Royal DSM, the life sciences and materials sciences company, has announced that it has won the Erasmus Innovation Award 2013 for the successful transformation of the company.

The award was presented to DSM’s Chief Innovation Officer Rob van Leen at the Annual INSCOPE Conference 2013 in Hoofddorp, the Netherlands, on 27 November.

Research consortium

INSCOPE – Research for Innovation – is a research consortium of Erasmus University Rotterdam, Maastricht University, Utrecht University, University of Twente and TNO. Within this consortium, Erasmus University charts various types of innovation, specifically social innovation, through its Erasmus Competition and Innovation Monitor.

“DSM demonstrates that innovation, and not just innovation in the technology field, is needed to strive for continuity”, said jury chairman Henk Volberda, a Professor at the Rotterdam School of Management of Erasmus University.

Recognition

Explaining why DSM received the award, the jury praises the “grandeur of the change in course and DSM’s capacity to prepare for the future. DSM identified the opportunity to enter the Life Sciences and Materials Sciences fields in a timely way. This change in course was driven not only by the expected developments in the markets in which the company was then active, but also by DSM’s desire to shift to more innovative and sustainable activities that are less cyclic and have higher added value.”

The jury also has recognised how this change in course was felt and implemented down to the company’s capillaries. “Thanks also to inspiring leadership and a more open attitude, DSM is a role model showing how a company can realise synergy between social innovation and technological innovation,” commented Professor Volberda.

Well-thought-out strategic choice

"This award is a great recognition of our innovation activities,” said Rob van Leen. “The transformation that we initiated some years ago was a well-thought-out and courageous strategic choice of our Managing Board, involving a clear commitment to innovation that has been maintained also in more difficult times.”

“This external recognition that innovation is in our company’s genes fills me with pride. I am happy to accept this award on behalf of the many thousand people who daily work on our innovations at DSM.”

DSM

Royal DSM is a science-based company active in health, nutrition and materials. By connecting its competences in life sciences and materials sciences, the company is aimed at creating sustainable value for all stakeholders.

DSM offers innovative solutions for global markets such as food and dietary supplements, personal care, feed, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, automotive, paints, electrical and electronics, life protection, alternative energy and bio-based materials.

www.dsm.com