FROM THE OFFICIAL LAUDATIO OF THE EVENT | 21ST MAY 2026

Franz Leberl, Professor Emeritus at Technische Universität Graz’s Institute of Visual Computing (formerly the Institute for Computer Graphics and Vision), received the Grand Decoration of Honour of the State of Styria (Großes Ehrenzeichen des Landes Steiermark) on the 21st of May.

His prolific academic career includes authoring 300 scientific papers, guiding more than 40 PhD students to graduation, and securing 15 patents. Beyond academia, he serves as the Honorary Consul of the Ivory Coast—one of Africa’s leading economic powers—where he facilitates initiatives in areas like raw material extraction and processing. Above all, he is driven by a lifelong passion for connecting people who might otherwise never have crossed paths.