Siemens Energy and SDSN Advance to Next Phase of the “Universities for Goal 13” Competition

Siemens Energy and the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) closed the first phase of the fourth edition of the Universities for Goal 13 competition, with participating projects from eight universities.

After kicking off the fourth edition of the Universities for Goal 13 Competition and Award in October 2024, Siemens Energy and the SDSN have received participating projects from eight universities, marking the completion of the competition’s first phase. The initiative, which aims to foster practical, innovative solutions for achieving Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 13 on Climate Action, is designed to empower university students to drive innovation and address critical issues of the energy transition.

This year, students from various SDSN member institutions will present their projects, including students from Tsinghua University in China and universities affiliated with the SDSN’s SDG China Hub; Case Western Reserve University in the U.S.A., Monash University in Australia; the Bucharest University of Economic Studies in Romania; Deusto University in Spain; University of Hamburg in Germany; the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro (PUC-Rio) in Brazil; and the University of College London in the United Kingdom.

“Participating in this initiative has enhanced our university's visibility and provided valuable, engaging activities for our students, offering insights into climate change and collaboration opportunities with SDSN and Siemens Energy” explained one of the university focal points. Students are also provided the opportunity to engage with international stakeholders, further their development, and showcase their solutions at international high-level events, such as the Vatican Youth Symposium 2025, where a representative of the 2024 winning team will be presenting.

By utilizing multi-disciplinary perspectives and collaboration, the participating projects focus on a wide range of topics and propose diverse solutions and innovative approaches to sustainability, emphasizing the principles of the circular economy. They also leverage digital innovation and clean energy to address environmental challenges and the necessary transition towards decarbonization. Collectively, these efforts aim to foster a more sustainable future through collaborative and forward-thinking strategies.

In the second phase of the competition, the students will continue collaborating with their university’s faculty for the next several months. They will also receive mentorship from top professionals at Siemens Energy, who will help them refine their proposals and prepare them for the next phase of the competition: the Pitches with the international jury.

Learn more about the Universities for Goal 13 initiative here.