Culture of innovation

Innovations are an essential element of our corporate strategy. They ensure the sustained growth of ALTANA and support the company's position as a technology and market leader. We are a research-intensive company, which invests an average of five to six percent of its revenue in research and development (R&D) – approximately double the industry average. Furthermore, ALTANA is a member of seven innovation networks.

The innovation process at ALTANA is designed to bring together knowledge while removing obstacles to efficient, multi-divisional knowledge transfer. We want to make sure that knowledge is available wherever it is needed.
Our culture of innovation is supported by flat hierarchies, independent action and entrepreneurial spirit, as well as the recognition of success. Furthermore, we want to create an incentive system that promotes a balanced mix of creativity (thinking outside the box) and discipline (process) as well as the willingness to take risks. At the same time, the culture of innovation at ALTANA is characterized by eagerness to learn, a long-term perspective, and the ability to respond to market developments.

ALTANA will continue to promote its culture of innovation in the Group. The establishment of the ALTANA Innovation Council in 2008 was an important milestone in this effort. This council of Division technology officers with responsibility for research and development, which is chaired by the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of ALTANA, is designed to ensure the seamless function of the entire innovation process. To give an example of its activities, we have established an R&D fund to promote multi-divisional research projects. Every year, the ALTANA Innovation Council organizes the ALTANA Innovation Conference, which brought together over 100 ALTANA researchers from many countries last year to intensively discuss new applications, technologies, and ideas for new projects. Within the scope of the ALTANA Innovation Conference, outstanding projects are honored with the ALTANA Innovation Award (see figure).

ALTANA does not plan to pursue entirely different business models in the foreseeable future, but will stay with its core competencies in the years to come. However, we have to invest in the expansion of these competencies to minimize risk, which means we have to acquire additional knowledge and further expertise. This will allow us to access additional attractive markets or market segments and to reach our growth objectives.
We intensively address new key technologies such as nanotechnology, industrial biotechnology or printed electronics to remain viable and to meet the needs of our customers with the most efficient methods and technologies.
ALTANA is in an excellent position to remain a global leader with its products and services in every important growth area of the future, including information and communication technologies, consumer goods, security technologies, mobility and transport, energy efficiency, and resource conservation.