Innovative ideas for energy supply: University competition 2025 starts!

Innovative ideas for energy supply: University competition 2025 starts!

On March 9, 2025, the 2025 university competition is in full swing. The competition, which deals with the energy supply of the future and renewable energies, received around 120 submitted ideas. A jury selected ten impressive projects that will now be funded. Each winning team receives 10,000 euros to implement their concepts by the end of the year and thus promote dialogue about sustainable energy supply.

The projects are very diverse and range from interactive exhibitions and escape room games to digital learning formats and theater performances. What is particularly noteworthy is that the teams regularly document their progress on Instagram and their project websites. The competition is organized by important institutions such as Science in Dialogue, the Federal Association of University Communication, the University Rectors' Conference and the Young Academy and receives support from the Federal Ministry of Education and Research as part of the Science Year 2025.

Diverse winning projects

The winning projects include:

• Berlin – Berliner Hochschule für Technik (BHT): Projekt „WattWelt“ – ein digitales Lernspiel, das Schüler zur Energiewende anregen soll.
• Bonn – Universität Bonn: Projekt „2051: Energie im Weltraum“ – ein mobiler Escape Room, der sich mit erneuerbaren Energien in einer dystopischen Zukunft befasst.
• Dresden – Technische Universität Dresden: Projekt „Zukunftswerkstatt Lausitz 2050“ – Workshops zur nachhaltigen Energielandschaft in der Region Lausitz.
• Erlangen – Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg: Projekt „The Art of Energy“ – Gespräche und Diskussionen über das Thema Energie in Literatur und Film.
• Hagen – FernUniversität in Hagen: Projekt „Chancengleichheit in der Energiewende“ – Entwicklung einer Plattform, um einkommensschwache Haushalte zu unterstützen.
• München – Technische Universität München: Projekt „Festival-Roadshow „Escape from Carbonia“ – ein interaktives Escape-Room-Spiel auf Straßenfestivals.
• Münster – Universität Münster: Projekt „Windscope“ – ein Exponat zur Planung von Windparks unter Einsatz von KI und Augmented Reality.
• Regensburg – Universität Regensburg: Projekt „Ausstellungsrave – Rave for Energy“ – eine interaktive Ausstellung über erneuerbare Energien, begleitet von Musik.
• Siegen – Universität Siegen: Projekt „Unsere Energie, unsere Zukunft“ – ein interaktives Planspiel, das energiepolitische Entscheidungen simuliert.
• Trier – Hochschule Trier, Umwelt-Campus Birkenfeld: Projekt „ENERGIALOGUE – die stille Zukunft“ – ein mobiles Theaterstück über die Energiewende, das Gebärdensprache sowie Publikumsbeteiligung einbezieht.

A competition with vision

The university competition motivates not only students, but also doctoral candidates and postdocs to communicate their research creatively. Since its introduction in 2007, the competition has been announced annually and is based on the current academic year. The motto for 2025 is “Show your research” and aims to present ideas that stimulate dialogue between citizens and researchers.

Another aspect of the competition is the development of interactive ideas from all disciplines. The best submissions not only receive cash prizes, but also benefit from training and workshops on science communication. At the end of the year, the winners are accepted into an alumni network that promotes interdisciplinary exchange and networking. In addition, the involvement of up to 15 teams ensures a variety of ideas and formats.

For many young scientists, the competition is a valuable opportunity to test their innovations in science communication. They become more sensitive to communicating their work and learn to interact effectively with the public. The application deadline for the next submissions is November 25, 2025, and those interested can find further information on the competition website hochschulvergleich.net as well as under vgdh.de and Wissenschaft-im-dialog.de.