Innovation offensive launched

The ability for permanent innovation is of vital importance to the Freudenberg Group. The Management Board therefore introduced an innovation offensive in 2003 aimed at initiating specific measures, particularly in the fields of communication and methods. The “Innovation Forum” is a series of events to identify and enhance possible synergy potential among the Business Groups. The target groups for these Innovation Forums are research and development managers and other associates who can contribute to improving the innovation process. The host Business Group presents its innovations at the event. Each event is complemented by a Developers Roundtable, an informal communication platform for all associates from research and development and associated departments. The developers generally meet on the evening of the Innovation Forum. In December 2003, Freudenberg Research Services presented over 50 projects at the first Innovation Forum.

In 2003, the parent company Freudenberg & Co. issued the first invitation to an exchange of experience among several Business Groups aimed at bringing the methods competence of innovation management systems already in place in some Business Groups into play in a Group-wide context. This exchange of experience will be extended and continued during the current year.