University of Stavanger receives $1 million Human Energy Award for innovative employee wellbeing solutions in global energy sector.
ABU DHABI: Norway’s University of Stavanger has secured the prestigious $1 million Human Energy Health and Wellbeing Award at ADIPEC 2025, marking a milestone in global recognition for workforce health innovation within the Energy sector. The initiative, developed in collaboration with Equinor, enables medics in isolated offshore sites to conduct real-time diagnostics with remote expert guidance.
The award was presented by His Excellency Dr Sultan Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, in the presence of Burjeel Holdings’ Dr Shamsheer Vayalil and RPM Chairman Omran Al Khoori. The winning project was selected by an international jury and reflects the UAE’s growing commitment to employee wellbeing and sustainability.
Two other organisations, Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) from India and UAE-based NMDC Group, were highly commended. HPCL was recognised for introducing India’s first energy-sector-wide mental health programme, while NMDC Group was lauded for its robust, year-round employee wellness framework covering 10,000 staff.
The Human Energy Award, powered by Response Plus Holding PJSC, Burjeel Holdings, and Prometheus Medical International, attracted over 100 global entries. The evaluation considered innovation, employee engagement, sustainability, and overall impact on employee health.
Globally, mental health concerns in the Energy sector are pressing. Studies show nearly 40% of rotational energy workers suffer from suicidal thoughts — significantly higher than the global average. The award aims to counter such alarming statistics by celebrating scalable, impactful strategies.
Dr Shamsheer Vayalil remarked that the award illustrates how prioritising employee wellbeing boosts productivity and sustainability. Omran Al Khoori added that the diversity and scale of the awarded initiatives underline how human health is integral to business excellence.
The award complements the UAE’s National Strategy for Wellbeing 2031 and We The UAE 2031 Vision, solidifying the nation’s role as a leader in sustainable, human-centric innovation.
