Wimanska priset examensarbete: Sweden's Engineering Thesis Prize
The Wimanska Prize (Wimanska priset) was Sweden's award for the best degree project on Bachelor of Science in Engineering programmes, presented by Sveriges Ingenjörer. It is now called Examenspris högskoleingenjörsutbildning; the parallel Master of Science award is Lilla Polhemspriset, and the main honour is Polhemspriset. Examenspris translates as degree-project prize.
Sveriges Ingenjörer, the trade union and professional body for about 188,000 university-educated engineers, administers the award as part of its Polhem family of distinctions. The award sat specifically on the högskoleingenjör route, which is why it is often recorded in Swedish as Wimanska priset högskoleingenjör. That family takes its name from Christopher Polhem, the inventor sometimes called the father of Swedish mechanics; he was a prominent inventor and scientist who revolutionised Swedish business.
The awards at a glance
Polhemspriset is Sweden's oldest technical distinction and goes to people who contribute to Sweden's technical development. Below it sit two degree-project awards: Lilla Polhemspriset for the civilingenjör route and Examenspris högskoleingenjörsutbildning, the former Wimanska priset. Past winners have contributed to mechanical engineering, computer engineering, food innovation and electric power technology.
The 2026 Polhemspriset went to Susanne Norgren on 10 November 2026 for material design that, according to Sveriges Ingenjörer, has changed rock drilling worldwide and shows how basic research can become sustainable industrial solutions. Anyone may nominate a candidate for the main prize.
The current award page groups these names under the Polhemspriset umbrella on Polhemspriset.
| Award | Level | Recognition |
|---|---|---|
| Polhemspriset | Sweden's main technology prize | 250,000 kronor and the Polhem Medal |
| Lilla Polhemspriset | Master of Science in Engineering degree projects | 50,000 kronor plus a diploma |
| Examenspris högskoleingenjörsutbildning (formerly Wimanska priset) | Bachelor of Science in Engineering degree projects | No sum listed on the current award page |
Known winners in the former Wimanska category
Uppsala University reported on 21 September 2016 that Danny Nygård received the Wimanska Prize for the best degree project on a Bachelor of Science in Engineering programme. His project was a truck add-on that saves resources and benefits the environment.
The current award page lists Jonathan Jalkmar and Tilda Ardenvik as the 2026 recipients in the Examenspris högskoleingenjörsutbildning category.
| Year | Winner | Project or note |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Danny Nygård | Truck add-on that saves resources and benefits the environment |
| 2026 | Jonathan Jalkmar and Tilda Ardenvik | Listed on the current award page |
Why the name changed
Sveriges Ingenjörer's current award page labels the Bachelor of Science in Engineering category as Examenspris högskoleingenjörsutbildning, with a note that it was formerly Wimanska priset. The Swedish label "fd Wimanska priset" simply marks the former name in the current prize hierarchy. The page does not state when or why the label changed. The older name survives in university announcements and degree-project records, which is why searches for wimanska priset examensarbete still lead to the same award family.
How Swedish engineering degrees set the two thesis prizes apart
Sweden's engineering education has two main routes that shape Sveriges Ingenjörer's thesis awards. The term examensarbete refers to the final degree project written by engineering students. The three-year högskoleingenjör route leads to a Bachelor of Science in Engineering, and the five-year civilingenjör route leads to a Master of Science in Engineering. The Wimanska category and its current name belong to the first route. Lilla Polhemspriset, for the second route, is the parallel degree-project award.
| Route | Swedish title | Typical length | Degree-project award |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor route | högskoleingenjör | Three years | Examenspris högskoleingenjörsutbildning, formerly Wimanska priset |
| Master route | civilingenjör | Five years | Lilla Polhemspriset |
This split explains why Sveriges Ingenjörer presents degree-project honours under two separate headings.
FAQ
What was Wimanska priset?
It was Sveriges Ingenjörer's award for the best degree project on Swedish Bachelor of Science in Engineering programmes, now renamed.
What is Wimanska priset called today?
Examenspris högskoleingenjörsutbildning.
Who has won Wimanska priset?
The current award page lists Jonathan Jalkmar and Tilda Ardenvik for 2026; Uppsala University reported a 2016 student winner.
How much is Wimanska priset worth?
The value shown for each award is in the table above. The parallel Lilla Polhemspriset is 50 000 kronor plus a diploma.
Can students apply for Wimanska priset?
The award pages present it as an awarded prize, not an open application; current rules sit on Sveriges Ingenjörer's site.
Sources
- Sveriges Ingenjörer — Polhemspriset
- Sveriges Ingenjörer
- Uppsala University, "UU-student tilldelas det Wimanska priset för bästa examensarbete på högskoleingenjörsutbildningen", 21 September 2016
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