science, the maritime industry, civil society, politics, and public institutions. The jury’s considerations included degree of innovation, sustainability impact, feasibility, and development prospects.

The prize is endowed with a total of 20,000 euros and is divided into three awards (first place: 10,000 euros, second place: 6,000 euros, third place 4,000 euros). In addition to the prize money, the award brings public recognition, improving visibility and networking within the maritime industry and sustainability sector. The deadline for applications is 17 April 2026, while the award ceremony will take place in June 2026 as part of Hamburg Sustainability Week.

For more information about the call for nominations and the application process, see the prize homepage.