Best of Swiss Web: Switch receives honorary award
The European web award "Best of Swiss Web" has awarded its 2013 Honorary Prize to the Switch Foundation—marking the first time the award has gone to an organization rather than an individual.
At the Best of Swiss Web Award Night on Thursday, March 21, 2013, at the Kongresshaus Zurich in front of more than 700 people, not only the best Internet and mobile projects will be honored. Traditionally, an honorary prize is also awarded, according to a statement from the Best of Swiss Web Association. This prize is usually awarded to individuals who have made a special contribution to the development of the internet and the ICT sector, for example through fundamental developments in the technical field or outstanding achievements as entrepreneurs, politicians or researchers.
According to the press release, this is the first time that the jury has selected an organization rather than a person for the 2013 honorary award. Switch has been a Swiss Internet pioneer since it was founded on 22 October 1987 and has been a reliable competence center providing services for both Swiss universities and the entire Swiss Internet industry for over 25 years. In the jury's view, Switch has created excellent conditions for Swiss students, researchers and teachers to work together efficiently and securely. This includes the technical provision of Internet access and extends to taking all the necessary IT security precautions. Since its foundation, Switch has also provided valuable services for all companies, organizations and individuals: As the registry for all Internet domain names in Switzerland and Liechtenstein. In addition, there are many other services and activities, such as the promotion of young talent with the "Switch Junior Web Award" website competition for school classes.
The prize will be accepted on behalf of the current managing directors of Switch:
Bernhard Plattner (first Managing Director)
Peter Gilli (Managing Director from 1988 - 1995)
Thomas Brunner (Managing Director from 2001 - 2012)
Andreas Dudler (Managing Director since May 2012)
Previous winners of the Best of Swiss Web award were:
- 2007: Fulvio Caccia (former Director of ComCom )
- 2008: David Nüscheler (CTO Day)
- 2009: Christian Wanner (CEO LeShop)
- 2010: Robert Cailliau (co-inventor WWW, Cern)
- 2011: Marc Bürki and Paolo Buzzi (founders of Swissquote)
- 2012: Beat Schmid (Founder IWI, University of St. Gallen)
