Promoting Innovation Strengthens Regions

By Christiane Hilsmann

Positive work conditions motivate development departments

Commercial innovations have a great influence on the economic power of German states and regions, according to a study by Bertelsmann Stiftung, a German foundation. Bertelsmann Stiftung researched the general conditions for development in all German federal states, and compared them with the current innovative performance of that state, measured by criteria such as revenue from new products and patent applications per resident. Germany's southern states of Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg were well ahead.

To harness the positive conditions in their regions, companies should give their employees the freedom to develop new ideas. Josef Schmidt, innovation manager at SEW-Eurodrive  working in the southwestern region, says that this is what drives him the most in his work. "As innovation managers, we are free to design our own work plans. And as a financially independent company, SEW-Eurodrive considers freedom an important company asset."

Even in the mechanical engineering sector, innovation is constantly being promoted. And although completely new products are rare, SEW's approach is more about solutions. "We don't just serve a market. We serve customers and focus on their requirements," says Schmidt. "The rest is up to our creativity and productivity." Schmidt currently sees demand for better focus on the application, energy efficiency, and recyclability. More integration of IT in machines is also needed to allow them to become the unskilled workers of modern factories. "SEW-Eurodrive is leading the way in these areas of development," says Schmidt.