General terms and conditions

IFOY (International Intralogistics and Forklift Truck of the Year) AWARD,
IFOY Start-up of the Year Award.
Hereinafter referred to generally as the IFOY AWARD.

c/o impact media projects GmbH

§ 1 General, scope of application

  1. The following General Terms and Conditions (GTC) apply to all legal relationships between the IFOY AWARD (c/o impact media projects GmbH) and all participants in the IFOY AWARD and the IFOY Start-up of the Year Award.
  2. Participants are interested parties, applicants, finalists and winners.
  3. By registering for the competition online for the first time, participants agree to comply with the conditions of participation formulated in the GTC and the applicable IFOY AWARD applicant information.
  4. The prerequisites for participation are:
    a. A duly submitted online application within the specified deadline.
    b. The fulfillment of all IFOY AWARD requirements according to § 3.
    c. Payment of the fees within the specified deadline in the event of a nomination for the final.
    d. Payment within the specified deadline for any optional services booked (e.g. Company Box or test areas at the TEST CAMP INTRALOGISTICS).
  5. The applicant information with the current fees as well as the reciprocal obligations between participants and the IFOY AWARD can be requested from the IFOY AWARD office and are automatically sent to participants by e-mail.
  6. Terms and conditions that deviate from or conflict with these GTC shall not be recognized unless IFOY AWARD has expressly agreed to them.

§ 2 Fees, invoicing and withdrawal

  1. Participation in the IFOY AWARD is subject to a fee if the application is nominated for the final by the jury. This guarantees an independent, professional test operation, the jury organization and an exceptionally high marketing value. The nomination fee for the final is a one-off charge; there are no further costs.
  2. If an application is not nominated for the final by the jury, no fees will be charged.
  3. If an application is submitted on the IFOY website, a contract is concluded as soon as the online application is created and saved for the first time by a participant. The price valid at this time according to the applicant information is deemed to have been agreed and withdrawal from the competition is no longer possible.
  4. The IFOY AWARD may agree to a withdrawal in exceptional cases, provided there are serious reasons. Such reasons include the applicant’s insolvency, patent disputes, quality issues or inability to deliver. In such a case, participants are obliged to provide the IFOY AWARD truthfully and completely with all information required for the review.
    This does not release the participant from the obligation to pay the fees.
  5. The fees are due upon receipt of the invoice within 14 days at the latest, unless the IFOY AWARD has agreed to a different payment deadline. The invoice will be sent by e-mail to the e-mail address provided by the participant(s) in the registration form.
  6. Participants warrant that they are authorized to make bank transfers and international transfers if their registered office is not in Germany.

§ 3 Conditions of participation and IFOY process

§ 3.1 Preamble

The IFOY AWARD is one of the largest international technology competitions in intralogistics. Its test methodology is regarded worldwide as a seal of quality for innovations and newly developed products or solutions.

The purpose of the IFOY AWARD is to recognize the best intralogistics products and solutions of the year and also to develop activities to evaluate technical and strategic excellence in intralogistics and to initiate innovations. It documents the performance and innovative strength of the intralogistics industry and aims to contribute to the competitiveness and improved public image of the entire sector. For this reason, the nomination for the final and the election place the highest demands on safety, technology, sustainability, efficiency, design and ergonomics of the devices and solutions.

With the spin-off award IFOY Start-up of the Year, the award organization honors innovative technologies and new developments by founders.

The IFOY AWARD and the IFOY Start-up of the Year are chosen annually by an independent jury of internationally renowned trade journalists from the leading logistics media.

§ 3.2 Categories

  1. IFOY AWARD

    The IFOY AWARD categories are for orientation purposes and are not necessarily held every year.
    Applicants may indicate their preferred categories in the application. The IFOY organization determines the category to which an application is assigned and reserves the right to place applications in a different category if this is more suitable for the product or solution.
    The current categories are published on the website ifoy.org.

