For the 7th time, the Schweighofer Prize, the Innovation Award for the European Forest Based Sector, was awarded in Vienna on the 16th of June.

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.  

Gerald Schweighofer about the idea behind the Schweighofer Prize: “When my family created the Schweighofer Prize 12 years ago to support wood research, we wanted on the one hand to give something back to wood. On the other hand, we thought it very important to bring together the top people from the industry as well as research sector and to promote an exchange of ideas. The record attendance of 700 participants from 41 countries proves us right, and it makes me personally happy that the Schweighofer Prize is now of such great importance in Europe and on an international level.”

Projects, products and technologies from Germany, Sweden, Italy and Switzerland received an award. Dr. Erich Wiesner, CEO of the Wiehag Group, received the main prize for his life’s work.   When awarding the prize, Gerald Schweighofer emphasized on the Europe‐wide pioneer performances, his national and international engagement for the timber industry as well as his many initiatives for research and development.

Press release

More information about the Schweighofer Prize