How to Prepare Your Submission for the Gasperini Awards 2026
A practical step-by-step guide for practitioners.
11 March 2026 | Frankfurt am Main
The Gasperini Awards recognise outstanding papers and articles on ESG topics in investment and finance, encouraging professionals to contribute ideas that advance sustainable finance.
Submissions are open until 4 May 2026, and the awards include a €7,500 first prize and a €2,500 second prize, with the winners announced at the ceremony in Lisbon on 7 October 2026.
For many practitioners, the biggest challenge is simply getting started. The good news: a clear and structured approach makes the process much easier.
Below is a simple five-step roadmap to help you move from idea to submission.
Step 1: Identify a Practical ESG Question
The Gasperini Awards are designed for professionals working with real data and real market challenges.
Start by thinking about the questions you encounter in your daily work:
- Have you identified a pattern in ESG data that others may have overlooked?
- Have you developed a new way to assess climate risk, sustainability metrics, due diligence, or governance practices?
- Have you analysed how ESG factors affect valuation, portfolio construction, or risk management?
Submissions should address ESG topics in finance, such as sustainable development, climate change, corporate social responsibility, or ethical investment.
The most compelling papers often begin with a clear question rooted in practice.
Step 2: Draft Your Core Idea
Before worrying about formatting or detailed criteria, focus on your first draft.
Your submission should:
- Be original and unpublished
- Be written specifically for the Gasperini Awards
- Be written in English
A practical internal deadline, like early April, gives you time to refine the work later. At this stage, concentrate on:
- The problem you are analysing
- The data or methodology you use
- The key insight or conclusion
Think of the first draft as the foundation of your argument. Stay tuned for the exact criteria by the pre-selection jury, which will be published on the 6th of April.
Step 3: Structure the Paper Clearly
The Gasperini Awards have clear formatting requirements that help ensure submissions are comparable. Your paper should include:
- Title
- One-page abstract summarising objectives and conclusions
- Main analysis and findings
- Supporting tables, appendices, or references (optional)
Submissions must be 10–20 pages or up to 10,000 words, excluding annexes and bibliography.
A well-structured paper helps the jury focus on what matters most: your insight and its relevance to financial markets.
Step 4: Align Your Work with the Evaluation Criteria
The jury will assess submissions based on:
- Quality of the research
- Originality of the idea
- Practical relevance and application
- Contribution to advancing ESG knowledge
When revising your draft, ask yourself:
- Does the paper clearly explain why the topic matters?
- Are the conclusions supported by evidence or analysis?
- Does the work offer new insights or solutions for the field?
Strong submissions combine academic rigour with practical relevance.
Step 5: Finalise and Submit Your Entry
Before submitting, prepare the required materials:
- The paper (Word document, DIN A4 format)
- A one-page abstract
- A cover letter including:
- author alias
- contact details
- short CV and motivation for submitting the work
Submissions must be completed through the EFFAS registration form before 4 May 2026.
About EFFAS
EFFAS is a not-for-profit organisation set up in 1962 with 15 national member associations in Europe, representing more than 18,000 financial analysts, asset managers, pension fund managers, corporate finance specialists, risk managers, treasurers among many other professional profiles from the investment profession. EFFAS is a leading certification body with over 27,000 certificate holders worldwide, offering prestigious designations such as the Certified European Financial Analyst by EFFAS, the EFFAS Certified ESG Analyst® (CESGA), and the EFFAS Climate Risk Analyst (ECRA).
For any further information, please contact:
Álvaro Wagener Díez | Marketing & Communications Manager
E-mail: a.wagener@effas.com | Phone Number: +49 69 98959519
