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The Academy’s Gold Medals

For more than a century, IVA has celebrated excellence in technology, economics, business and society by awarding Gold Medals to people who, through their outstanding achievements, have helped to create a better society.

Annual award

Gold medals are awarded every year to people who, through outstanding deeds, have contributed to creating a better society.

IVA's Great Gold Medal is awarded to the person who has made a particularly outstanding deed within the academy's field of activity.

IVA's Gold Medal is awarded for meritorious work within the academy's field of activity.

Decisions on who will be awarded are made by the Academy Assembly, based on proposals prepared by the Medal Committee whose members are appointed by the Presidium.

IVA’s Great Gold Medal 2023: Håkan Samuelsson

In ten years civil engineer Håkan Samuelsson managed to reverse the negative trend for the Swedish national treasure Volvo. Under Samuelsson's unifying leadership, reputation and international competitiveness were regained, cultural challenges linked to Chinese ownership were bridged, and production could be kept in Sweden. In addition, Volvo took a prominent position in the most important transition for the automotive industry in 100 years – the transition to electric.

IVA’s Great Gold Medal 2023: Håkan Samuelsson

In ten years civil engineer Håkan Samuelsson managed to reverse the negative trend for the Swedish national treasure Volvo. Under Samuelsson's unifying leadership, reputation and international competitiveness were regained, cultural challenges linked to Chinese ownership were bridged, and production could be kept in Sweden. In addition, Volvo took a prominent position in the most important transition for the automotive industry in 100 years – the transition to electric.

IVA’s Gold Medal 2023: Annica Bresky – innovation leader with the forest as a tool

Civil engineer Annica Bresky, supported by her personal motto "The future grows in the forest", has led the development towards making the forest industry an important part of the solution to fighting climate change and strengthening biological diversity.

IVA’s Gold Medal 2023: Annica Bresky – innovation leader with the forest as a tool

Civil engineer Annica Bresky, supported by her personal motto "The future grows in the forest", has led the development towards making the forest industry an important part of the solution to fighting climate change and strengthening biological diversity.

IVA’s Gold Medal 2023: Anders Blom

Engineer Anders Blom has been decisive for Sweden's ability to maintain its position as one of the world's most prominent aviation nations, through more than 40 years of work in Swedish aviation. Not least by his contribution to building the strategic innovation program that has given Sweden a place at the table when it comes to international cooperation in the aviation industry.

IVA’s Gold Medal 2023: Anders Blom

Engineer Anders Blom has been decisive for Sweden's ability to maintain its position as one of the world's most prominent aviation nations, through more than 40 years of work in Swedish aviation. Not least by his contribution to building the strategic innovation program that has given Sweden a place at the table when it comes to international cooperation in the aviation industry.

IVA’s Gold Medal 2023: Anna Wedell

Medic and research leader Anna Wedell has created completely new conditions for discovering and treating thousands of rare diseases. By developing new tools for mapping individual patients' genes and establishing unique collaborations between research and healthcare, she has made ground-breaking breakthroughs in individually tailored so-called precision medicine.

IVA’s Gold Medal 2023: Anna Wedell

Medic and research leader Anna Wedell has created completely new conditions for discovering and treating thousands of rare diseases. By developing new tools for mapping individual patients' genes and establishing unique collaborations between research and healthcare, she has made ground-breaking breakthroughs in individually tailored so-called precision medicine.

Medallists 1921–2021

Mikael Dolsten, Sara Mazur, Daniel Ek, Anne-Marie Eklund Löwinder and Sverker Sörlin are just some of the gold medallists from recent years. View the list of IVA medallists over the course of a whole century here. (PDF in Swedish)

Medallists from the archive

Behind each medal is an exciting story about a person, a time and a contribution to social development. Meet 15 medallists who demonstrate the breadth of the achievements that the Academy has rewarded over the past century. (PDF in Swedish)

Gold Medals are awarded at the Annual Meeting of the Academy