Entries open for 2025 ITA Awards

ITA opens 2025 tunnelling award entries

The International Tunnelling and Underground Space Association (ITA) has opened entries for its 2025 Tunnelling Awards, calling on professionals across the underground construction industry to submit outstanding projects, innovations and individual achievements for consideration.

Now in its tenth year, the annual awards recognise excellence across eight categories, from large-scale mega-projects to product and equipment innovation. Entries are open until 15 May 2025, and the winners will be announced at a gala dinner and symposium on 1 October 2025 in Belgrade, Serbia, during the Southeastern European Tunnelling Conference. The event is organised in collaboration with the Serbian Association for Tunnels and Underground Structures.

This year’s categories include:

• Major Project of the Year (over €500 million / approx. £430 million)
• Project of the Year (€50–€500 million / approx. £43–£430 million)
• Project of the Year (up to €50 million / approx. £43 million)
• Renovation Project of the Year
• Technical Innovation of the Year
• Product/Equipment Innovation of the Year
• Elevated Thinking Underground: Shaping the Future
• Young Tunneller of the Year (open to entrants born on or after 1 January 1990)

Entries for the project-based categories must relate to major civil engineering works completed between 1 March 2022 and 1 April 2025.

Highlighting the global scope of the awards, past winners include the Thames Tideway Tunnel in London for Major Project of the Year (2024), and the Mount Royal Rehabilitation in Montreal for small-scale infrastructure (2023). Other awards have recognised innovations such as a disc cutter wear sensor system (South Korea) and an ultra-small turning radius TBM (China).

“Recognition of achievement is an inspiration for all endeavour,” said the ITA, “and these awards showcase the global talent, ingenuity and technical progress that continue to shape the underground construction industry.”

The ITA is a global non-profit organisation headquartered in Switzerland, representing professionals and organisations involved in the planning, design, construction, maintenance and safety of tunnels and underground spaces. The association supports knowledge exchange and innovation across sectors such as transportation, water infrastructure, utilities, energy and urban development.

Full details on how to enter can be found on the ITA website.