Silver for the Thorium Pioneer: Emerald Horizon Takes Second Place at “Innovator of the Year” 2026

EQS-Media / 06.11.2026 / 09:42 CET/CEST

Press Release
November 6, 2026

 

Silver for the Thorium Pioneer: Emerald Horizon Takes Second Place at “Innovator of the Year” 2026

brutkasten honours the Graz-based company in the Scaleups category

 

Graz, 6 November 2026 – Major recognition for Emerald Horizon AG: at the 2026 “Innovator of the
Year” Award presented by brutkasten, the Austrian thorium pioneer took second place in the
Scaleups category. The award was presented last night at Momentum, brutkasten’s annual flagship
event, at Palais Berg in Vienna. The Graz-based company is developing an accelerator-driven
thorium reactor as well as hybrid energy storage systems and sees itself as a fusion of storage
technology and next-generation nuclear technology. The company’s shares have been listed on the
Vienna Stock Exchange since 26 June 2026 (ticker symbol SMRX, ISIN AT0000A3UZE1).

Recognising execution and vision

For the sixth time, the business and online magazine brutkasten is using its “Innovator of the
Year” Award to put the spotlight on people and companies that achieve great things through a
strong drive to deliver and groundbreaking innovation.

The second-place finish comes at a time when Europe is laying the groundwork for a new generation
of nuclear energy: the European Commission wants the first small modular reactors to go into
operation in the early 2030s. Emerald Horizon is the only listed company in Europe developing its
own accelerator-driven thorium reactor.

Reactions to the award

“This second place holds a very special significance for us,” says MMag. Philipp Pölzl, Vice
President Operations of Emerald Horizon AG, who co-founded the company together with CEO and
majority shareholder Florian Wagner. “Together, we have brought Emerald Horizon to where it stands
today. We would like to thank our dedicated employees. Together with the entire team, we are
moving Emerald Horizon forward. We are driven by one clear goal: to revolutionise energy
generation – for a future with clean, safe energy for all.”

“Second place among the best scaleups is a great success for our team,” adds Ing. Norbert Hofer,
MBA, Vice President Strategic Communications of Emerald Horizon AG. “Heat, drought and large-scale
power outages have recently shown how vulnerable our energy supply is. Our reactor needs no
cooling water and can therefore run at full output even in heat and drought. Combined with our
storage systems, we are contributing to Europe’s security of supply. My thanks go to everyone who
voted for us.”

About Emerald Horizon AG

Emerald Horizon AG, headquartered in Graz, was founded in 2019 and develops safe, scalable energy
technology to decarbonise industry and energy supply. Its core products are DUALstorePLUS, a
hybrid energy storage system combining batteries, molten-salt thermal storage and AI control, and
SMRX, a thorium-based, accelerator-driven and subcritical energy system. The shares have been
listed on the Vienna Stock Exchange (Standard Market) since 26 June 2026, ticker SMRX, ISIN
AT0000A3UZE1.

Headquarters:
Liebenauer Tangente 6, 8041 Graz

Research and Development:
Emerald LaboraTHorium, Karl-Huber-Gasse 15, 8041 Graz

[1]www.emerald-horizon.com

Disclaimer:
“The information contained in this announcement constitutes neither an offer to sell nor a
solicitation of an offer to purchase or subscribe for securities, nor is it a recommendation to
buy or sell securities of the Company. This announcement and the information contained herein are
under no circumstances intended for publication, distribution or transmission, directly or
indirectly, in whole or in part, in or into the United States of America (USA), Australia, Canada,
Japan or South Africa, or any other jurisdiction in which such publication or distribution would
be unlawful. Accordingly, the information is in particular not directed at ‘U.S. Persons’ (as
defined in Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933) or at persons resident or located
in the aforementioned jurisdictions.

Press photo

https://nwr.eqs-cockpit.com/fncls2.ssx?fn=download2_file&code_str=931f97979fa2d06c47c4e51f8e2fdf25
Photo: Emerald Horizon VP MMag. Philipp Pölzl and VP Ing. Norbert Hofer, MBA © Emerald Horizon |
All rights reserved.

 

Media Contact

Ing. Norbert G. Hofer, MBA
Vice President Strategic Communications,
Emerald Horizon AG
Email: [2][email protected]

 

Mag. Melanie Koch, MA
Media Relations,
Emerald Horizon AG
Mobile: +43 664 54 55 324
Email: [3][email protected]

 

           

 

End of Media Release

══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════

Issuer: Emerald Horizon AG
Key word(s): Research/Technology

06.11.2026 CET/CEST This Press Release was distributed by [4]EQS Group

View original content: [5]EQS News

══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════

   Language:    English
   Company:     Emerald Horizon AG
                Karl-Huber-Gasse 15
                8041 Graz
                Austria
   E-mail:      [email protected]
   ISIN:        AT0000A3UZE1
   WKN:         A42CXA
   Listed:      Vienna Stock Exchange (Official Market)
   LEI Code:    8945008L6AXTVW4PDF22
   EQS News ID: 2429934


    
   End of News EQS Media


   2429934  06.11.2026 CET/CEST

   https://nwr.eqs-cockpit.com/fncls2.ssx?application_id=2429934&application_name=news&site_id=apa_ots_austria~~~18b544d0-9c71-4160-bd95-cc8b9aff9fbf

References

   Visible links
   1. https://nwr.eqs-cockpit.com/fncls2.ssx?fn=redirect&url=e86a7b17c23cd447517dbdb31975ec91&application_id=2429934&site_id=apa_ots_austria~~~18b544d0-9c71-4160-bd95-cc8b9aff9fbf&application_name=news
   2. mailto:[email protected]
   3. mailto:[email protected]
   4. https://nwr.eqs-cockpit.com/fncls2.ssx?fn=redirect&url=f5d50dc7e8798b6eb177f7955e598e60&application_id=2429934&site_id=apa_ots_austria~~~18b544d0-9c71-4160-bd95-cc8b9aff9fbf&application_name=news
   5. https://nwr.eqs-cockpit.com/fncls2.ssx?fn=redirect&url=8332f5601769789c78e204af6899fc07&application_id=2429934&site_id=apa_ots_austria~~~18b544d0-9c71-4160-bd95-cc8b9aff9fbf&application_name=news

OTS-ORIGINALTEXT PRESSEAUSSENDUNG UNTER AUSSCHLIESSLICHER INHALTLICHER VERANTWORTUNG DES AUSSENDERS - WWW.OTS.AT |

print