As part of the Austrian State Prize for Timber Construction, the Innovation Award Wood 2026 is now open for submissions. The award is presented by the Bundesministerium für Land- und Forstwirtschaft, Klima- und Umweltschutz, Regionen und Wasserwirtschaft (BMLUK) in cooperation with proHolz Austria and supported by the Raiffeisen Nachhaltigkeits-Initiative. The award recognizes outstanding contributions that rethink and innovatively apply wood as a future-oriented, climate-friendly, and technically and aesthetically versatile material.
Submissions are invited for ideas and concepts related to the material and mechanical use of wood with strong potential for market implementation. The jury will assess the degree of innovation, sustainable and responsible material use in line with circular economy principles, scalability and industrial applicability, as well as the societal relevance of the project. The objective is to highlight solutions that contribute to CO₂ reduction, improve resource efficiency, and strengthen value creation within the forestry and wood sector.
Three main prizes will be awarded: EUR 5,000 for first place, EUR 3,000 for second place, and EUR 2,000 for third place. The winners will be announced during the official award ceremony of the Austrian State Prize for Timber Construction on 28 May 2026 in Vienna.
Eligible applicants are natural persons residing in Austria as well as individuals affiliated with institutions, research organizations, or universities based in Austria. International collaborations are permitted, provided that the project focus and the main institutional seat of the applicant are located in Austria. The submission deadline is 31 March 2026 at 16:00.
For Austria’s bioeconomy, innovative applications of wood play a key strategic role. As a renewable and regionally available resource, wood significantly contributes to decarbonization, the development of new business models, and the strengthening of regional innovation ecosystems. The Innovation Award Wood sends a strong signal for advancing bio-based value chains and accelerating the transition toward a circular and sustainable economy.