VDL Group was named the recipient of the 2019 Dutch Innovation Award last month for its pioneering solutions and technologies as well as its focus on employees, entrepreneurship and cooperation.
The Award recognises the innovative strength and the social impact of the family business, which has its head office in Eindhoven, Netherlands.
During the announcement in the Kurhaus in Scheveningen, the jury praised many aspects of VDL Group.
“VDL is leading in using new technologies and innovation is in the DNA”, stated Jury Chairperson Henk Volberda, also Professor of Strategy and Innovation. As Director of the Amsterdam Centre for Business Innovation, Volberda is connected to the Amsterdam Business School, part of the University of Amsterdam. “VDL Groep is making substantial investments in research and development and the combination of automation and focus on employees leads to new employment opportunities. Where others see threats, VDL sees opportunities. They have made multiple important contributions towards developing sustainable solutions. VDL is the jewel of the manufacturing industry.”
The 2019 Dutch Innovation Award is part of the Dutch Innovation Monitor. This large-scale study into innovation is conducted annually in the Netherlands by the Amsterdam Business School’s Amsterdam Centre for Business Innovation, which is affiliated with the University of Amsterdam. Over 5,000 organisations from a broad range of sectors are invited to participate in the study.
Member of the VDL Group Management Board, Jennifer van der Leegte, accepted the 2019 Dutch Innovation Award in Scheveningen.
“This is a fantastic recognition for our almost 17,000 employees who work hard every single day at our 104 national and international companies to make our world smarter, faster, better and greener,” she said. “Our activities are, of course, extremely broad and diverse. For instance, we are working on research into the smallest particle on earth, components for the CERN particle accelerator in Switzerland, as well as on research into the largest component on earth: the support structures for the mirrors in the largest telescope in the world, which is being constructed in Chili, and everything in between. And don’t forget that we are European leader in the electrification of heavy transport, buses, trucks and automated guided vehicles. With our electric vehicles, we are contributing to a cleaner and quieter environment.”