  2. IFOY Start-up of the Year
    The IFOY Start-up of the Year is a spin-off award for innovative prototypes or functional developments, intralogistics products, software, vehicles or components from newly founded companies. Es existieren keine Kategorien.

§ 3.3 Application

  1. All manufacturers of intralogistics products and solutions, such as manufacturers of industrial trucks, robotics or software houses, can apply for an IFOY AWARD with any number of new devices/solutions in various categories. In borderline cases, the IFOY organization decides.
  2. Eligible are new developments, further developments or special models with significant technical changes. A study, a prototype, a blueprint or a minor visual facelift are not sufficient for participation. A study, a prototype, a blueprint or a minor visual facelift are not enough.
  3. Only individual vehicles are permitted, not model or model series. In borderline cases, the IFOY organization decides.
  4. A product must be produced and available to order by the IFOY awards ceremony at the latest.
  5. Software must either contain a description of the possible applications or be used successfully in a company in industry, trade or services.
  6. A customer solution must have been successfully implemented in a company in industry, trade or services.
  7. Start-ups from the fields of materials handling and intralogistics, robotics, software and logistics can apply for an IFOY Start-up of the Year Award.
    All intralogistics products are eligible, regardless of whether they have already been launched on the market, whether they are fully functional products, or whether they are innovative prototypes.
    The minimum requirement for an application is a functional prototype. A study or a development that only exists on paper is not enough. In borderline cases, the IFOY organization decides.
  8. Start-ups are also free to apply in the other IFOY categories. However, when applying in one of the IFOY AWARD categories, the IFOY AWARD conditions of participation and fees apply. Start-ups are generally companies with no more than 30 employees and a turnover of less than three million euros that have been on the market for no longer than five years.
  9. An application for the IFOY AWARD / IFOY Start-up of the Year is only possible via the Internet and must be submitted on the applicant portal at www.ifoy.org in German and English.
  10. Each registered applicant must create one form per device/solution. Videos or presentations are permitted.
    Participants are permitted to enter a product in several categories. An application in each additional category is treated as a separate application and requires a separate application.

§ 3.4 Nomination

  1. After the end of the official application phase, all entry forms are automatically locked and the jury members and the test teams are given access to the entered application.
  2. After a formal and technical preliminary examination, the jury usually nominates a maximum of five vehicles or solutions from all valid applications in each category for the IFOY AWARD final. There are no nomination restrictions for the IFOY Start-up of the Year.
  3. Only the finalists of the IFOY AWARD / IFOY Start-up of the Year are publicly announced and marketed worldwide. Applications are treated confidentially and are not communicated in order to avoid negative selection.
  4. All participants – even those not nominated – can exhibit at TEST CAMP INTRALOGISTICS.
  5. Each applicant will be informed in writing before publication whether the jury has made a nomination. If a device/solution is nominated, the nomination fee is obligatory.

