Leonardo da Vinci Prize

The Henokiens Association and Le Château du Clos Lucé present :

The « Leonardo da Vinci Prize »


Objective of the founders of the « Leonardo da Vinci Prize »

The missions of the Henokiens Association and Le Château du Clos Lucé meet and converge in the tradition of passing on a spiritual, living heritage in the name of the person who was the greatest possessor of the universal talents of the Renaissance.
They have joined forces to reward the ability of a family business that has reached the industrial stage to pass on a set of cultural values, traditions, know-how and particular technologies which together make up an intangible and living heritage that is an essential guarantee of its continuity.

Vocation of the « Leonardo da Vinci Prize »

To evaluate and recognise in the family and in society the importance of the tradition of the cultural values, know-how and particular technologies that make up a "spiritual and living heritage" that is an essential guarantee of longevity, such as fidelity to a tradition, a profession, a family history, a product, a heritage, a region, a terroir, a brand, a mission and a cause.

Assessment and selection criteria

Entries are welcome from family businesses with a turnover of €3 million or more that have been in existence for at least 2 generations and of which the owner-managers are the majority shareholders either on their own or with members of their family.
Companies entering the Prize competition must provide details of the fundamental values necessary for the success of a patrimonial company to enable it to survive in the long term, such as its history and tradition or its positioning on the market.
Entries will be assessed on the basis of criteria such as the family ethics through the values and exemplary nature of the founder, the family charter, the corporate culture, the company's commitment to society, its ability to adapt to its market, its respect for the environment and its provision for future generations.
Other factors taken into account will include the company's principles of fidelity and commitment to a set of cultural and human values, know-how and particular technologies that make up a "spiritual and living heritage" that is an essential guarantee of continuity or longevity (fidelity to a product, a raw material, a region, a terroir, a town, a village, a local workforce, a brand, a mission and a cause).
Other selection criteria: the passing on of the memory of the company by a company head keen to pass on to his or her successor a personal and original vision of his or her profession in a relationship with time that is considered to be a "raw material" and his or her ability to be creative and innovative to remain competitive by providing added value in a changing world.

Entries *

The Leonardo da Vinci Prize is open to family businesses that sell products or services anywhere in the world. Each year, the organisers and members of the jury may select competition entries nationally or internationally in a particular industry.
Any company wishing to take part in the competition must complete an application in the form of an entry questionnaire to be submitted before 15 August 2011 that is based on the following selection criteria: history and tradition, company and family, fidelity and commitment, memory and handing down, and innovation and modernity.
The jury, made up of the executive boards of the two organisers, Le Château du Clos Lucé and the Henokiens Association, plus the heads of the Henokien businesses operating in the same field, will make its decision based on the submission of a full and completed application according to selection criteria and an evaluation grid.

*The Prize rules and entry questionnaire are available on request from the Henokiens Association and Le Château du Clos Lucé

Awarding of the Prize

The announcement of the winning company and the awarding of the Leonardo da Vinci Prize certificate and trophy will be symbolically and generally made to its representative in a prize-giving ceremony at Le Château du Clos Lucé in Amboise (Loire Valley), the last residence of Leonardo da Vinci.


Trophy

The trophy, designed by Mellerio dits Meller, is inspired by the aerial screw invented by Leonardo da Vinci. It embodies the worthwhile values of elevation, advancement and vision that the Leonardo da Vinci Prize was created to recognise, promote and reward. The winning company and its representative will be presented with this original work at the ceremony held to award the certificate and trophy.


Spirit in which entries are marked

"What matters in carrying out our mission as heads of Henokien businesses is tradition. Tradition forms the backbone of our families, and for centuries our businesses have formed the backbone of our constantly changing society at work."

Lucio Zagari (Augustea, founded in 1629)

"Our businesses have a soul. After centuries in existence, the family companies that are members of our association are living proof that the family is the best possible way of passing on a culture, a trade, an unbounded ambition in all humility, a profound concern for people, a great respect for their work and a loyal attachment to one's ancestral home and to its inhabitants. Our businesses have identified and assimilated these family values that their staff and customers, suppliers, bankers and all those associated with them respectfully foster. The family, the core from which heritage is passed on, is a guarantee of continuity."

Christophe Viellard (Viellard Migeon & Cie, founded in 1796)

"Since the beginnings of time, family businesses have successfully created the oldest shared economic model in the entire world, and one that is too often little recognised. By creating wealth and jobs, these patrimonial and humanist companies become major players in the global economy and help ensure the continuation of worthwhile values by being long-lasting. Their ability to pass on their heritage, their know-how, their shared values and their culture to future generations is a guarantee of their continuity, their potential for development and their growth, sustained from generation to generation. The Leonardo da Vinci Prize is awarded in recognition of this process of passing on, in the same way that Leonardo da Vinci passed on his skills to his pupils in the tradition of the Renaissance. This Prize is presented to reward the exemplary nature of family businesses."

François Saint Bris (Château du Clos Lucé, built in 1471 and open to the public since 1954)