Exner was the youngest graduate of the Polytechnic Institute of the Department of Performing Geometry, Building and Machine Science at the age of 22.

In 1875, Wilhelm Exner was appointed Professor of Engineering and between 1881 until 1900 Rector of today’s University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna.

[1] Exner established the modern type of vocational schools in Austria, is one of the creator of the Chamber of Labor and was co-founder of the Vienna Technical Museum.

[2] Due to his affiliation to the Austrian Business Association, the Wilhelm Exner Medal was established in 1921 and was awarded to outstanding scientists and researchers.

[6] The laureates include 20 Nobel Prize winners and engineers like Ferdinand Porsche and Wernher von Braun.