There are three awards categories: SMEs Driving Energy Efficiency, Local Energy Action and Women in Energy.
The Innovative business or financing models for energy efficiency by SMEs Award honours Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) that have developed and deployed innovative business or financing models to advance energy efficiency solutions, notably in buildings and industry. It recognises SMEs that are pioneering new approaches to make energy upgrades more accessible, affordable and scalable. SMEs applying will have to demonstrate how market-driven innovation can accelerate the energy transition and the renovation wave, reduce emissions, and empower private citizens, public authorities, and enterprises to invest in a sustainable energy future.
The call to apply for the SMEs Driving Energy Efficiency category is now closed. However, the guidelines below remain available for reference to all applicants.
The following eligibility criteria apply to all submissions. Meeting the eligibility criteria is mandatory. Applications that do not meet these criteria will be excluded from the evaluation.
Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) definition
Applicants must qualify as SMEs according to the EU definition (fewer than 250 employees, annual turnover not exceeding EUR 50 million and/or an annual balance sheet total not exceeding EUR 43 million).
Geographical scope
Activities, projects or actions must be carried out in at least one country located in the European Union.
Practical implementation
This category focuses on SMEs having developed business or financing models to accelerate the uptake of energy efficiency solutions.
Both commercial development stage projects and pilot projects are eligible.
Activities promoting commercial products already on the market without an innovative dimension related to energy efficiency business or financing models are not eligible.
Previous winners and finalists
Activities, projects or actions that have previously been shortlisted as EUSEW Awards finalists are not eligible to re-enter the competition. Organisations or individuals that have previously been shortlisted are eligible if they present new activities, projects or actions.
Applicants must demonstrate:
- Innovative character of their business or financing model;
- tangible or potential energy efficiency and decarbonisation impacts;
- market scalability and replicability of their approach; and
- contribution to the mobilisation of private finance for energy efficiency investments (where relevant).
All applications will be checked against the eligibility criteria set out above before being assessed. The evaluation process then consists of:
- an assessment by European Commission staff and an external technical committee; and
- a selection of three finalists per category by a high-level jury.
The winner will be decided via an online public vote and announced at the Awards Ceremony taking place in Brussels on Tuesday 9 June 2026.
Applications will be scored on three criteria, with a maximum score of 10 points each. An application can therefore receive a maximum score of 30 points.
Concept (10 points)
Applicants should explain why their business/financing model is a best-in-class example in their field.
Applications should focus on highlighting elements of originality that clearly break down existing market barriers to the uptake of energy efficiency solutions.
Implementation (10 points)
Applications should elaborate on how the business/financing model is being implemented.
Applications should highlight how the model is designed for scalability and widespread market penetration.
Actions and progress to up-scale the model (if any) should be described.
Impact (10 points)
Applicants should quantify what impacts have been achieved by implementing the business/financing model in terms of energy savings and/or leveraging private finance. Any additional impacts can also be outlined.
Applicants may include estimates of the potential impacts of scaling-up the model more widely clearly describing the assumptions made.
- Launch of the call: 25 November 2025
- Closing of the call: 5 February 2026 (extended deadline)
- Evaluation period: February to mid-March 2026
- Communication of results: 19 March 2026
- Production of promotion material: End of March to end of April 2026
- Opening of the public vote: 5 May to 31 May 2026
- EUSEW Awards Ceremony: 9 June 2026
Dates are indicative and subject to change.
By applying to the EUSEW Awards 2026 competition, the shortlisted finalists and winners agree to support the promotion of the Awards and its results by:
- providing additional information about the finalist to the EUSEW organising team for the development of promotional material, including but not limited to providing photos, quotes and taking part in a filmed interview;
- using promotional materials to promote the Awards voting on any available channels (such as social media, newsletters, network of contacts, organisation website, etc.) in a strategic and effective manner to encourage the public vote for their action;
- participating in possible follow-up activities in the course of 2026 and beyond (e.g. meetings, events, video production, etc.); and
- granting the European Commission the right to use, for its communication and publicising activities, information relating to the initiative.
The European Commission will promote the initiatives through its regular and ad hoc channels. Photos and videos taken by the European Commission either in preparation for the Awards Ceremony or during the Awards Ceremony are the sole property of the European Commission.
We invite you to read our FAQ section. Should you have any additional questions about the Awards, please contact the EUSEW Secretariat at awards
eusew [dot] eu (awards[at]eusew[dot]eu).
The EUSEW Info Session took place on 3 December 2025. The recording and slides can be found on the dedicated page.
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