Promotion: creative think-tank Be Open has launched an international competition inviting students and graduates to come up with innovative ways of advancing sustainable energy systems.

The Better Energy by Design competition is open to students, recent graduates and young professionals from across the globe who specialise in the fields of art, design, architecture and media.

In launching the competition, Be Open hopes to raise awareness of the UN's 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – namely the seventh goal (SDG7), which aims to ensure that everyone has access to affordable and clean energy.

Participants are tasked with devising new technologies and designs that will advance SDG7 by speeding up the move towards low-carbon energy infrastructures.

"It is agreed by the world's leaders that SDG7, calling for affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all by 2030, lies at the heart of all of the SDGs, and without progress on SDG7, it will be impossible to achieve the 2030 Agenda," said Be Open.

"We strongly believe that creativity is integral to the shift to a sustainable existence," the foundation continued. "To attain the UN's SDGs, we need to think outside of the box."

Submissions are free of charge, and must be based on one of three themes: Powered by Renewables, Save More Energy or Reducing the Energy Gap.

Entrants have the choice of entering individually or as part of a team. If entering as part of a team, each individual within the team may also submit their own project, in addition to the team project.

Those who wish to take part must submit their entry online via the competition website by 31 January 2023.

An international jury will make 50 honourable mentions out of all submissions before selecting first, second and third prize winners, who will be awarded €5,000, €3,000 and €2,000, respectively.

There will also be a Be Open's Choice prize worth €3,000 – the winner will be chosen by the foundation's community members out of 50 honourable mentions.

A further Public Vote prize worth €2,000 will be awarded, based on a majority vote from votes cast online.

Better Energy By Design is just one of a series of competitions that Be Open has run over the past four years, with each competition focusing on a specific SDG in a bid to further the UN goals.

To submit an entry, or to find out more about the competition, visit the Better Energy By Design website.

Partnership content

This article was written by Dezeen for Be Open as part of a partnership. Find out more about Dezeen partnership content here.