Werner & Mertz supports the Next Generation Award in Salzburger Land

Werner & Mertz Hallein is a sponsor of the Next Generation Award in Salzburg. The competition supports pupils and future entrepreneurs and gives awards for innovative business ideas, particularly in the new sustainability category “We Grow Together”.

The Salzburg final of the renowned business plan competition Next Generation Award was held at the  Fachhochschule Salzburg. Under the patronage of the Ministry of Education and Initiative for Teaching Entrepreneurship (IFTE), the competition brought together the best teams from eight vocational schools in Salzburg. The future entrepreneurs presented their innovative business ideas to a top-level jury.

Werner & Mertz Hallein acts as sponsor of the sustainability category “We Grow Together”. For the first time in this new category, awards are given for projects with a special focus on ecological and social responsibilty. Edith Wyss, Head of Marketing for Werner & Mertz Professional Vertriebs GmbH, served as a jury member for the Salzburger Land and, prior to the event, as a team coach. During the preparatory phase at BHAK/BHAS (Bundeshandelsakademie and Bundeshandelsschule) in Hallein – one of the participating schools – she helped the pupils with the development of their innovative project ideas and worked with them on the business plan for the competition.

For the pupils the big challenge was presenting their ideas within three minutes at the final to the jury of experts from the business world and the start-up scene. The jury evaluated the concepts against criteria such as originality, market relevance and presentation performance.

The RWR Team from HTL Salzburg won in the sustainability category “We Grow Together” with its completely new type of inspection drone, distinguished by its enormously high range and low purchase price, which allows agricultural businesses or cable car operators, for example, to monitor their systems independently.

Ingo Frank, Managing Director of Werner & Mertz Hallein, who presented the award to the winning team in the category “We Grow Together”, said: “Sustainability is not a catchword for us but rather a principle we live by. The innovative ideas of these talented teams show that the next generation is prepared to take on responsibility and develop sustainable solutions. We are proud to support this initiative and look forward to the future success of these engaged young people.”

All winning teams will represent the province of Salzburg at the national final in Vienna to be held in June. In closing, Wyss said: “Good ideas give us hope, enrich our lives and change the world. We are excited about seeing how things develop!“

The “Next Generation Award” is a business plan competition that encourages young people to discover and develop their entrepreneurial talent. It provides a platform for pupils to present their creative business ideas and gain valuable experience in entrepreneurship. Over the course of a school year, the teams of pupils work with teachers and experienced coaches from companies, the Young Economy and Young Industry Salzburg, on innovative business models they can present to a jury of experts. With the monetary awards, they can further develop their business ideas.