For the seventh time, the Schweighofer Prize, the Innovation Award for the European Forest-Based Sector, was awarded last month. Austrian forest-based industrial and initiator Gerald Schweighofer awarded the prizes in the presence of Austrian Federal Minister for Agriculture and Environment Andrä Rupprechter, Austrian Federal Minister for Labour and Social Affairs Rudolf Hundstorfer, as well as Vienna’s Mayor Michael Häupl.

This year for the first time, the Schweighofer Prize established a cooperation with one of the largest integrated forest products companies in the world; the North American company Canfor which produces timber, cellulose and paper. Canfor sponsored ten students from Canada and the USA to take part in an “Innovation Workshop” on the day before the Schweighofer Prize. According to the motto “From Knowledge to Innovation”, 27 young researchers from a total of 16 countries exchanged ideas under the leadership of Schweighofer Prize jury chairman Prof. Dr. Alfred Teischinger (University of Agricultural Science) in the domed hall of the TU Vienna. 

The main prize 2015 was awarded to Dr. Erich Wiesner from Altheim, Austria. He was honoured with €100,000. “Dr. Wiesner has developed his company into a leading timber Construction Company in Europe. The completed projects present impressive and technically demanding constructions. In addition to his successful entrepreneurial activities, Dr. Wiesner has acted for many years as a leading representative of woodworking industries both in Austria and on a European level”, said jury chairman Univ. Prof. Dr. Alfred Teischinger.

The innovation prize winners share equally the prize money of € 200,000:

• Block glueing production concept – an innovative manufacturing process for core layers, which results in a higher yield and significant savings. Georg Reis, Richard Rister and Erhard Jung (Weinig AG), Germany www.weinig.com
• p-System -  The universal tool concept with an extreme shear angle of 70 ° prolongs the tool life and also offers an outstanding cutting quality Martin Dressler (LEUCO AG), Germany.
• Lindura® by Wood Powder Technology – A durable, resilient, easy-care wooden floor, which results from the fusion of top layer veneer and Wood Powder.
• Darko Pervan and Niclas Håkansson (Välinge Innovation AB) Sweden, Johannes and Guido Schulte (MeisterWerke Schulte GmbH), Germany.
• X-RAD – The revolutionary connection technique for CLT-elements; assembly on the construction site will be faster and safer.
• Albino Angeli and Gianni Dal Ri (Rotho Blaas srl), Andrea Polastri (CNR-Ivalsa), Italy.
• ETH House of Natural Resources – The four-storey pilot house with innovative timber structures out of hardwood; the structures have been developed in cooperation with industrial partners. Andrea Frangi und Flavio Wanninger (ETH Zürich), Katrin Hauser (Climate-KIC), Jan Hamm (Häring & CO. AG), Switzerland. 

About the Schweighofer Prize

The Schweighofer Prize is donated by the Austrian Schweighofer family, which has been engaged in the European woodworking industry for generations. It rewards innovative ideas, technologies, products and services in order to strengthen the competitiveness of the European Forest Based Sector. Since 2003 the award is presented every second year, and is endowed with a total prize money of € 300,000. The Schweighofer Prize is divided into a main award and various innovation awards.