§ 3.5 IFOY Audit at TEST CAMP INTRALOGISTICS

  1. If a participant is nominated for the final (= IFOY Finalist), participation in the IFOY Audit is mandatory. IFOY finalists receive a “Finalist Information” with instructions in good time. The IFOY Audit takes place as part of the TEST CAMP INTRALOGISTICS.
  2. The audit consists of individually coordinated driving or functional tests
    The decisive factor is that the nominees are not compared with each other, but with their competitors on the market.
    Part 1 of the audit is the scientific IFOY Innovation Check. Scientists from renowned institutes and universities assessed the finalists in terms of market relevance, customer benefit, novelty/innovation, functionality/type of design. The innovations emphasized by the manufacturers are verified on site in the test hall by means of visual inspections and functional tests. In a comparison of technologies, the scientists also assess whether they are innovative further developments, new compositions or genuine innovations.
    In part 2 of the audit, the industrial trucks also undergo standardized or individually tailored driving or functional tests, including the IFOY Audit test protocol comprising around 80 criteria, which determines the cost-effectiveness and energy efficiency, sustainability, safety and ergonomics of the equipment and compares it with competitor products.
    Part 3 of the audit is the assessment of the finalists by the jurors and their approved consultants.
  3. If a finalist does not show up for the IFOY Audit or does not show up on time, the nominated product will be disqualified. The disqualification will be announced. This does not release the participant from the obligation to pay the fees. The audit program usually lasts three days.
    a. Day 1: Setup and first tests
    b. Day 2 and 3: Judges from leading logistics media around the world and their consultants and scientists travel to test and inspect the equipment and solutions.
    The program includes jury sessions, Innovation Check, IFOY Test and Jury Highlight Tour, video shoots and photo shoots with the finalists.
    In addition, the Best in Intralogistics Certificates will be awarded and all finalists will receive a communication package consisting of a press release as well as a certificate, e-mail binder and graphic files for embedding the certificate in documents.
    Evening program: Get-together.
    It is advisable to have C-level staff, developers, product managers and press/marketing.
  4. In the event of a nomination, participants undertake to transport their nominated original products/exhibits to and from the IFOY Audit at their own risk and expense. Participants are advised to take out transport insurance.
  5. Participants undertake to keep their nominated product/solution available for the duration of the TEST CAMP INTRALOGISTICS and to present it on request.
  6. Participants agree that the devices and solutions may be driven or inspected by jurors and their advisors, by the test teams and by logistics decision-makers at TEST CAMP INTRALOGISTICS, and that texts, images and video material may be produced. The materials created will not be released by participants.
  7. Participants agree to provide instruction during test drives and to ensure safety. This also includes checking the necessary driving license and equipment (safety shoes, safety vest). The IFOY AWARD will provide separate information on this in good time before the event.

§ 3.6 TEST CAMP INTRALOGISTICS

  1. The IFOY Audit takes place as part of the TEST CAMP INTRALOGISTICS. Products/solutions nominated for the final can therefore also be exhibited at TEST CAMP INTRALOGISTICS.
    Further information: www.testcamp-intralogistics.com
  2. TEST CAMP INTRALOGISTICS is a curated hands-on testing event for innovations and new products from the warehouse and material flow technology sector. The event enables intensive networking and matchmaking with decision-makers from industry, trade and services with a specific interest in innovation and investment.
  3. IFOY AWARD finalists acknowledge that stand fees at TEST CAMP INTRALOGISTICS are not included in the nomination fees. Exhibitor information and current stand prices and offers can be requested from the IFOY office: testcamp@impact-mp.de.
  4. For each nominated product/solution, the IFOY AWARD will alternatively provide a free area at the edge of the hall or near the TEST CAMP hall to carry out the audit. Finalists undertake not to use this space for any stand construction or branding and to display only the nominated product. In the event of non-compliance, the IFOY AWARD is entitled to charge a contractual penalty in the amount of the comparable stand fees of the TEST CAMP INTRALOGISTICS, but at least 3,000 euros.

§ 3.7 Jury, election and award ceremony

  1. The jury is made up of international trade journalists. Each year, they select the finalists and winners of the IFOY AWARD / IFOY Start-up of the Year.
  2. The jury evaluates all nominated products/solutions in a secret ballot based on their technical expertise and knowledge of the market and selects the winner of the IFOY AWARD in each category from the group of finalists by the deadline. The final evaluation is carried out online on an evaluation form to which only the members of the jury have access.
  3. The results of the audit and the assessment of the advisory boards are not directly included in the selection. However, they serve as a decision-making aid for the jury.
  4. The result of the vote will be communicated to the jury members in good time before the official award ceremony.
  5. The finalists and winners will not be informed before the award ceremony.
  6. The IFOY AWARD undertakes to present the winner with a trophy at the award ceremony and to provide the winner seal(s) after the award ceremony.
  7. By winning the IFOY AWARD, the award winner acquires the right to communicate the IFOY Winner seal(s) for the award-winning product/solution.

