The 4th TERA-Award Smart Energy Innovation Competition, organized by Hong Kong and China Gas Company Limited (Towngas) and empowered by Full Vision Capital, has drawn a record-breaking 785 applications from 76 countries and regions.
The surge highlights accelerating global momentum in smart energy and climate tech innovation, Towngas added, as the competition officially closed for applications last Wednesday (April 9).
The competition aims to help discover and develop innovative technologies and solutions in climate technology through funding—including a grand prize of US$1 million—and also by fostering long-term collaborations across the energy ecosystem.
Submissions spanned six key innovation categories, with “Renewable Energy” emerging as the most popular focus area. The diversity of proposals—ranging from green fuels and hydrogen to smart systems and sustainable infrastructure—demonstrates the global drive toward carbon neutrality and energy transformation.
Nearly three-quarters of submissions came from outside of China, with 12.5 percent of contributions received from the United States, 6.2 percent from the United Kingdom, and 8.7 percent from India. Applications from China (18.1 percent) and Hong Kong (5.5 percent) also made up a significant share of the overall total.
With the submission phase now complete, the competition moves into the judging stage, led by Chief Judge Professor Cui Yi, a globally renowned scientist and Professor of Materials Science and Engineering at Stanford University.
The expert panel will evaluate entries based on technological innovation, feasibility, scalability, and potential for global impact.
Winners will be announced in July.
