A wonderful recognition of entrepreneurship in the Groningen ecosystem.
What an exciting final with three strong candidates: PolyVation (Campus resident at the Zernike Campus), NVO Transport and Zwartwoud. In the end, Zwartwoud took home the prize!
Zwartwoud – circular interior designers and furniture makers – excels in the smart reuse of valuable materials. The jury praised them as ‘a leader and standard-bearer in transition, with an impact on sustainability, business operations, local networks, corporate social responsibility and innovation.’
Each of the finalists interpreted this year's theme, craftsmanship, in their own unique way:
- NVO Transport, which has a unique form of cooperation between truck drivers: a cooperative owned by its members.
- PolyVation, which develops innovative materials that enable innovative medicine at the cellular level.
- Zwartwoud, which cleverly reuses valuable materials and elevates circular craftsmanship to interior art.
The award was presented by deputy and jury chairman Erik Jan Bennema to director Karst Wouda. A festive evening that once again demonstrates how versatile and powerful Groningen's business community is!
Iris Sommer will receive the 2026 NWO Stevin Prize, the highest honour for researchers in the Netherlands who have achieved exceptional results in translating knowledge into societal impact. Sommer will receive €1.5 million, to be spent on scientific research and initiatives relating to knowledge utilization. Sommer is a professor of Psychiatry at the UMCG and the UG.
Mooi nieuws: 10x10x10 is genomineerd voor de Duurzame Dertig 2026, een initiatief van Dagblad van het Noorden, Leeuwarder Courant en Friesch Dagblad. Het project is geselecteerd in de categorie Duurzame samenwerking.
Engineero vestigt zich op Campus Groningen.
