IKA Werke receives “Top 100” innovator award
The Breisgau firm earns a place in the ranks of the most innovative mid-size companies/Ranga Yogeshwar offers congratulations
The German capital Berlin was the scene for a special meeting: The most innovative mid-size German companies converged on the capital and were honored at an awards ceremony. Business mentor Ranga Yogeshwar presented the “Top 100” innovation awards in the Axel Springer Passage. This was the 20th year of the innovation award sponsored by compamedia GmbH, and IKA-Werke GmbH & Co. KG from Staufen was there among the other winners for the second consecutive time.
IKA-Werke GmbH & Co. KG is a market leader in laboratory, analysis and process technology. For over 100 years, the family-managed mid-size company has supplied and advised customers in the research and industry sectors. The firm received its “Top 100” award in the “Innovative Processes and Organization” category.
In the last year alone, the company introduced 50 product innovations into the marketplace.. These innovations have updated the company portfolio by incorporating cutting-edge technology and design into both existing and new product ranges.. Also among the innovations were two world premieres, underlining the Breisgau company’s pioneering role.
According to the “Top 100” analysis, the Staufen-based, family-owned company’s innovation processes are exemplary. These new developments are entirely customer-focused in order to address specific customer needs. This customer-centric approach is achieved in part through the 400 m2 “IKA Application Center”, where customers can test new production processes with the help of experts. In addition, regular discussions on development and research projects ensures that customers’ requirements are take into account throughout the development process.
The basis for the “Top 100“ award is provided by an academic analysis of the company by Prof. Dr. Nikolaus Franke and his team from the Department for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at Vienna’s University of Economics and Business. Managing director and partner René Stiegelmann explains: “This success is the result of a committed team performance on the part of management and employees and demonstrates that we have chosen the right path. We will now use the results in order to optimize our innovation management still further.”
Business mentor for the project is journalist and TV presenter Ranga Yogeshwar.
The academic analysis has been led since 2002 by Prof. Dr. Nikolaus Franke from the Department for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at Vienna’s University of Economics and Business. Franke’s research work focuprofessor happens to be one of the world’s leading experts in user innovation. The Fraunhofer Organization for the Promotion of Applied research is a “Top 100” project partner and Süddeutsche Zeitung is a media partner.
Breisgau firm earns a place in the ranks of the most innovative mid-size companies/Ranga Yogeshwar offers congratulations