This prize is awarded for outstanding master's and diploma theses at the Institute of Production and Logistics Management. The prizes were donated by Professor Emeritus Dr. Günther Zäpfel. Two works each were selected in 2021 and 2022.

The awardees are Jakob Berndorfer and Martin Hofwimmer in 2021 and Agnes Ebner and Xenia Haslinger in 2022. The theses of Jakob Berndorfer and Agnes Ebner were written in close collaboration with internationally operating companies located in Upper Austria, a manufacturing company and a food retailer. Martin Hofwimmer and Xenia Haslinger prepared their theses within a joint research project of the PLM Institute and the Energieinstitut at JKU.

During the award ceremony, Univ.-Prof. Dr. Karl F. Dörner (University of Vienna) appreciated the founder Professor Emeritus Dr. Günther Zäpfel, who has significantly shaped the quantitative orientation of the Institute of Production and Logistics Management (PLM) for decades. The awards were presented by the head of the institute, Univ.-Prof. Dr. Sophie N. Parragh on behalf of Prof. Günther Zäpfel. A champagne reception followed the award ceremony.

The PLM Institute warmly congratulates the awardees.