There are those moments in life you know already from the start are going to be the rare once in a lifetime events. This evening was one of those times.

On a dark and wet autumn Friday afternoon my entire family and me dressed up to the most fancy level you can expect and took at taxi to the Stockholm City Hall. Anja my wife and my kids Agnes and Rex.

This was the Swedish Royal Academy of Engineering Science’s (IVA) 106th Högtidssammankomst (“festive gathering”) since its founding in 1919.

Being one the four gold medal recipients of the night our family got a special dedicated person assigned to us who would help us “maneuver” the venue and agenda. Thanks Linus!

In the golden hall me and Anja took a seat in our reserved seats in the front row as the almost 700 other guests slowly entered and filled up every last available chair. The other guests were members of the Academy or special invitees, ministers, the speaker of the parliament etc. All in tail coats, evening dresses and the likes to conform with the dress code of the night.

The golden hall is named after its golden colored walls, all filled up with paintings of Swedish historic figures contributing to a pompous and important atmosphere and spirit. This is the kind of room you want to get awards in.

Part of the program in this golden hall was the gold medal awards ceremony. After having showed short two-minute videos of each of the awardees and our respective deeds and accomplishments on the giant screen in the front of the room, us awardees were called to the stage.

Three gold medals and one large gold medal were handed out to my fellow awardees and myself this year. Carl-Henric Svanberg received the large gold medal. Mats Danielsson and Helena Hedblom were awarded the gold medal. The same as I.

The medals were handed to us one by one by Marcus Wallenberg.

In one of the agenda items in the golden hall,IVA’s CEO Sylvia Schwaag Serger did a much inspiring talk about Swedish Engineering and mentioned an amazing list of feats and accomplishments done over the last year and with hope and anticipation for the future. I and curl were also mentioned in her speech. Even more humbled.

The audience here were some of the top minds and Engineering brains in Sweden. Achievers and great minds. The kind of people you want appreciation from because they know a thing or two.

Intermission

A small break followed. We strolled down to the giant main hall for some drinks. The blue hall, which is somewhat famous to anyone who ever watched the Nobel Prize banquets. Several people told me the story that the original intent was for the walls to be blue, but…

Banquet

At about 19:00, me and Anja had to sneak up a floor again together with crowd of others who were seated on that main long table you can see on the photo above. Table 1.

On the balcony someone mentioned I should wear the prize. So with some help I managed to get it around my neck. It’s not a bad feeling I can tell you.

As everyone else in the hall had found their ways to their seats, we got to do a slow procession walking down the big wide stairs down into the main hall and find our ways to our seats.

Then followed a most wonderful three-course meal. I had excellent table neighbor company and we had a lively and interesting conversation all through the dinner. There were a few welcome short interruptions in the form of speeches and music performances. A most delightful dinner.

After the final apple tart was finished, there was coffee and more drinks served upstairs again, as the golden hall had apparently managed to transition while we ate downstairs.

When the clock eventually approached midnight the entire Stenberg family walked off into the night and went home. A completely magical night was over but it will live on in my mind and head for a long time.

Thank you to every single one involved.

The medal

The medal has an image of Prometus on the front side, and Daniel Stenberg 2025 engraved on the back side. On the back it also says the name of the Academy and för framstående gärning, for outstanding achievement.

A medal to be proud of.

Of course I figured this moment in time also called for a graph.