In January 2012, during the BUDMA Trade Fair, the Poznań International Fair will present the new Golden Medal for the first time. In addition to the medal, each company to be awarded will receive, among others: the medal winner’s package, guaranteed exhibition of the product in the „Masters’ Zone” at the trade fair and they will also participate in the contest “THE MTP GOLDEN MEDAL – SELECTION OF 2012 CONSUMERS.”

The Golden Medal is one of the most recognisable and prestigious awards at the Polish exhibition market. In 2009, the Golden Medal of the Poznań International Fair celebrated its 30th Anniversary. It was established upon the decision of the Minister of Foreign Trade and the President of the Chief Technical Organisation in 1979. As an award, it was based on prizes and medals granted at other, most well-known and distinguished international fairs and exhibitions.

Every year, almost 500 products participate in the competition for the Golden Medal of the Poznań International Fair. However, only those meeting the criteria of the professional jury are awarded with this prestigious distinction. The Contest Jury comprising the distinguished specialists representing relevant disciplines of the economic life, searches for up-to-date, innovative products, based on the highest level technology. Consequently, the MTP Golden Medal makes the confirmation of a product excellence, becoming an important element of its promotion on the market. During the forthcoming Budma trade fair, Professor Józef Jasiczak, the Deputy Director of the Institute of Building Technology of the Poznań Technical University will act as the Chairman of the Contest Jury.

During the contest, products are awarded instead of companies, although the latter are awarded for their product, exhibit, or concept. In such a way, the awarded products gain additional market recommendation. Companies appreciate this distinction and some of them claim that owing to this award they achieve increase in sales ranging from 10 to 30 per cent, with simultaneous enhancement of consumer’s trust as the purchaser of the awarded products met on the market. The MTP Golden Medal also fulfils reference functions and requirements for the product within the international market.

The much earlier deadline for selection of prize-winners is the first, but not the only innovation introduced in the Contest. The list of products awarded with the Golden Medal will become known already several days before commencement of the trade fair. This will allow the organisers of the Poznań International Fair to promote the winners of the contest much better in the media, in newsletters for professionals, as well as on Internet. The broad promotion campaign of the award winners is also planned during and after the trade fair.

The winner of the Golden Medal will receive the Medal Winner’s Package - a set of promotional materials which can be used by the exhibitor during the promotion campaign: the Golden Medal, the logotype, press materials, the template of the press advertisement “Winner of the MPT Golden Medal” as well as a video and pictures from the Award Presentation Gala.

Information on products awarded with the Golden Medal will be presented at the exclusive stand located in the centre of the trade fair exhibition – the Masters’ Zone. The promotional materials will be enriched with statements of experts justifying the awards granted. In the zone, both the visitors and the exhibitors will have the opportunity to vote for the winners whose products they consider the best. The Masters’ Zone is a permanent exhibition available during each trade fair. Depending on the current location of the trade fair, the Masters’ Zone can be found in halls no 3, 4 and in the Four-Pack next to hall no 7A.

During the trade fair events, visitors will have the opportunity to choose the best product among those awarded with the Golden Medal. It will be possible to vote on the Golden Medal website through the dedicated survey. Each person will be able to vote for one product only, which he or she considers as the definite HIT of the trade fair! In such a way, products awarded at BUDMA and IE will compete for the visitors’ votes with each other, similar to products as the CBS or POLEKO trade fair.  The product to achieve the highest number of votes shall win the prestigious title of “THE MPT GOLDEN MEDAL – CONSUMERS’ CHOICE” as well as the statue specially designed for this occasion. The winning company will also receive the VIP card. The card shall offer free access to all events organised by the leader in the sector – the Poznań International Fair.