Thanks To Our Faithful Partners !
Thanks To Our Faithful Partners !
Accelerating Storage Convergence for Intelligent Energy Systems #TogetherWeAreStronger
The 1st Global StorageVersity & AI Innovation Challenge
AI • Multi-Storage • Intelligent Infrastructure • System Integration
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Why the 1st Global StorageVersity & AI Innovation Challenge?
The global energy transformation is entering a new phase.
The challenge is no longer only deploying renewable energy and isolated storage technologies. The next transformation requires intelligent energy systems integrating multiple storage technologies, artificial intelligence, infrastructure, and real demand.
Today, storage ecosystems remain fragmented. Battery, hydrogen, thermal, mechanical, and pumped hydro storage technologies often evolve independently. AI remains underutilised at the system orchestration level, while technology providers, infrastructure players, investors, and end-users frequently operate separately. Few global initiatives focus on storage convergence, intelligent systems, and real deployment pathways.
The Global StorageVersity & AI Innovation Challenge has been created to bridge these gaps.
Organised by the CBC StorageVersity & AI Hub, powered by ACWA, and developed in strategic partnership with SNEC, NEIAAP, APVIA, GNEEC and GCMEN, the program aims to identify, showcase, and accelerate breakthrough innovations shaping the future of intelligent energy infrastructure.
The innovation challenge brings together:
Storage + AI + Infrastructure + Ecosystem Collaboration + Scale-Up
From:
Technologies → Systems → Pilots → Industrial Deployment → Global Scaling
Strategical Partners
Who Can Apply?
The innovation program welcomes applications from:
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Technology providers
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Storage manufacturers
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Startups and scale-ups
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Utilities and infrastructure companies
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Project developers and EPCs
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Universities and research institutes
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Strategic industry partners
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Investors and innovation ecosystems
Why Participate?
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Global visibility
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Access to ACWA innovation ecosystem
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Strategic industry connections
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Investor engagement
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International deployment pathways
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CBC global ecosystem
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Potential pilot and demonstration opportunities
Global Award Categories
Category A – Technology & Innovation Track
🏆 Storage & AI Innovation Award
🏆 Breakthrough Startup Award
Category B – Systems & Infrastructure Track
🏆 Integrated Energy Systems Award
🏆 Commercial & Distributed Storage Award
🥇 Global StorageVersity & AI Grand Prix
Awarded to the most outstanding submission across all category winners.
Beyond Recognition
Unlike traditional awards focused primarily on recognition, the Global StorageVersity & AI Innovation Challenge is designed as an innovation sourcing, ecosystem development, and scale-up platform.
The challenge is directly connected to ACWA’s innovation ecosystem and the CBC StorageVersity & AI Hub execution platform, creating potential pathways from innovation to real-world deployment.
• Pilot and demonstration projects
• Commercial & Industrial projects, including PPA-based models
• Investor engagement and project structuring
• Strategic partnerships and co-development opportunities
• International deployment pathways through the CBC ecosystem
• Global visibility and market access through CBC’s strategic platforms and partners, including SNEC, APVIA, NEIAAP, GCMEN and Cleanvestree
Submission & Key Dates
Program Framework & Guidelines: download here
Learn more about the program structure, selection criteria, evaluation process and participation guidelines.
Online submissions: from 16 June to 15 August 2026: Click here to submit your application.
Jury Board Evaluation: from 17 August to 15 September
Global Awards Ceremony: October 2026 at ACWA Innovation Days China 2026
We look forward to receiving your submissions and joining forces to accelerate intelligent energy systems worldwide.
#TogetherWeAreStronger
The Organising Committee & The Jury Board Members
CBC-ACWA-SNEC #TogetherWeAreStronger
The Jury Leadership
The Chair
CBC Chair of Clean Water Hub; Co-Chair of the World CleanTech StartUPs Awards
Thomas Altmann
Executive Vice President - Innovation & New Technology
ACWA
Jury Secretariat
Founder & Vision Streamliner at the CleanTech Business Club
Tomasz Slusarz
Founder
Cleanvestree
CSO at GFHA (Go For Hydrogen Africa)
Co-Chair (Strategic Partner)
CBC Co-Chair for Asia
Mi Yue
Founder
SNEC
Director at NEIAPP (New Energy Industry Association for Asia and the Pacific), Board Member at the Global Solar Council
Jury Secretariat
CBC Global Ecosystem Partnerships Advisor
Jenny Tong
Head of Global Affairs & Marketing
SNEC
Impact Investor and Entrepreneur; Investment Analyst at Shanghai Technology Exchange
Honorary Chair (CleanTech Ecosystem)
Honorary Chair of World CleanTech StartUPs Awards; Chair of the World CleanTech Awards
Prof. Eicke R. Weber
Vice-Chairman
European Solar Manufacturing Council
Former Director, Fraunhofer ISE, Freiburg; Professor Emeritus, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, UC Berkeley
Co-Chair (Manufacturing Ecosystem)
CBC Chair of StorageVersity Hub & Chair of Empowering Women Hub
Dr. Rashi Gupta "Batterywali"
Managing Director
Vision Mechatronics
Jury Secretariat
CBC Innovation Initiatives Global Advisor
Sharzi Mukhri
Innovation Initiatives Lead
ACWA
Honorary Chair (AI Ecosystem)
CBC Honorary Chair for Morocco
Dr. Jose Miguel Zaldo
President and Founder
Unal 3000 Asociados
Honorary Consul of Morocco in the Basque Country, Spain
Co-Chair (Downstream Ecosystem)
CBC Chair for Australia & Oceania
Rami Fedda
Co-Founder & Supply Director
Solar Juice Pty
