Lorenzo Cagnoni Award for Green Innovation

The Award aims to highlight successful projects and entrepreneurial initiatives that have actively contributed to strengthening the concept of ecological transition, standing out for their ability to combine research, innovation, and economic performance.

It also recognizes those who have played a significant role in territorial development, with a particular focus on pathways of digital, ecological, and energy transition.

No cash prizes or economically quantifiable rewards will be awarded.

The Award is open to both private and public companies, under the following conditions. At the time of application, candidates must:

• Be established and active, and officially registered in the Ecomondo 2025 Exhibitor Catalogue
• Be registered with the Business Register of the territorially competent Chamber of Commerce
• Be fully compliant with all social security and insurance obligations, as well as with regulations concerning the prevention of undeclared and irregular employment, in accordance with Regional Law no. 35/2000
• Not be subject to controlled administration, extraordinary administration without continuation of business activity, insolvency proceedings, bankruptcy, liquidation, or any other insolvency procedures under the Bankruptcy Law or other special legislation, and not be undergoing proceedings for the declaration of any of these situations
• Have a legal representative with no criminal record: specifically, not convicted by a final judgment, nor subject to an irrevocable penal decree or plea bargain under Article 444 of the Italian Code of Criminal Procedure, for serious offenses against the State or the Community affecting professional integrity

Participants referred to in Art. 3 who wish to apply for the Award must submit detailed documentation of the projects developed.

Only projects that have been approved, are ongoing, or were completed within the last 12 months are eligible.

Each participant may submit only one application. If multiple applications are submitted, only the most recent (by submission date) will be considered.

Applications will not be accepted if the project is submitted by or on behalf of:

• Members of the Evaluation Committee, their spouses, or relatives up to the second degree
• Members of the Promoting Committee, their spouses, or relatives up to the second degree
• Members of the Organizing Secretariat
• Institutional and executive officers of the supporting entities
• These exclusions ensure transparency and avoid any potential conflicts of interest.

• Participation in the Lorenzo Cagnoni Award for Green Innovation is free of charge. Candidates must complete the online application form, and may attach any supporting materials useful for project evaluation—particularly images and a technical sheet (maximum total: 10,000 characters).

  All mandatory documentation, as well as any optional materials, must be signed by the company’s legal representative or by a formally appointed delegate.

  Applications, including all required documents, must be submitted no later than September 30, 2025, according to the procedures outlined in this Regulation. Any changes to this deadline will be promptly communicated by the Organizing Secretariat through the Ecomondo website and its official social media channels. Late submissions will not be accepted under any circumstances.

  By signing the application form, candidates explicitly authorize any necessary checks regarding company data, profiles, and biographies, in full compliance with trade secret protections.

  All data collected about the company and candidates will be handled in accordance with EU Regulation 679/2016 (GDPR), and used solely for the purposes of the Award.

  By submitting an application, candidates guarantee that the project is original and does not infringe on any copyright or third-party rights. Each participant agrees to fully indemnify the promoters, organizers, and all parties involved in the Award against any claims made by third parties.

  Winners are required to participate in the award ceremony—either in person or, if unavailable, through an official delegate—and agree to appear in media coverage, including news reports, photography, and video recordings, without claiming any rights or compensation for themselves or the company they represent. In the event of restrictions or limitations, the ceremony will be held online, and winners must still ensure remote participation.

  In respect of trade secrets and candidate confidentiality, the Jury, through the Organizing Secretariat, may request additional information, interviews, or site visits as part of the selection process.

  Providing false, inaccurate, or incomplete information, or failure to comply with the participation rules and eligibility requirements outlined in this Regulation, will result in exclusion from the selection process or revocation of the awarded prize.

The Organizing Secretariat is based at ITALIAN EXHIBITION GROUP S.p.A. and is responsible for the organizational and promotional activities related to the Award.

The Evaluation Committee, appointed by the Promoting Committee and composed of distinguished experts in the field of innovation from the scientific, academic, and industrial communities, will act as the Jury for the Award.

Its role is to identify the winners based on the best projects duly submitted in accordance with the official regulations.

• The Award promoters will verify the eligibility of all submitted applications based on the provisions of the Regulation and the requirements outlined in Articles 3, 4, and 5. Once validated, the applications will be forwarded to the Evaluation Committee.

  The Evaluation Committee will assign a score to each eligible project, following the evaluation criteria detailed in Article 9. The weighting of these criteria will be defined upon the committee’s first official meeting.

  If deemed necessary, the Committee may request interviews or meetings with applicants to gather further elements useful for the evaluation process.

  All applications will then be ranked according to the total score assigned.

  Winners will be promptly contacted by the Organizing Secretariat and officially invited to the Award Ceremony. During the event, winners will be asked to present their project to the audience. By accepting the award, winners commit to attending the ceremony in accordance with the terms described in Article 5, and agree to appear in press coverage, television, and photographic recordings of the event, without claiming any rights or compensation for themselves or their companies.

  The final ranking, including the list of participants and winners, will be made public from the day of the Award Ceremony, through publication on the Ecomondo website and the websites of the supporting institutions.

The evaluation of applications, carried out autonomously by the Evaluation Committee, is conducted under its own responsibility and based on its final and non-appealable judgment.

The assessment will consider the following criteria:

• Degree of innovation of the project

• Business model

• Economic impact

• Quantitative and qualitative outcomes

• Impact on local value chains and production systems

• Environmental sustainability, with attention to ecological responsibility and circular economy principles

The awards will consist of ceremonial plaques, which will be created by ITALIAN EXHIBITION GROUP S.p.A. in coordination with the other promoting partners for both content and design.

The awards will be presented during a public award ceremony held as part of Ecomondo 2025. The date, venue, and logistical details of the ceremony will be promptly communicated via email by the Organizing Secretariat to the winners, who are required to ensure their participation as outlined in Article 5. The event will also be given maximum visibility across all relevant media outlets.

In the event of any restrictions and/or limitations, the ceremony will be held online.
Winners must in any case ensure their presence, either in person or remotely.

The Evalution Commettee is composed by:

• Francesco Fatone | Università Politecnica delle Marche & International Water Association (IWA)
• Alessandro Bratti | Secretary General of the Po River District Authority & University of Ferrara
• Angelo Salsi | University of Tuscia & former Head of Department at CINEA – European Commission
• Fabrizio Passarini | Alma Mater Studiorum - University of Bologna