Sir Richard Branson, founder of the Virgin Group, and Ratan N Tata, chairman emeritus, Tata Sons, have joined the jury of the Zayed Future Energy Prize, a global award for innovation in renewable energy and sustainability.

Sir Richard Branson was invited to the jury for his commitment to identifying entrepreneurial solutions for provoking positive change in the world. Virgin Unite, the non-profit foundation of the Virgin Group established in 2004, tackles tough social and environmental problems and strives to make business a force for good.

Ratan N Tata was the chairman of Tata Sons, the holding company of the Tata Group, for 21 years until his retirement in 2012. An avid environmentalist and philanthropist, Tata is the chairman of two of the largest private-sector-backed humanitarian trusts in India and a member of the Indian Prime Minister’s Council on Trade and Industry.

The Zayed Future Energy Prize Jury meeting is the culmination of a four tier process following the close of submissions.

This includes the due diligence conducted by the Prize research and analysis partners, the meeting of the Review Committee for the first shortlist, the meeting of the Selection Committee for the second and final shortlist and finally the Jury deliberations where winners of the Prize are chosen.

“We are honoured to welcome two renowned stalwarts of sustainability to the Zayed Future Energy Prize jury, and value the depth of experience and the perspective they will bring to the judging process,” said Dr Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, director general of the Zayed Future Energy Prize.

“Through their bold initiatives and innovative thinking, Sir Richard and Tata have already created a legacy that will serve to enhance the world we live in; this is what lies at the heart of the legacy left to us by the Prize’s namesake and founding father of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan,” he added.

The $4 million Zayed Future Energy Prize is awarded annually in five categories – large corporation, small and medium enterprise, non-governmental organization, lifetime achievement and high schools - to companies, schools and individuals that have made significant contributions to the future of energy, sustainability and climate change. In five years, the Prize has recognized 21 innovators and impacted communities worldwide.

Submissions for the sixth edition of the Prize will close on August 5. Winners will be announced at the Zayed Future Energy Prize awards ceremony scheduled to be held on January 20, 2014, as part of the annual Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week. – TradeArabia News Service