Results
Second edition of the WILL BEE Award: a showcase of innovation for sustainable construction
The WILL BEE Innovation Award, led by the WOOD BEE association, held its second edition on September 24, 2025, at the Casino de Montbenon in Lausanne.
Professionals, project leaders, researchers, public authorities, and entrepreneurs came together for an evening dedicated to innovation in construction, with the aim of imagining pragmatic and creative responses to climate challenges.
Twelve finalist projects, selected from 31 applications, were presented in detail, illustrating the diversity and vitality of sustainable innovation in French-speaking Switzerland and beyond. The event, which alternated between exhibition time, a conference, pitch sessions, and informal exchanges in an atmosphere that was both professional and friendly, represents a springboard for young initiatives—a first stage to test their message and meet partners. It is also crucial for established local companies, which can showcase their innovations and refine their strategies.
Winners
DEVELOPMENT CATEGORY
Itten+Brechbühl
LAUNCH CATEGORY
Maria Smigielska
Special "Health" prize
Vertuo
PUBLIC'S FAVOURITE AWARD
Strong by Form
The projects nominated in the “Development” and “Launch” categories were invited to present their work through three-minute pitches, allowing both the jury and the audience to quickly grasp the potential of each initiative. The 31 projects competing for the “Coup de cœur” (People’s Choice) Award were presented in advance on WOOD BEE’s platforms, increasing their visibility within the community.
With more than CHF 20,000 in prize money, the juries recognized four projects from diverse fields, illustrating the wide range of possible responses to the challenges of sustainable construction.
nspired by Northern European countries
The keynote by Sisse Norman Canguilhem, Vice President of the Green Building Council Denmark, opened the event. Drawing on examples from the Nordhavn and Ørestad districts and the Thoravej 29 project, she highlighted both the likely limits of ambitious planning and the ways Copenhagen is managing its urban transition—through political continuity, a culture of prototyping, and collective engagement.
Her insights resonated with concerns in the Romandy region, offering concrete avenues for accelerating the transformation of our cities toward greater sustainability and circularity.
