The ZAL Association, a Hamburg-based institute working to advance aviation technologies, is welcoming submissions for its ZAL.award. This awards scheme was launched last year, with the Hydrogen Aviation Lab taking the inaugural prize.
Now the 2025 applications window is open, which is an opportunity for innovative projects and research conducted in association with ZAL to be recognised. The ZAL.award is open to all tenants of the of the ZAL TechCenter, members of the ZAL Association, and members of the ZAL Ecosystem.
More than 20 member companies are part of ZAL, working together to develop and industrialise future aviation technologies. The ZAL Association brings together the interests of medium-sized and smaller companies within the shareholder structure of ZAL and offers them opportunities to influence decision-making processes on an equal footing with the major shareholders. ZAL members include Lufthansa Technik, Airbus Operations, Diehl Aviation, Aertec and Safran.
The ZAL.award recognises a wide range of innovations in aviation, from comprehensive redesigns of aircraft, to small improvements that can benefit passengers, crew, and aircraft developers. ZAL welcomes the submission of joint projects that are either still running or have been completed within the past two years.
Nominations will be assessed by the ZAL.award jury, a panel of experts drawn from the ZAL Association network, academia, media, and the aerospace supply chain. The 2025 jury will be announced soon.
The winner of the ZAL.award will receive the ZAL.award trophy, and also the title of ‘Winner ZAL.award’, which can be used in marketing and public relations. ZAL GmbH will also produce a professional video about the winning project and provide it free of charge for use in social media and events, in collaboration with the winner.
The winner will also be given the opportunity to present the concept on the main stage at ZAL Christmas Market in December 2025, where all of ZAL’s community and stakeholders will come together. The winning project will also be prominently featured on the monitors of the ZAL TechCenter and in ZAL’s in-house magazine.
Key deadlines for the 2025 ZAL.award:
- 17 October: Submission deadline
- October: Judging round
- 27 November: Announcement of shortlist
- 11 December: Public announcement of winners
Entries can be submitted via the ZAL website.
