The award is based on the goals of the 2030 Agenda and thus on the key transformation fields. The competitions focus on the fields in which there is particularly great pressure for action. They reflect the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the goals of the German government's sustainability strategy:

Climate, nature, resources, supply chain and society. The urgency of action in these fields is the leading narrative of the GSA. Interested parties can in principle participate in several of the following competitions, depending on their focus:

The Corporate GSA, GSA Architecture, GSA Sport, International GSA (for business cooperations), Next Economy Award (NEA).