Volterra is proud to announce that it has been awarded First Prize (Overall Regional Winner – Asia-Pacific) at the Global Sustainability Challenge 2025-2026, marking a significant milestone in the company’s journey onto the global sustainability and innovation stage.
This recognition places Volterra among the leading sustainability-driven technology ventures emerging from the Asia-Pacific region, following a highly competitive international evaluation process. Winning First Prize at a prestigious, research-backed global competition underscores Volterra’s ability to translate advanced sustainability research into practical, scalable solutions for real-world energy and infrastructure challenges.
The award represents Volterra’s first major international validation and signals the company’s growing role within the global ecosystem of climate innovation, deep-tech entrepreneurship, and research-to-market commercialization.
About the Global Sustainability Challenge 2025-2026
The Global Sustainability Challenge is an annual international competition that brings together scientific research, applied technology, and innovation to address pressing sustainability challenges worldwide. The program is organized by The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology in collaboration with Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability and global academic partners, under the guiding spirit of “Innovate for a Greener Future.”
The challenge attracts teams from universities, research centers, and innovation hubs across the world, with solutions spanning energy, environment, climate, and sustainable development. Projects are assessed on their scientific foundation, innovation potential, and real-world applicability by professors and expert judging panels.
In the 2025-2026 edition, Volterra competed in the Asia-Pacific regional finals, which took place over two days from January 17-18, 2026, at Zhejiang University in Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China. With a history spanning more than 130 years, Zhejiang University is widely recognized as one of the world’s leading research institutions.
The Asia-Pacific regional finals brought together more than 60 high-caliber finalist teams from China, Hong Kong, Singapore, India, and other major regional innovation centers. After a rigorous evaluation process, Volterra was awarded First Prize as the overall regional winner, standing out for both the depth of its research foundation and the practicality of its solution.
Volterra’s Sustainability-Driven Solution
Volterra develops software solutions that optimize energy usage and electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure, addressing one of the most pressing challenges in the energy transition: scaling charging networks efficiently while managing cost, grid constraints, and environmental impact.
The platform is designed to support charging infrastructure operators and energy stakeholders in planning, operating, and optimizing EV charging systems under real-world conditions. By improving how energy demand is forecasted, distributed, and managed across charging assets, Volterra enables more efficient infrastructure utilization and supports the integration of renewable energy sources.
With a strong emphasis on practical deployment, Volterra’s solution focuses on delivering measurable operational and sustainability outcomes—helping build EV charging infrastructure that is not only scalable, but also economically viable and aligned with long-term decarbonization goals.
Measurable Impact & Value Proposition
Through pilots and simulation-based deployments, Volterra’s solution has demonstrated strong potential business and sustainability outcomes:
- Up to 40% reduction in operating costs for charging infrastructure operators
- Up to 3x improvement in investment efficiency, based on simulation results in Vietnam
- Meaningful reduction in greenhouse gas emissions when integrated with renewable energy sources
- A robust foundation for scalable, smart, and sustainable EV charging infrastructure
Rather than focusing on complex technical details, Volterra’s value proposition centers on enabling infrastructure stakeholders to make better decisions—balancing cost efficiency, system reliability, and sustainability objectives in a rapidly evolving energy landscape.
International Validation and Market Relevance
Winning First Prize at the Global Sustainability Challenge represents Volterra’s first major international validation of its research-driven approach. It demonstrates the company’s ability to bridge academic research and market-ready solutions, a critical capability for scaling sustainability innovation globally.
The recognition also signals Volterra’s readiness to engage with international partners, investors, and institutions, and to participate in cross-border collaborations that accelerate sustainable infrastructure deployment. Building on prior regional and national achievements, this milestone reinforces Volterra’s long-term vision: developing globally relevant solutions rooted in strong scientific and economic foundations.
Appreciation & Ecosystem Support
Volterra extends its sincere appreciation to the organizers of the Global Sustainability Challenge and the academic institutions that support this global platform for innovation. In particular, the company would like to thank The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability, and Zhejiang University for fostering an environment where research-based solutions can be evaluated on a global stage.
Volterra is also deeply grateful to VinUniversity, as well as the Entrepreneurship Lab (ELAB), for their continued support in incubation, mentorship, and long-term development. Special thanks are extended to the mentors, professors, research collaborators, and the Volterra team, whose dedication and expertise made this achievement possible.
Looking Ahead
This recognition marks an important milestone for Volterra, while the company’s near-term focus remains on deploying and scaling its solution within Vietnam. By working closely with local charging infrastructure operators, enterprises, and energy stakeholders, Volterra aims to translate research-driven innovation into tangible operational impact on the ground. At the same time, being recognized at a global sustainability challenge evaluated by leading professors and international experts provides a strong foundation for future academic and technological collaboration beyond Vietnam, strengthening Volterra’s credibility and long-term development pathway. Volterra remains open to partnerships with enterprises, investors, and research institutions committed to advancing efficient, low-carbon energy infrastructure.
