For years, the Founders' Prize of Lower Bavaria has been granted for outstanding success in establishing enterprises - the highest award for business founders and entrepreneurs in Lower Bavaria. 
This award is intended to promote commitment to entrepreneurship in Lower Bavaria and encourage innovative, sustainable management.  
The prize is awarded annually in various categories. This award honours exemplary entrepreneurs in various start-up phases, while exceptionally creative entrepreneurial achievements are recognised with a special prize. The award ceremony for the Founders' Prize of Lower Bavaria 2023 took place at the conference centre of the Sparkasse Financial Group of Bavaria in Landshut.  

Hermann Paintner, founder and managing director of ROPA Fahrzeug- und Maschinenbau GmbH from Sittelsdorf was honoured in the category "Lifetime Achievement" for his outstanding entrepreneurial achievements over the past 50 years. Ultimately, it was a success story of one farmer, who has developed his company into the most important innovation centre in the manufacturing of machines for sugar beet and potato harvesting, that convinced the jury.. The products of ROPA Fahrzeug- und Maschinenbau GmbH have become highly successful on the world market and are now an indispensable part of the agricultural sector, enjoying an excellent reputation worldwide," as noted the eulogy. 

Christian Gallwitz, Member of the Board of Directors of Sparkasse Landshut, and Gerald Tausendteufel, Deputy Member of the Board of Directors of Sparkasse Landshut, congratulated the winners in their laudatory speeches for the Founders' Prize 2023.