According to this account:
The Schweighofer Prize has been established in 2003 by an Austrian sawmilling family wishing to foster innovation and transfer of novel technologies in the wood industry. Every two years 300 thousand euros are awarded, divided between a main prize for work already extensively commercialized, and 4 prizes on innovation of 50 000 euros each, one of which, the one won by the mechanical wood welding process in concerned with innovation in wood science, for work still at the stage of development or of initial technology transfer.
According to the family that established the prize:
“Our aim is to encourage innovative people and institutions to contribute to the sustainable development and competitiveness of the European Forest Based Sector”
These are the categories:
1. FORESTRY
• Innovative processes and techniques in order to enhance availability and use of forest biomass for products and energy under sustainable conditions
• Improved methods and databases for distinctive planning instruments in order to guarantee a consumer oriented and tailor-made wood supply2. WOOD TECHNOLOGY
• Advanced technologies for primary wood processing
• Innovative manufacturing technologies for wood products3. WOOD PRODUCTS
• Innovative products regarding the whole range of living and building with wood
• New solutions for packaging with wood
• Innovative wood composites
• Advanced recycled wood products4. CO-OPERATION AND EDUCATION
• Innovative multinational co-operation initiatives enhancing communication and R&D within the whole value chain of wood
• Trend-setting education and training measures in order to strengthen the European competence in wood and wood products
• Novel innovation systems and service facilities as well as networks for wood and wood products on a European levelThe following categories are not eligible for the Schweighofer Prize: Pulp and paper, cardboard, traditional timber products with a wood proportion of less than 50%, wood appraisal, forest functions outside of production as well as auxiliary materials of the wood industry, e.g. glues etc.
The award goes to persons or groups whose innovative achievements are verifiable as a milestone for the European Forest-Based Sector, and have an impact on the European industry.