Three Australian designs shortlisted for the INDEX: Award

Three Australian design teams are in the running for the world’s largest sustainable design prize – the INDEX: Award worth €500,000.

Since its establishment in 2005, the Danish INDEX: Award continues to flourish. The Award’s contemporary interpretation of design –solutions that seek to solve real societal challenges will be celebrated on September 1 when the winners are revealed. This year there are 56 finalists in the running for the top five prizes, from a total of 1,401 nominees from 85 countries.

The three Australian designs in the running include a textile that can be cleaned with sunlight by RMIT University; a matchstick-sized implant, the Stentrode, to help paralysed people regain mobility by The University of Melbourne; and Sundrop Farms – a revolutionary sustainable farming system in Port Augusta, South Australia.

“Design is no longer just about aesthetics – it plays an essential role in solving the world’s greatest challenges. And I am proud to see that the world is slowly recognising this potential. This year’s finalists are already making a tremendous impact, and most of them will disrupt many industries and businesses we know today,” says Kigge Hvid, CEO of INDEX: Design to Improve Life® – the organisation behind INDEX: Award.

The organisation’s patron HRH The Crown Princess of Denmark will have an active role in the ceremony, which will take place at 19:00 CET in Helsingør, a city just north of Copenhagen. The evening will be hosted by renowned French-Austrian presenter Alice Tumler, who formerly hosted the Eurovision Song Contest.

For more information head to the website.