Sustainability education as a key to the future – climate knowledge as a starting point.

Climate knowledge is the first step to action – and education is the key to a sustainable society. With the permanent exhibition "Climate. Knowledge. Action!", the TMW is setting new standards in communicating complex environmental and climate issues. Effectively addressing the climate crisis requires more than technical innovations: it requires knowledge, awareness, and the ability to take action. This is precisely where the Vienna Technical Museum comes in – and for this, it has been awarded the 2025 TRIGOS Special Prize.

With the TRIGOS 2025 Special Prize, the jury of TRIGOS – Austria’s most prestigious award for sustainable business – honors a project that goes far beyond traditional educational work.

"Sustainability education is the key to a sustainable society. It empowers people to understand complex relationships and assume responsibility. The Vienna Technical Museum impressively demonstrates how education can become a driver for change."

Gabriele Faber-Wiener, chairwoman of the TRIGOS 2025 jury

For over two decades, TRIGOS has honored companies that assume responsibility and contribute to sustainable development with innovative projects. With over 3,100 submissions and 318 award-winning showcase projects, TRIGOS is a platform for entrepreneurial role models that demonstrate how economic success and social responsibility go hand in hand. A total of 19 projects were nominated for TRIGOS 2025 from 155 submissions. TRIGOS primarily honors companies. However, the jury agreed that TMW's commitment to sustainability education deserves special recognition. For this reason, the TRIGOS Special Prize was established. The awards ceremony will take place on October 2, 2025, at the Markterei, 1090 Vienna. Tickets can be purchased here.

The more than 600 square meters of exhibition "Climate. Knowledge. Action!" inform about the causes and effects of the climate crisis, draw connections to biodiversity, resource scarcity, and social change, and present concrete options for action. Interactive stations and inspiring examples demonstrate how collective action can bring about change.

"The TMW makes science understandable, showing new paths and opportunities for action. We are delighted that the TRIGOS Special Prize encourages us in our work to not only practice sustainability but also to convey it. As a green museum, we want to not only fulfill our educational mission but also give young people a tool to look positively to the future and pursue innovative ideas."

Peter Aufreiter, General Director TMW

"The TRIGOS award is a special honor for us. It confirms our path to not only practicing sustainability internally, but also leveraging our impact on visitors to raise awareness of this important issue. This way, we can raise awareness among people of all ages about the challenges of the climate crisis and empower them to take action."

Karin Skarek, Chief Financial Officer TMW

With around half a million visitors annually – especially children and young people – the museum makes a significant contribution to raising awareness and promoting social transformation toward sustainability. The exhibition exemplifies experience-oriented education that combines knowledge with the ability to act. It thus serves as a powerful role model and lays an important foundation for sustainability education.

Further information on the projects nominated for the TRIGOS Award 2025, as well as the nominees' statements and images, can be found here: TRIGOS Austria 2025: Jury's Statements on the Nominees