§ 4 Property rights and rights of use

  1. By submitting an online application, participants expressly guarantee that the registered product or customer solution does not infringe the rights of third parties or offend common decency. IFOY AWARD/impact media projects GmbH is not obliged to check whether the documents provided infringe the rights of third parties.
    Participants also undertake to inform IFOY AWARD/ impact media projects GmbH immediately if third parties assert rights.
  2. Participants shall indemnify the IFOY AWARD against all claims of third parties, of whatever nature, which are asserted against the IFOY AWARD due to alleged or actual infringements of rights in connection with the application, which are asserted due to the content and/or design of the materials and their use (e.g. websites, press releases, events, social media, print and online media). The participant shall also assume the costs of the necessary legal defense, including all court and legal fees in the statutory amount.
  3. Participants grant the IFOY AWARD and any legal successors the free, non-exclusive but transferable right to use all copyrights and ancillary copyrights for all entries made available (photos, texts, videos, illustrations, etc.) without restriction in terms of time, space and content, without the IFOY AWARD being obliged to name the authors of the entries. The right of use applies to all types of use and not only in connection with the IFOY AWARD. This includes publication in printed works, on the Internet and social media, on data carriers and in related advertising, exhibition and book projects as well as PR purposes of the IFOY AWARD.
  4. The IFOY AWARD is entitled to pass on the entries provided to the press and other comparable bodies at their request for the purpose of reporting on the IFOY AWARD or the nominated and, if applicable, award-winning product.
  5. Finalists are entitled to use the content provided by the IFOY AWARD in connection with the competition without restriction in terms of time, space and content. This includes in particular test reports and data, IFOY Innovation Checks, image and video material.

§ 5 IFOY seal and its use

  1. The IFOY AWARD / IFOY Start-up of the Year awards the following seals, which correspond to the respective level in the competition process:
    a. Finalist button (for reaching the final)
    b. Best in Intralogistics Certificate (for successful completion of the IFOY Audit)
    c. IFOY Innovation Check certificate (documents the result of the IFOY Innovation Check)
    d. Winner button with and without naming the category (for winning an IFOY AWARD)
  2. Upon reaching the respective level, participants acquire the right to use and communicate the seal without any temporal or geographical restrictions.
  3. Participants will receive the seals immediately after reaching the respective level by e-mail to the contact address(es) specified in the online application.
  4. The seals may only be used to advertise products and solutions that have actually been awarded.

§ 6 Liability and statute of limitations

  1. The liability of the IFOY AWARD, its bodies, representatives or vicarious agents for damages – regardless of the legal grounds – is excluded. This does not apply in cases of intent and gross negligence or due to injury to life, body or health or due to culpable breach of essential contractual obligations. In the event of a slightly negligent breach of material contractual obligations, the liability of the organizer, its bodies, representatives and vicarious agents shall be limited to typical and foreseeable damage.
  2. The IFOY AWARD does not assume any duty of care for the products submitted – and recommends that participants take out transport and exhibition insurance to cover themselves against any damage, destruction or theft in the course of transportation, the audit or the exhibition at TEST CAMP INTRALOGISTICS.
  3. The IFOY AWARD is not obliged to store submitted packaging of the nominated products or the nominated products themselves.
  4. All claims against the organizer must be made in writing. They become time-barred within 12 months, calculated from the date of completion of the IFOY Audit.

§ 7 Final provisions

  1. The place of fulfillment is Munich.
  2. The exclusive place of jurisdiction is Munich. However, the IFOY AWARD is also entitled to sue participants at their general place of jurisdiction.
  3. The legal relationship between participants and the IFOY AWARD is governed exclusively by German law, excluding the UN Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods and the conflict of laws rules of private international law, in particular the Rome I Regulation.
  4. Should individual parts of the above terms and conditions be invalid, this shall not affect the validity of the remaining terms and conditions.
  5. Legal recourse is excluded.

Ismaning, 2026.

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