Director, Technology and R&D, Juha Inberg from Ponsse Plc and Jussi Pyörre from Eniram Oy have been chosen as the recipients of the CTO of the Year 2015 award. The award recognises chief technology officers who through their work have added value to their companies’ technological expertise and growth potential, are inspiring leaders and have an active role in societal networks.

This is the fifth time that Technology Academy Finland (TAF), Sitra and Spinverse Oy are giving the CTO of the Year award. This year the jury decided to award two CTOs, both of whom have contributed to their companies’ success by taking a very practical role in their product development. “Both Ponsse and Eniram are trailblazers that have attained their position on the global market through high technology and intelligent systems”, says Professor Yrjö Neuvo, the chairman of the award jury.

A recognition of Ponsse’s product development as a whole
Juha Inberg started as a product development and research engineer at Ponsse in 2003 and has been its Director of Technology and R&D since 2009. The jury thanked Inberg for under Inberg’s leadership Ponsse’s R&D team has produced innovations that have transformed the forest machine market. “Juha Inberg is an engineer in the best possible sense of the word: a person who likes to get his hands dirty. Using information technology, he has succeeded in introducing new kind of added value and competitive edge to forestry machines. In addition, Inberg has also managed to lead the entire company to perform fast, efficient and valuable product development work,” says Professor Yrjö Neuvo.

“The CTO of the Year award is a recognition of Ponsse’s product development as a whole, not merely of personal achievement. Product development is long-term work where long-term investment and collaboration with customer are what produce results. Since 2009, Ponsse has introduced advanced technologies to the market. Despite a challenging market environment, we have been able meet our customers’ new challenges in the constantly changing field of timber harvesting. With our new eight-wheeled  harvesters, we’ve been able to secure a foothold especially in markets where timber is harvested on steep slopes and soft ground,” Inberg says.

Industry’s operating conditions must be secured in Finland
Inberg finds important that industry’s operating conditions and Finland’s competitiveness are looked after. “Finland must offer a competitive operating environment that secures industry the operating conditions it needs. In order to keep product development in Finland, manufacturing must remain close-by. At the same time we must look after our innovation system by securing its funding in a sustainable way. We need broad expertise in all areas of business, including sales and marketing. An effective educational system is a critical success factor,” Inberg says.
“Innovation and product development should not be constrained by too many regulations. For instance, it is natural to enact emission requirements for engines but placing strict timetables for reducing emissions only weakens Europe’s competitiveness.”

Further information:
Interviews and pictures: www.taf.fi,
http://www.ponsse.com/media-archive/images/ponsse-plc-board-and-management-team/management-team
Yrjö Neuvo, chairman of the jury, tel. +358 400 740 300

Technology Academy Finland (TAF)
Juha Ylä-Jääski, President and CEO, tel. +358 40 903 0606
Niina Suhonen, Head of Communications and Marketing, tel. +358 40 8439 438

Ponsse Plc: Juha Inberg, Director, Technology and R&D, tel. +358 400 661 368