FRONHAUSEN, Germany—Schneider GmbH & Co. KG, developer and manufacturer of modern and novel system solutions for ophthalmic and ultra-precision optics, has received the renowned Top 100 Seal 2024. This German award is only given to particularly innovative medium-sized companies. Science journalist Ranga Yogeshwar will personally congratulate Schneider on this success at the award ceremony on June 28, 2024, in Weimar, Germany. Innovation researcher professor Dr. Nikolaus Franke from the Vienna University of Economics and Business and his team examined the innovative strength of all participants on behalf of Compamedia, the organizer of the competition.

The team evaluated more than 100 criteria from five categories: innovation-promoting top management, innovation climate, innovative processes and organization, external orientation/open innovation and innovation success. 

"Are companies able to create new products, new services, new processes and new business models? And are these achievements just coincidences or the result of a structured and targeted approach? These are the questions we examine at Top 100," said Dr. Franke.

He added, it is also important to see whether innovations and product improvements have been able to establish themselves on the market and how they perform. The jury is made up of well-known people in Germany, including Jens Tönnesmann from the renowned magazine DIE ZEIT; professor, Dr. Ing Reimund Neugebauer from the research organization Fraunhofer; politician Dr. Gregor Gysi; and Christoph Ahlhaus from The German Association for Small and Medium-sized Businesses (BVMW).

Schneider successfully passed the scientific selection process and is now among the top German innovators for the second time. The company was also recognized in 2014. The company offers their customers intelligent system solutions for fully automated production.

"Innovation is our constant motivation. As a developer and manufacturer of modern and novel high-tech system solutions for ophthalmic and ultra-precision optics, our company is known for its innovativeness. Innovation is really our corporate purpose," said Gunter Schneider, managing director and owner of Schneider.
 
“Within the sector, Schneider is perceived as the pioneer of free-form technology, and innovative technology for optimizing the production of progressive lenses. Over 25 years ago, this disruptive innovation revolutionized the ophthalmic optics industry—today, almost everyone who wears progressive lenses benefits from it. Innovations can arise anywhere. To further promote this, we maintain flat hierarchies and a close working atmosphere within the company. The ideas of each individual are heard and valued," Schneider said.