BENSHEIM, Germany, September 1, 2020—”Innovation is extremely important for us. Shaping change and solving the complex challenges of our time require fresh ideas. That is why we are inviting young people to share their innovative ideas with us and make the world a little bit better.” This is how Henning Banthien, spokesman for the management board of ifok GmbH, describes the company’s motivation for its “Shaping Change” innovation award. To mark the company’s 25th anniversary, ifok is running the competition and inviting students, trainees, and young professionals to participate. The two winners will receive prize money of 5,000 Euros each and ifok will support the implementation of their ideas. All nominees will be invited to an ifok Academy training session for young professionals.
The competition is looking for ideas that address current challenges and offer clear approaches to solving problems–whether in the field of sustainable transportation, climate, species and environmental protection, digitalization, or the current pandemic situation. Equally welcome are new approaches to direct democracy or formats that enable people to better interact with each other in the future, allowing them to actively participate in addressing the challenges of our time, or ideas that strengthen cohesion in our societies.
Competition entries can be submitted using a form on the website https://www.ifok.de/en/innovation-award/. The closing date for entries is November 1, 2020, and the following jury members will decide on the winners:
- Henning Banthien, spokesman of the management board of ifok GmbH
- Prof. Dr. Maja Göpel, Secretary General of the German Advisory Council on Global Change
- Carsten Knop, editor of the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung newspaper
- Jill Meiburg, Senior Vice President, Sustainability Communications & Programs at Deutsche Post DHL Group
- Anna Meister, entrepreneur, founder and CEO of ZuBaKa gGmbH
- Dr. Hans-Peter Meister, founder and advisory board member of ifok GmbH
“Twenty-five years ago, on 1 September 1995, I founded ifok and broke new ground with my idea for dialogue and participation,” recalls ifok founder Dr. Hans-Peter Meister. “I am proud that we have retained the pioneering spirit of that time and are now able to support young people in implementing their forward-thinking ideas. In its 25-year corporate history, ifok has used a wide range of innovative formats to initiate and support societal debates on a variety of topics, including the Regional Dialogue Forum at Frankfurt Airport; the sustainability strategies and climate protection plans of numerous German states and at the federal level; the IfB Initiative for Employment; the European Citizens’ Consultations; the school business project ‘Jugend denkt Zukunft,’ Open.NRW-Open Government in North Rhine-Westphalia; the National Platform for the Future of Mobility, and the Platform Industry 4.0.”
ifok joined The Cadmus Group, an international group of strategic and technical consultancies, in 2017. Ian Kline, President and CEO of The Cadmus Group, shares: “The merger with ifok has strengthened our expertise and our international reach. I am delighted about our excellent multi-national collaboration on many common projects, like the ‘Transatlantic Climate Bridge’ initiative. I look forward to meeting the nominees of the ifok innovation-award in person!”
Press contact
ifok GmbH
Yvette Richter
Phone: +49 (0) 6251 8263 133
yvette.richter@ifok.de
About ifok
Founded in 1995, ifok is a leading German strategy and communications consultancy. Around 150 employees work in Bensheim, Berlin, Düsseldorf, Munich and Brussels for both Germany and international clients. ifok is part of the international Cadmus Group, which comprises around 600 employees across 20 locations in Europe, the United States, and Asia. We work with our clients and partners to shape tomorrow’s world today–thinking strategically, conceptually, and pragmatically while implementing locally. www.ifok.de/en
About The Cadmus Group
The Cadmus Group is an international group of strategic and technical consultancies compelled to help solve the world’s most challenging problems. We assemble the best teams of leading experts who work seamlessly across disciplines to help our clients achieve extraordinary results. From energy, water, and transportation to safety, security, and resilience—together, we are strengthening society and the natural world. Learn more at www.cadmusgroup.com.
