Schweighofer Prize: Eur 300 thousand for innovation in wood

Finding new, effective opportunities for wood. This is the goal that puts the “Schweighofer Prize“, a prestigious award wanted by the eponymous Austrian family, entrepreneurs in the wood industry for over 400 years and owners of some of the leading companies in Europe, to stimulate competitiveness and proactive approach of European wood industry and its applications.
An important award which, every two years, started in 2003, identifies and recognizes the best ideas, technologies, products and services that have given or may give a concrete contribution to the development and innovation in the wood sector and the sustainable management of forest resources in Europe. A concrete way to draw attention to a dynamic and proactive industry, to values ​​related to the raw material wood and the great opportunities that this offer means for the birth of new ideas, new products, new tools to improve the quality of life.
The award is addressed to persons, institutions, organizations, companies, associations or institutions. The winner of the “Main Prize” will get 100 thousand euro, recognition for those who have set up activities extraordinary importance for the timber industry as a whole.
The last edition, in 2015, was won by Erich Wiesner, an acknowledgment to the development of the family business company Wiehag in one of the leading companies in Europe in building with wood industry. His persuasive skills and determination, as well as its far-sighted visions they did it a pioneer in the field (Austria). The “Schweighofer Prize” also provides for the allocation of “Innovation Prizes” (from three to six, according to the choices of the jury, for the remaining 200 thousand euro), which were won, in the last edition, by Rotho Blaas srl (Italy), by Weinig AG (Germany), by Leuco AG (Germany), by Välinge Innovation (Sweden), by MeisterWerke (Germany) and by a group of researchers.
 It is possible to submit ideas and projects until 3 February next.
More information and the notice of the competition are at www.schweighofer-prize.org.