Neptun Water Prize 2027: How Austria’s Water Projects Are Changing

2 June 2026

Neptun Water Prize 2027: How Austria’s Water Projects Are Changing

Diver underwater surrounded by fish in the campaign image for the Neptun State Prize for Water 2027.

Quick Read

• Entries for the Neptun State Prize for Water 2027 are open from 1 June to 11 October 2026.
• The award has existed since 1999 and has been presented as a state prize since 2023. It is awarded every two years around World Water Day.
• Organised by Austria's water ministry and supported by public and private partners, including the City of Vienna, the prize supports projects with a strong Austrian connection.
• The 2025 winners ranged from wastewater technology to river restoration, environmental education and cultural projects.
• Looking back over the years reveals a clear trend: water management is increasingly based on cooperation with citizens, communities and local initiatives rather than top-down solutions alone.

The call for entries for the Neptun State Prize for Water 2027 is now open. Water-related projects can be submitted until 11 October 2026 through the official Neptun platform. The award is organised by the Austrian Ministry for Agriculture, Climate and Environment together with the Austrian Association for Gas and Water (ÖVGW) and the Austrian Water and Waste Management Association (ÖWAV).

Founded in 1999 as the Neptun Water Prize and elevated to a State Prize in 2023, the initiative has become one of Austria's most visible platforms for water-related innovation, education and public engagement. It is awarded every two years around World Water Day (22 March).

More than an environmental award

At first glance, the Neptun State Prize looks like a competition. In practice, it also offers a snapshot of how Austria manages one of its most valuable resources.

The award recognises projects in three main categories: WasserFORSCHT (research and innovation), WasserBILDUNG (education and awareness) and WasserKREATIV (arts and culture). Two regional categories complement them: WasserREGIONAL, which highlights local engagement in the federal states, and WasserWIEN, a public photo and video competition focused on water in Vienna.

The organisers describe the prize as a tool for awareness-building, innovation and networking. Over the years, it has brought together municipalities, companies, schools, researchers, artists and citizens.

What the 2025 winners reveal

The most recent edition, in 2025, showed how broad the field has become. The winner in WasserFORSCHT was DONAU PAC© AQUACLEAR by Donau Chemie AG, a technology designed to remove pharmaceutical residues, cosmetics and pesticides from wastewater.

In WasserBILDUNG, the project "Let's flow together!" from the Environmental Education Centre of Styria received the top award. The initiative brought together Austrian and Slovenian students along the Mur River and focused on climate adaptation and river ecosystems. The project also received the public award.

The WasserREGIONAL national winner was the market town of Waizenkirchen in Upper Austria for the restoration of the Aschach River. The project combined ecological improvements with benefits for local residents.

In WasserKREATIV, the wellenklaenge Festival in Lunz am See was recognised for artistic work exploring underwater soundscapes and the cultural dimensions of water.

Together, these projects illustrate how water policy increasingly intersects with technology, education, culture and community life.

A shift from control to participation

A review of award-winning projects since the mid-2010s suggests a broader development in Austrian water management.

Many earlier projects focused primarily on technical infrastructure, water protection and flood control. These themes remain important. However, recent winners increasingly combine ecological goals with public participation, education and local engagement.

The success of projects such as "Let's flow together!" reflects this change. Water management today is not presented solely as a task for authorities and engineers. Instead, schools, municipalities, local organisations and citizens are increasingly involved in shaping and understanding water-related decisions. This approach is explicitly reflected in the prize objectives, which highlight participation, communication and public interest in water issues.

The trend can also be seen in river restoration projects, educational initiatives and creative works that make water visible as a social and cultural issue rather than only an infrastructure challenge.

Regional projects and Vienna's water moments

The category WasserREGIONAL focuses on practical engagement at local level. Eligible projects range from climate adaptation and river restoration to drinking-water supply, wastewater management and public awareness initiatives. A winner is selected in each participating federal state, followed by a nationwide public vote.

Meanwhile, WasserWIEN opens participation to a broader audience. Individuals, organisations and companies based in Austria can submit photographs, images or videos connected to Vienna and its water environment. The 2027 theme is "My Vienna Water Moment." Public voting also plays a role in selecting the winners.

Both categories underline a distinctive feature of the Neptun State Prize: it is not reserved for experts. Alongside researchers and companies, citizens can contribute their own perspectives and experiences.

Detailed eligibility criteria and submission requirements are published on the official Neptun State Prize website.

Image: A diver wearing a mask interacts with fish underwater in the campaign image for the Neptun State Prize for Water 2027. The visual highlights the relationship between people and aquatic ecosystems. © Benedikt Reisner / Neptun Staatspreis für Wasser