Niels Aage Kjær and AVK honoured with the Erhverv Aarhus Award 2026
Erhverv Aarhus, a local business organisation, marked Niels Aage Kjær's and AVK's fantastic business adventure and their great contribution to the outside world, when the association presented the business community's honorary award for the 23rd time in front of 190 festive guests in Aarhus, Denmark. 23-03-2026
With the award, Erhverv Aarhus honours exemplary business profiles who show strong commitment to Aarhus and the rest of East Jutland, put the Aarhus region on the map, take co-responsibility for the area's development and contribute to jobs. Therefore, the honour of Niels Aage Kjær and AVK is entirely appropriate, according to Jens-Jacob Aarup, head of the board of Erhverv Aarhus, who motivated the choice of this year's award winner:
"This year's award recipient has been at the head of a family-owned company that for three generations has been run with strong values such as quality, innovation and long-term responsibility. The company was founded way back in 1941, and since then it has developed in an unusually ambitious direction," Jens-Jacob Aarup emphasised about Niels Aage Kjær and AVK, before he unveiled this year's award winner:
"Niels Aage, you receive the award for not only having continued and developed your father's company, but for having built a strong, international industrial group with solid roots in the Aarhus region, and for your long-standing contribution to the business community locally, regionally, and internationally. The Erhverv Aarhus Award is therefore also a recognition of more than great results. It is a recognition of an ongoing commitment through three generations – to people, communities, and local life."
A big “thank you” to the employees from a proud award recipient
Niels Aage Kjær also had the opportunity to put into words what the recognition means to him and AVK:
"I am both proud and touched to receive the Erhverv Aarhus Award 2026. AVK began here in the local community, and it is still here that I find much of my own motivation. At the same time, over the years, we have had our eyes fixed on the world and learned an enormous amount from it. That balance between local values and a global outlook has always been important to us. I would like to extend a big thank you to all AVK employees, who contribute every day with professionalism, curiosity, and a willingness to develop new ways of doing things. This is an award we can all be proud of," said Niels Aage Kjær.
Tribute from Karin Salling and the city's mayor
Last year's award winner, Karin Salling, Salling Foundations, and the city's mayor Anders Winnerskjold also recognised this year's award winner. Karin Salling unveiled the artwork that comes with the Erhverv Aarhus Award and expressed what it meant to her to receive the honour last year. Anders Winnerskjold also had verbal praises to Niels Aage Kjær and AVK on a video greeting:
"Niels Aage Kjær is the epitome of the spirit and outlook of Jutland, where green innovation and global success are created through decency. At the same time, he has generously contributed and engaged in both nature conservation and culture through the World Wildlife Fund and as a sponsor of several museums. With AVK, he has not only contributed to securing the world's water supply but also made Aarhus and East Jutland a role model for sustainable development and technological foresight. His work calls for respect," said Anders Winnerskjold.
The Erhverv Aarhus Award 2026 is sponsored by Nykredit, PwC and Holst, Advokater.
