Rees, 1 July 2016 - The TOP 100, the most innovative companies in the German SME sector, have been honoured for the 23rd time. This year, Novoferm tormatic GmbH is among this innovation elite for the second time in a row. The Dortmund-based company previously took part in a demanding, scientific selection process. Innovation management and innovation success were analysed. The mentor of the innovation competition, Ranga Yogeshwar, honoured the top innovator at the German SME Summit on 24 June in Essen.
For the second time in a row, Novoferm tormatic GmbH has been honoured in the TOP 100 innovation competition. The Dortmund-based company owes its success to its exemplary structured processes and the way in which it imparts knowledge to both its own employees and customers. Novoferm tormatic develops and produces drive and control systems for door automation. With the creation of a new test and technology centre, the company intends to further expand its outstanding national and international market position.
The innovation work bundled under the motto "Pure Drive" focuses on key innovations such as the Internet of Things, but also on harmonising technology and design with future customer requirements. "The new premium products for high design demands in particular offer a completely new type of added value," says Managing Director Michael Glanz.
Over 4,000 companies were interested in taking part in TOP 100 this year. 366 of them applied for the qualification round. Of these, 284 made it to the final round. 238 finally made it into the TOP 100 (a maximum of 100 in each of the three size categories). The companies were once again assessed by Prof Dr Nikolaus Franke and his team from the Chair of Entrepreneurship and Innovation at the Vienna University of Economics and Business. They surveyed over 100 parameters in five evaluation categories: "Innovation-promoting top management", "Innovation climate", "Innovative processes and organisation", "Innovation marketing/outward orientation" and "Innovation success".
The TOP 100 are among the pacesetters in their sectors. This is confirmed by the figures in the evaluation: the companies include 97 national market leaders and 32 global market leaders. On average, they recently achieved 40 per cent of their turnover with market innovations and product improvements that they brought to market before the competition. Their turnover growth was 28 percentage points above the respective industry average. Together, SMEs registered 2,292 national and international patents in the past three years. This innovative strength is also paying off in jobs: The TOP 100 plan to hire around 9,500 new employees over the next three years.
The mentor of the TOP 100, science journalist and TV presenter Ranga Yogeshwar, is impressed by the quality of the companies and hopes for a signalling effect: "The way in which the TOP 100 generate new ideas and develop pioneering products and services from them is remarkable in the truest sense of the word. I am therefore delighted that the award makes these qualities visible. Hopefully their success will encourage other companies to do the same. Because this culture of innovation will become increasingly important for all companies in the future."
