From November 1, 2006 to January 31, 2007 persons with outstanding innovative ideas from all over Europe, without regard of age or educational background, are invited for submissions.
In June 2007 the Schweighofer Prize, the European Innovation Award for Forestry, Wood Technology and Wood Products will be presented for the third time. The remarkable total donation of the prize of €300.000 is divided into four different innovation prizes and one main prize. The innovation prizes should serve as an impetus for promising future projects. The main prize pays tribute to persons whose innovative achievements have set milestones for the European Forest Based Industry. They have to be nominated by any third party.
“Our aim is to encourage innovative people and institutions to contribute to the sustainable development and competitiveness of the European Forest Based Sector”, says the founder of the prize, the Austrian Schweighofer Family.
IN SEARCH FOR SUSTAINABLE INNOVATIONS
CALL PERIOD: From November 1, 2006 to January 31, 2007 innovative persons and institutions are invited for submitting proposals and nominations.
4 INNOVATION PRIZES: The innovation prizes at € 50.000.- each should serve as an impetus for promising future projects. Therefore the submitted works may still be in the stage of conception or implementation. They must at any rate show potential for European and/or industrial scale.
1 MAIN PRIZEe: The main prize at € 100.000.- pays tribute to persons or groups of persons whose innovative achievements have been implemented in the past. There must be clear evidence that the former innovation has set a milestone for the European Forest Based Industry.
NEW: Those people who made outstanding contributions to the European Forestry or Woodworking Industry are mostly very decent. They did not actively apply for a main prize in the past. From now on the possible candidates for a main prize have to be proposed by any third party (person, organisation).
4 TOPICS: The applications and nominations can be submitted in four different topics, which have been adjusted to the most actual challenges of the European Forest Based Sector.
The topics “Forestry”, “Wood Technology”, “Wood Products” and “Cooperation and Education” cover the whole forest wood chain, from customer oriented wood supply, and advanced manufacturing technologies, innovative wood products to trend setting co-operations and service facilities for wood and wood products.
Pulp and paper topics are not eligible for the Schweighofer Prize. This area is already covered by other prominent awards.
CANDIDATES: On principle all natural persons or groups of persons from Europe without regard to their level of training, their employment status or their age are invited to submit an application.
The topic “Cooperation and Education” is also open for submissions from institutions or organisations.
Nominations for the main prize can be submitted by any third party, both single persons, groups of persons and organisations.
JURY: The applications and nominations will be assessed by an experienced and international jury, representing industry as well as research and education.
Alfred Teischinger (chairman): Head of the Institute of Wood Science and Technology, BOKU, Vienna
Manfred Brandstätter: Managing director Holzforschung Austria
Bo Borgström: Former CEO Moelven/Finnforest, Honorary President CEI-Bois
Georg Erlacher: CEO Österreichische Bundesforste AG
Josef Rettenmeier: CEO Rettenmeier Holding AG
Tero Paajanen: Former Head of the Institute of Wood of Technology, HUT, Helsinki
IMPORTANT DATES: Deadline for submission/nomination: 31/01/2007
The award ceremony takes place in the Vienna Town Hall in June 18, 2007. On this day, the representatives of the whole European Forest Based sector from industry, research and development as well as interest groups will meet in Vienna.
“The presentation of the Schweighofer Prize 2007 will be a fantastic opportunity for the prize winners and the invited guests for networking on a European scale”, promises the host, Gerald Schweighofer.
You find further information at: www.schweighofer-prize.org