Schreiner Group has achieved overall victory in the Germany-wide “Top 100” innovation competition, which has earned the company recognition as “Innovator of the Year 2015.” Prior to winning the award, the Munich-based label printing company participated in a challenging selection process. “Top 100” mentor Ranga Yogeshwar presented the prize to Managing Shareholder Roland Schreiner at the “German Mittelstands-Summit” in Essen on June 26.

Top 100 has been recognizing mid-sized businesses for their innovation management for more than 20 years. Schreiner Group convinced the “Top 100” judging panel with its “smooth transition from the second to the third family generation at the helm of the company that also gave new impetus to innovation.” In the judges’ opinion, the company had done an exemplary job of managing this change, as the transition was used to specifically drive the evolution of the innovation processes: “The conceptual basis for this is provided by “Strategy 2020,” which Roland Schreiner developed together with the members of top management. In pursuing this strategy, the company has succeeded in expanding its internal, innovation-related communication which, in the jury’s opinion, further improved the company’s positive innovation climate. Schreiner’s commitment to innovation is also underscored by ‘Innovation’ being anchored in the organization as one of the four corporate values besides ‘Quality,’ ‘Performance’ and ‘Enthusiasm,’” the judges added.

“Innovation is a corporate value that is being lived at Schreiner Group. All employees are consistently encouraged to think outside the box and to contribute new ideas,” says Roland Schreiner. “Therefore, I owe a debt of gratitude to all our employees for achieving our ‘Innovator of the Year’ award.”

The judges’ decision was based on the results of a comprehensive questionnaire in the categories of “Innovation-Encouraging Top Management,” “Innovation Climate,” “Innovative Processes and Organization,” Innovation Marketing and External Orientation” and “Innovation Success.” During a company tour, the members of the judging panel chaired by Prof. Dr. Nikolaus Franke from the Department of Entrepreneurship and Innovation of the Vienna University of Economics and Business received a first-hand impression of Schreiner Group’s innovation process. This obviously had a lasting effect, as the judging panel of professionals stressed in the justification of its selection: “Schreiner Group impressed in Top 100 as an agile, strong-growth mid-size company with a comprehensive and holistic understanding of innovation.”