Three companies up for 2016 Erasmus Innovation Award

Three Dutch companies have been nominated for the 2016 Erasmus Innovation Award, for showing how social innovation has contributed to their unique positioning within niche markets. The nominations are based on a large annual survey among Dutch firms: the Erasmus Competition and Innovation Monitor. This initiative is led by Henk Volberda, Professor of Strategic Management and Business Policy at Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University (RSM). The three companies were nominated following this year’s review, and the award will be presented at the Getting Smart event in Rotterdam on 24 November.

According to Prof. Volberda, “instead of coming up with standard solutions, these three companies have clearly shown how social innovation has contributed to unique positioning within niche markets. For example, they used inspiring leadership and initiated innovation activities alongside their day-to-day activities.”

The three nominated companies include Mifa Aluminium, which manufactures aluminium extrusion products; Posterama, which develops and manufactures coated transfers and stickers for other industries; and Coldenhove Papier which develops paper products to be used as information carriers in, among others, the textile and medical sectors.

A jury of six will select the winner. Members of the jury are:

Thomas Grosfeld, of the ;
Mariëtte Hamer, President of the Social and Economic Council (Sociaal-Economische Raad, SER);
Bertholt Leeftink, Director General for Enterprise and Innovation, Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs;
Piero Overmars, Board member of the Goldschmeding Foundation;
Frans Van Den Bosch, RSM;
Henk Volberda – Professor of Strategic Management and Business Policy at RSM.

More information about the nominated companies in Dutch: (PDF)

More information

Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University (RSM) is one of Europe’s top-ranked business schools. RSM provides ground-breaking research and education furthering excellence in all aspects of management and is based in the international port city of Rotterdam – a vital nexus of business, logistics and trade. RSM’s primary focus is on developing business leaders with international careers who can become a force for positive change by carrying their innovative mindset into a sustainable future. Our first-class range of bachelor, master, MBA, PhD and executive programmes encourage them to become critical, creative, caring and collaborative thinkers and doers. www.rsm.nl

For more information about RSM or this release, please contact Ramses Singeling, Media Officer for RSM, on +31 10 408 2028, or by email at singeling@rsm.nl.