Recap | ICS at the Junior Companies State Competition

On Thursday, May 15, 2025, the ICS, with Lisa-Maria Katholnig, was represented for the first time on the jury of the Junior Companies State Competition and, in the course of this, presented a Special Internationalization Award to the JC with the greatest export potential: JC Boisvaleur sells high-quality, self-turned ballpoint pens and fountain pens. Each of these noble products is unique and can also be personalized through engraving. Boisvaleur was delighted to receive prize money of EUR 150 and, at the same time, secure third place in the overall competition!

In the Junior Companies educational project, students aged 15 to 19 found real companies for the duration of one school year. They independently develop business ideas and implement them in the form of products or services on the real market. The young people go through all phases of a business process: from idea generation, planning, and production to marketing, sales, and closing the business. In doing so, they work independently in a team and handle all entrepreneurial tasks themselves. The spectrum ranges from simple services to innovative, even patented products. The students are accompanied by teachers acting as coaches as well as business experts who serve as mentors to ensure practical relevance. The project promotes economic understanding, entrepreneurial thinking, and important social skills, preparing young people for the real world of work.

We extend our warmest congratulations to this year’s winners, the Junior Company re[whey] from BG/BRG Stainach, as well as to the very close second-place finishers Resnackable from BHAK Hartberg and the third-place finishers Boisvaleur from HAK Voitsberg. JC re[whey], whose product will soon be listed in several Spar branches and at Lidl Styria, now has the opportunity, as the first-place winner, to impress at the national competition and thus qualify for the European competition – we are keeping our fingers crossed:

Outlook: The ICS was, of course, not just coincidentally represented at the Junior Companies State Competition. Sandra Tanos actively scouted potential candidates at the young companies’ sales booths in the Europe Hall of the Styrian Chamber of Commerce, and thus the top three, who also possess the greatest export potential, are to be invited to this year’s Styrian Export Day on September 18, 2025 for a pitching session before a selected jury and mentors! Details to follow…