Applications open for the Save the Baltic Sea 2026 Award (20, 000€)
The Save the Baltic Sea Award aims to draw attention to the state of the Baltic Sea and to reward a party that has carried out valuable work for the environment. Funded by the Finnish Fair Foundation, the award will be granted to an innovation, concept, or method that contributes to improving the ecological condition of seas and waterways. Nominations can be submitted until mid-January, and the award will be presented at the Vene 26 Båt Boat Show on Friday, 13 February 2026.
The €20,000 Save the Baltic Sea Award from the Finnish Fair Foundation may be granted to a person, group, community, or company that has developed an innovation, concept, or method that improves the ecological state of seas and waterways, enhances Finland’s positive image, and has the potential to become an internationally significant product or service.
The winner will be chosen by a jury consisting of representatives from organizations that themselves carry out significant work to save the Baltic Sea. The jury members are: CEO Annamari Arrakoski-Engardt from John Nurminen Foundation, Executive Director Katja Rytkönen from Keep the Archipelago Tidy Association, CEO Ville Wahlberg from Baltic Sea Action Group and Editor-in-Chief Mikko Virta from Tekniikka & Talous magazine.
Nominations can be submitted until 16 January 2026 via an online form >> link. Three to five companies will be selected as finalists to present their innovations at the Boat Show.
This is the seventh time the Save the Baltic Sea Award will be presented. Previous winners include:
2019: Solar Water Solutions
2020: Origin by Ocean
2021: Seaboost (founded by Christian Feodoroff) and Loviisa Boatbuilding Yard. Honorable mention: Senior Inspector Oskari Hanninen, Tukes.
2022: Weeefiner
2023: Watec Consulting
2024: Kiteen Mato ja Multa
2025: NPHarvest
The Finnish Fair Foundation is a non-profit foundation that supports Finnish expertise and business life. In 2025, it distributed approximately €600,000 in grants, scholarships, and recognition awards, and in 2026 the amount will be around €1 million. The foundation’s grants aim to address major contemporary challenges in the areas of environment, demographic change, technology and digitalization, economy, and urbanization.
The Helsinki International Boat Show Vene 26 Båt will be held 6–15 February 2026 at Messukeskus Helsinki. Organized by Messukeskus Helsinki on behalf of the Finnish Marine Industries Federation Finnboat, it is Northern Europe’s largest boating event.
More information:
Messukeskus Helsinki, Communications Specialist Teija Armanto, tel. +358 50 376 0809 www.venemessut.fi #venemessut #pelastaitämeri #messusäätiö
Photos from Vene 25 Båt: www.mediabank.messukeskus.com
