Swedish Steel Prize is the only international award which rewards methods and products that have a great impact on future steel solutions. The prize attracts competitors from across the world.
More than just an award, Swedish Steel Prize is a celebration of good engineering. It aims to recognize those who fully utilize the potential of steel characteristics to improve not only their own business or industry, but also society. It also promotes the sharing of knowledge, to inspire innovations that lead to a better world.
Winners of Swedish Steel Prize display something special. They challenge the status quo and stand out with a method or a product that applies the unique characteristics of steel to create significant improvements in our world. Everyone is welcome to apply and, as history has shown, anyone can win.
There is much more to Swedish Steel Prize than just an award ceremony. For the past years, it’s been an event focused on deep-dives within steel production and innovation, but also about inspiration and collaboration. During the days, participants from all over the world, have a chance to meet and discuss with peers from different industries and sectors, attend seminars, look into new technologies, listen to inspiring speakers, tour the SSAB production facilities and more. Swedish Steel Prize Days are a celebration of all the groundbreaking ways that steel is being used to improve our world.
The next event will be held May 6–8, 2025.
Over the past two decades, the award has inspired creative engineers, designers and inventors across the world. It has also offered a glimpse of the endless potential of steel to change our world for the better.
The prize was founded by SSAB in 1999 as an international award with the aim of attracting applicants from across the world. Today, we can safely say that it has achieved this goal, with finalists coming from every continent – except Antarctica. When it was founded, the prize sought to encourage all trailblazers, big or small, to show the way toward new innovations – something that is still true today.
Although Swedish Steel Prize is owned by SSAB, it is open to everyone and has the vision of taking the steel industry to the next level.
All entries are assessed by an independent jury consisting of professionals with extensive experience within steel, manufacturing, product development and R&D. Together they review each entry based on its level of innovation, creativity, sustainability, performance and competitiveness.
In 2023, Swedish Steel Prize event was approved as a Certified Sustainable Event by Greentime's standard. We are very proud of this achievement and have the ambition to continue developing future Swedish Steel Price event days this way.
To be certified according to Greentime's standards, the event needs to meet several mandatory requirements found in their planning tool. The content is based on the Global Goals for Sustainable Development Agenda 2030, and on collective experience based on what is relevant and feasible for actors in the industry.
Swedish Steel Prize 2023 in Stockholm passed the on-line and on-site audit for the Sustainable Event Certification. In order to minimize our environmental impact and to lower our CO2 footprint, these were the focus areas in 2023.
Location and venue – The venue Stockholm Waterfront is Green Key Certified, which means that it meats almost 100 sustainability criteria covering energy, waste, water use, and social responsibility.
Travel and transports – The venue was accessible with public transportation from Arlanda Airport and on walking distance from Stockholm Central station. Hotels were within walking distance, and transports to other sites were made with group transport.
Food and beverage – Most of the food was vegetarian and all meals offered vegetarian and vegan alternatives. We prioritized organic and fairtrade food and tried to push the venue and catering partner to use as organic food as possible. There was also a broad selection of non-alcoholic beverages. All food and beverages were served in reusable or recyclable packaging.
Safety and security – An extensive security plan was developed and executed.
Diversity and inclusion – The stage and activity program was planned from a diversity and quality perspective.
Design and decor – The event area was built up with as much rental and reusable decor and design elements as possible. The decors that were custom made for the event, were reused or recycled after the event.
Cleaning and waste management – Minimizing waste in general. The waste produced was collected and sorted in a minimum of three different fractions. All bottles and beverages will be recycled through the venues system for recycling. Cleaning products were Svanen Certified, and all soap used was ecological.
For more than 20 years, Swedish Steel Prize has been recognizing those who take that extra step to improve their own business, industry as well as society, through innovative use of steel. The award is a celebration of good engineering, cooperation and the sharing of knowledge – and it aims to inspire the steel innovations that lead to a better and more sustainable world.