Swedish Steel Prize International Competition

Deadline: 17-Jan-2027

The Swedish Steel Prize is an international competition recognizing companies and institutions that develop innovative products or methods using the unique properties of steel. The competition aims to highlight significant innovations in steel applications and encourage creativity, technological progress, sustainability, performance, and competitiveness within the steel industry. Entries must be submitted as either a product or a method. For product entries, a prototype must already exist and the solution must be commercially viable from a business perspective, although full-scale production is not required. Products must fall within SSAB’s product range, but they do not have to use steel produced by SSAB. For method entries, the method must have been tested and documented for use in production. Entries are evaluated by a jury using four equally weighted criteria: innovation and creativity, sustainability, performance, and competitiveness. Finalists are expected to attend the Swedish Steel Prize event and present their entry. The winner receives a diploma, statuette, and significant media exposure. In connection with the event, SSAB also makes a donation to charity.

About the Swedish Steel Prize

The Swedish Steel Prize is an internationally recognized competition celebrating innovative applications of steel. The competition focuses on companies and institutions that demonstrate how steel can be used in new and creative ways to develop products or production methods. Rather than recognizing steel simply as a material, the prize highlights innovations that make effective use of the properties and potential of steel.

The competition aims to:

- Recognize significant innovations in steel applications. - Encourage creative approaches to product and method development. - Demonstrate the unique properties of steel. - Promote technological progress in the steel industry. - Encourage sustainable solutions. - Highlight high-performing and competitive steel applications. - Inspire further innovation across the global steel sector. What Can Be Entered? Entries must fall into one of two categories: - Products - Methods Applicants should ensure that their innovation clearly fits one of these two entry types. Product Entries A product entry must meet specific development requirements.

The product must have:

- An existing prototype. - A solution that is viable from a business perspective. - A clear innovative application of steel. The product does not need to be in full production at the time of entry. This allows innovations that have progressed beyond the concept stage but have not yet reached full-scale commercial manufacturing to be considered. SSAB Product Range Requirement Products entered into the competition must be within SSAB’s product range. However, the product does not necessarily have to use steel produced by SSAB. This distinction means that the relevant requirement concerns whether the product falls within SSAB’s product range rather than requiring the entrant to use SSAB-produced steel specifically. Method Entries Method-based entries have a different requirement from products.

A method must have been:

- Tested. - Documented. - Demonstrated for use in production. Applicants should therefore be able to provide evidence that the proposed method has moved beyond a theoretical concept and has been tested and documented in a production context. Innovation and Creativity Innovation and creativity are among the four equally weighted judging parameters. The jury considers how the entry demonstrates a meaningful and creative new use of steel.

Applicants should clearly communicate:

- What is innovative about the product or method. - What problem the innovation addresses. - How steel’s properties enable the solution. - What differentiates the innovation from existing approaches. - Why the approach represents a significant advancement. Sustainability Sustainability is another equally weighted evaluation criterion. Applicants should demonstrate the environmental or sustainability benefits associated with their innovation where relevant. The submission should make it clear how the use of steel and the proposed solution can contribute to more sustainable products or production methods. Performance The jury also evaluates performance. Entries should demonstrate that the innovation delivers meaningful functional or operational benefits. Applicants should explain the practical performance of the product or method and how it compares with existing solutions where appropriate. Competitiveness The fourth equally weighted criterion is competitiveness. For product entries in particular, the competition looks for solutions that are viable from a business perspective. Applicants should demonstrate the commercial or competitive potential of their innovation and explain why it can provide value in its intended application or market. How the Entries Are Judged The jury evaluates submissions using four criteria, with each parameter carrying equal weight: - Innovation and creativity - Sustainability - Performance - Competitiveness Because the criteria are equally weighted, applicants should avoid focusing exclusively on technical innovation. A strong entry should present a balanced case showing that the innovation is creative, sustainable, high-performing, and competitive. Presenting as a Finalist Finalists are expected to participate in the Swedish Steel Prize event. Finalists will have the opportunity to present their entry as part of the event. Applicants should therefore be prepared to communicate their innovation clearly to an international audience and explain the value of their steel-based solution. Winner Benefits The Swedish Steel Prize winner receives several forms of recognition.

The winner receives:

- A diploma. - A statuette. - Intense media exposure. The media exposure provides an opportunity to increase international visibility for the winning innovation, company, or institution.