Claymount Technologies Group B.V. wins Erasmus Innovation Award 2012

The judges commented that Claymount Technologies’ innovative organisational structures had contributed to the creation of the SmartBucky DM device, which enables existing analogue mammography equipment to produce digital images. Co-operation between different disciplines in the company had reduced the number of parts needed to build this type of device. The panel of judges also applauded the company’s international focus. “Its ability to build up and maintain a global network is a great strength,” they said.

The organisation’s particularly strong focus on technological innovations did not go unnoticed. “The winner of the Erasmus Innovation Award 2012 shows that a combination of technological innovations and social innovation is a powerful tool for successful innovation,” remarked Prof. Volberda. “Claymount Technologies is an excellent example of how companies can make much better use of their technological knowledge.”

Using the Erasmus Competition and Innovation Monitor, the INSCOPE research team at RSM examined to what extent companies innovate, and the crucial determinants for successful innovation. Companies such as Movares, Mediaan/ABS, Roche Diagnostics BV and Claymount Technologies Group BV turned out to be fine examples of how companies can be both innovative and efficient. On the strength of the data from the Erasmus Competition and Innovation Monitor, desk research and interviews with companies, the four companies were nominated for the Erasmus Innovation Award 2012 by the INSCOPE research team.

The winner of the Erasmus Innovation Award 2012 was picked by a judging panel consisting of:

• Mr. H. Biesheuvel, Chairman of Dutch Federation of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises
• Mr. M. Bos, Director of Economic Affairs at Social and Economic Council
• Mr. C. Buijink, Secretary-General at Ministry of Economic Affairs
• Mr. W. Draijer, Chairman of Social and Economic Council
• Mr. B. Wientjes, Chairman of Confederation of Netherlands Industry and Employers

The Erasmus Competition and Innovation Monitor 2011 - 2012
INSCOPE – Research for Innovation, led by Prof. Volberda, has carried out the Erasmus Competition and Innovation Monitor to map out but also further promote innovation and particularly social innovation in the Netherlands for the past few years. The Monitor shows how aspects of management and organisation can contribute to sustainable organisational renewal. In addition to Prof. Volberda, the research team includes Prof. Frans Van Den Bosch, Drs Kevin Heij, Prof. Justin Jansen and Dr Michiel Tempelaar.

The researchers made use of existing scales from academic literature to draw up their questionnaire, and asked 4,300 companies to complete it. The team also used various digital media to raise interest in the project, and received 550 completed questionnaires. Responding companies most frequently identified themselves as business-to-business services (23%), or part of the construction industry (14%), manufacturing industry and mining (8%), logistics (7%), high-performance materials and systems (5%), and food production through agriculture (4%). Companies classifying themselves as ‘others’ made up 39% of all respondents.