Description
Eni is a global energy company operating in a responsible way towards its stakeholders in about sixty-eight countries along the entire value chain. It concretely supports a just energy transition for a net-zero carbon future, with the objective of preserving our planet and promoting an efficient and sustainable access to energy for all, pursuing a fair energy transition with respect to society and world’s ecosystems.
Eni invests in people and their empowerment, recognizing diversity as a key value for human development. Since 2008 Eni has been granting the Eni Award, aimed to promote and award scientific research and technological innovation in the fields of energy and the environment. Special care will be devoted to proposals promoting the use of breakthrough, experimental and innovative technologies, processes and tools, enabling a holistic perspective and contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals.
For the 2026 award, the categories are:
Energy Frontiers - promotes disruptive ideas in the field of new energy sources, renewable energies and related processes aimed to change the energy paradigm of the future and to achieve the decarbonization of the energy systems, with particular attention to energy management and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA).
Energy Transition - promotes technological innovation and scientific knowledge in the field of renewable energy and related energy management and storage technologies, in the context of decarbonizing energy systems. The Prize is awarded to the researcher or group of researchers who have achieved internationally significant research and development results in the field of capture, utilization and sequestration of carbon dioxide as well as sustainable, affordable and efficient energy production and management.
Advanced Environmental Solutions - fosters the development of a sustainable and resilient nature within a continuously changing climate scenario, through the enhancement of nature-based solutions, and the preservation and restoration of natural capital, in order to accelerate the transition towards environmentally sustainable business models, accordingly with the “One Planet - One Health” perspective. In particular, the Prize aims at enhancing scientific and technological innovation with impact on the protection and sustainable use of natural resources, such as land, air, water and oceans, along with the promotion of biodiversity, taking also into consideration their connection with human health.
Young Researcher of the Year - two awards for graduates with PhD theses from Italian universities on these themes: concerning topics promoted by the Eni Award, related to energy and environment, such as: carbon capture, utilization and storage; energy efficiency; renewable energies; energy storage; energy management; green chemistry; nature-based solutions; natural resources preservation and sustainable use; biodiversity protection; ecosystem restoration; and environmental remediation.
Young Talents from Africa - two awards go to graduates from African countries for a degree or master’s thesis carried out in an African university on these themes: development of a sustainable and resilient nature within a continuously changing climate scenario, through the enhancement of nature-based solutions, and the preservation and restoration of natural capital, in order to accelerate the transition towards a circular economy; bio-economy and environmentally sustainable business models, accordingly with the “One Health - Planetary Health” perspective; renewable energies and energy storage; new technologies for H2 production (blue, green and turquoise hydrogen); capturing, using and storing carbon (CCUS), and energy efficiency as a bridge to decarbonization of the energy system.
"Eni for Innovation" Recognition* - three awards for ideas with the greatest potential for impact in terms of the innovation they could generate and for the best technological innovations resulting from Eni research. *(Please note these awards have a different deadline - January 31, 2026)
Eligibility
Eligibility differs for different awards. Please view the following for specifics for each award:
- Energy Frontiers
- Energy Transition
- Advanced Environmental Solutions
- Young Researcher of the Year
- Young Talents from Africa
- "Eni for Innovation" Recognition
Prize
Prizes differ by awards. Please see the Eni Award website for further details.
Deadlines
If College-level review is required, your College will communicate its earlier internal deadlines.
| Type | Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|
External Deadline | Please submit the nomination directly to the Eni Award website by the external deadline. Please also submit a copy of the full nomination and OR-5 to research.services@uoguelph.ca by the external deadline. |
How to Apply
Applications must be submitted online using the application form provided on the Eni Award website and emailed to eniaward@feem.it by the external deadline. Please also submit an OR-5 and a completed application to research.services@uoguelph.ca by the external deadline.
For More Information
Please contact ailsakay@uoguelph.ca or eniaward@feem.it. Please also see the Eni Award website for more details.