Borealis announces winners of 2026 Innovation Award

Vienna, Austria – Europe’s industrial future will depend on continued investment in research, innovation and technical education, according to a Borealis news release highlighting the winners of the 2026 Borealis Innovation Award.

The company said innovative ideas and sustainable projects are essential for maintaining Europe’s competitiveness and addressing global challenges. Through the Borealis Social Fund, the organization supports initiatives that help young people develop and implement new ideas.

This year’s top award went to students Denise Lehner and Nikola Jelinek for research identifying fungi capable of biodegrading plastics. Second place was awarded to Anna Decker and Lina-Marie Salzmann, whose work on plastic-drying processes demonstrated energy savings of more than 80% compared with standard methods. Third place went to Malik Grovogui and Dominik Henhapel for developing bio-based materials for reusable food packaging.

Markus Horcher, Borealis vice president of sustainability and public affairs, praised the students’ achievements, saying their projects demonstrate how young engineers are creating solutions that support a competitive and more sustainable future.

The release also noted ongoing shortages of technical professionals in Europe, citing a deficit of about 10,000 higher technical college graduates in Austria and 134,000 STEM workers in Germany. Borealis said strengthening technical education and supporting young talent will be critical to Europe’s long-term industrial growth.