Whether they are researchers, ambitious founders or established businesses: The transformation of the construction and real estate industry towards greater sustainability needs bright minds. Courageous pioneers who question the status quo, initiate new ideas and turn sceptics into enthusiastic supporters. Since 2016, the DGNB has been looking for such pioneers with the Sustainability Challenge, offering them and their innovations a stage.
The competition enters the next round!
Until 1 March 2024, you can submit your forward-looking ideas for greater sustainability digitally. Participation is free.
Note: The application is already available in German. The forms will soon be available in English, too.
It's worth taking part!
In addition to access to the DGNB's international network of experts, finalists will benefit from:
All information on the competition
Applications for the DGNB Sustainability Challenge are submitted digitally. In your application, you must highlight the positive contribution your project, business model or product innovation makes to the transformation towards greater sustainability and climate protection in the construction and real estate sector.
Three categories
Applications for the DGNB Sustainability Challenge can be submitted in three categories:
- Innovation: Companies with a product or service innovation that stands out from existing solutions on the market and makes an important contribution to climate protection or the circular economy.
- Start-up: Start-up companies (up to 5 years after the company was founded) that break new ground with their innovative business model and promote the idea of sustainability in the construction and real estate industry.
- Research: Academics with ongoing or completed research projects that make an important contribution to the transformation of the construction and property industry towards greater sustainability.
NEW: Special award for biodiversity
For the first time, DGNB 2024 will award a special prize to recognise the importance of promoting biodiversity. The prize will be awarded across all categories. To apply for the special award, participants must answer the additional question on the topic in the application form. Once the field has been completed, the application will automatically be considered for the special prize.
Special prize for students
Students can apply in the Research category. It is important that the entry form states that it is a student project.
Audience Award
The Audience Award is open to all categories. The winner will be determined by an online vote and an on-site vote at the DGNB Sustainability Day on 18 June 2024.
Process and selection
An expert jury will select the top three from all entries, as well as the winner of each category and the winners of the special prizes.
All nominated companies and projects will give a short presentation to the public at a digital pitch event on 14 May 2024. This event will be followed by an online vote for the audience award. At the DGNB Sustainability Day, all finalists will have another opportunity to present themselves before the winners are announced at the same event.
The majority of the DGNB Innovation Advisory Board is involved in the DGNB Sustainability Challenge jury. In addition, other recognised experts from the DGNB network have been added to this panel.

Philipp Bouteiller
Artprojekt Entwicklungen GmbH

Dr. Anna Braune
DGNB

Prof. Dr. Michael Braungart
Leuphana Universität Lüneburg

Gerhard Breitschaft
Deutsches Institut für Bautechnik

Dominik Campanella
Concular GmbH

Prof. Moritz Fleischmann
Hochschule Düsseldorf

Gregor Grassl
Drees & Sommer SE

Prof. Andrea Klinge
FHNW
ZRS Architekten Ingenieure

Johannes Kreißig
DGNB

Dr. Christine Lemaitre
DGNB

Martin Pauli
Arup Deutschland GmbH

Martin Prösler
Proesler Kommunikation GmbH

Martin Rodeck
Blacklake GmbH

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Anja Rosen
FH Münster

Gudrun Sack
Tegel Projekt GmbH

Sven Schulz
Bodensee-Stiftung

Patrick Teuffel
CIRCULAR STRUCTURAL DESIGN

Meike Weber
Landeshauptstadt München

These are all the previous winners and finalists of the DGNB Sustainability Challenge
Get to know all the winners and finalists of the previous editions of the DGNB Sustainability Challenge.
The award-winning companies and projects
Your contact
