Klever Birne

Sustainability award

Application phase for Klever Birne 2024 starts on May 01, 2024!

Behind the name 'Klever Birne' is an ideas competition launched by the city of Kleve together with Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences. The first edition in 2023 already generated a lot of creative ideas on the topic of sustainability. The jury received more than 20 applications and five ideas were awarded.

The next round

The next round of the ideas competition will start in May 2024. Anyone from Kleve and the surrounding area can take part: citizens, associations, companies, schools, students, etc. The only requirement is that the ideas must be based on one of the 17 sustainability goals of the United Nations. Already have a good idea in mind? Then let your mind wander and join in!

Application requirements

You can apply if your idea meets the following criteria:

It deals with at least one of the 17 sustainability goals
It can be implemented in Kleve
It is actively planned or has already been realized
It will be further developed with the prize money

Citizens, private groups, students, educational institutions, public institutions (schools, kindergartens, libraries, etc.), companies, associations, start-ups and institutions that see themselves as shaping the future in terms of sustainability can apply.

Former award winners are excluded from participation.

Application procedure

You take part in the competition by completing and sending the entry form. Please also read the conditions of participation.

Application phase for the Klever Birne 2024: May 01, 2024 to June 30, 2024.

Evaluation criteria

Impact: Your idea makes a contribution to sustainable (social, ecological, economic) development and serves as a role model for others; it should be of great practical benefit in the selected SDG target area.

Feasibility: Your idea can be realistically implemented in everyday life in the city of Kleve. Realistic means that the idea can be implemented from your own resources and/or with the prize money from the ideas competition and the coaching.

Degree of innovation: Your idea is innovative and has not yet been implemented in Kleve.

Prizes

1st prize: €2,000 + coaching + certificate

2nd prize : €1,500 + coaching + certificate

3rd prize : €1,000 + coaching + certificate

Student prize : €1,000 + coaching + certificate

Audience prize: Pear tree + coaching + certificate

Aim of the sustainability award

The project partners City of Kleve and Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences are committed to the topic of sustainability as a form of ecological, social and economic action and announced a sustainability award in Kleve for the first time in 2023.

The Klever Birne Sustainability Award is intended to raise awareness of sustainability goals at a global and local level. It is also intended to draw attention to the project "TransRegINT - Transformation of the Lower Rhine Region - Innovation, Sustainability, Participation" at Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences and the municipal sustainable measures of the city of Kleve.

The aim is to develop new ideas for sustainable measures together with the people of Kleve.

A look back: Klever Birne 2023

The Klever Birne took place for the first time in 2023. After receiving the applications and a workshop on pitch and poster preparation, the award ceremony was held on Make an Impact Day on September 14, 2023. Ten selected applicants were able to present their ideas at a small trade fair - and compete for the jury's favor. Four ideas received prize money: the mobile climate café, the sustainable market hall in the former Margarine Union, the community garden at SOS-Klapheckenhof and the "Sustainable education in the field" school project at the elementary school in Rindern. The audience award went to the Futurelab-Engineering U.G. biogas plant.

"For us, all of the projects are winners because they make the region and the city of Kleve a better place to live," said Prof. Dr. Peter Kisters, Vice President for Research, Innovation and Knowledge Transfer at Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences.

And now? The projects are now entering the next phase. To ensure that it doesn't just remain ideas and plans, the university is supporting the award-winning projects in their implementation.

First 1st place: Klapheckenhof - citizens' initiative of the city of Kleve