The award was presented to the four award recipients in recognition of outstanding academic work. The award is presented every two years as part of a close collaboration with the JKU's Institute of Cooperative Industrial Relations.

The 2021 Award Recipients:

• Julia Riepl, BSc: Bachelor's thesis "Risikomanagement in Familienunternehmen: Eine empirisch-qualitative Studie aus einer Stewardship-Perspektive" (Faculty of Social Sciences, Economics & Business - University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria in Steyr)
• Andreas Gstöttner, MSc: Master's thesis "Kapitalstrukturentscheidungen in Oberösterreichischen KMUs" (Faculty of Social Sciences, Economics & Business, JKU)
• Mag. Dr. Sylvia Schweiger, MSc: Dissertation “Work Group Effectiveness: Promoting and Hindering Dynamics” (Faculty of Social Sciences, Economics & Business, JKU)
• Mag. Dr. Thomas Linimayer: Dissertation "Schadensersatzansprüche wegen Mobbings/psychischer Schädigung am Arbeitsplatz" (Faculty of Law, JKU)