Awards for RWTH Start-Up Companies
The Aachen company Indurad GmbH has been presented with the AC2 Innovation Award, which is sponsored by the City of Aachen, the Aachen City Region, and the Districts of Düren, Euskirchen, and Heinsberg. Furthermore, the Business Growth Prize was awarded to “Modell Aachen GmbH,” FEV GmbH received the Special Prize of the jury.
Induard GmbH was established six years ago as a spin-out company from RWTH Aachen. The firm develops radar technology solutions for the mining industry, such as radar scanners for the purpose of inventory control, radar-based belt volume scanners and speed sensors, and online positioning solutions for a huge variety of mining equipment.
Modell Aachen GmbH, a spin-off from RWTH and the Fraunhofer Institute for Production Technology, was awarded with the first prize in the category “Business Growth.” The company develops software for interactive management systems and offers advising and other services. Their product “Q.Wiki” integrates process, quality, and knowledge management with a Wiki technology, making it possible for employees not only to read, but also contribute to work instructions and guidelines. In this way, the knowledge of all employees can be shared. Currently, the company has 13 employees and intends to employ a further 17 staff members until 2017.
The jury’s Special Prize went to FEV GmbH, a global engineering services provider with a focus on combustion engines, vehicle drive systems, and energy technology. The company was founded in 1978 by Franz Pischinger, who at the time was Professor of Applied Thermodynamics at RWTH Aachen. Today the company employs a staff of over 2,900 highly skilled research and development specialists on several continents.