BMW, BASF won KGCCI innovation awards
Stefan Halusa, second from left, president of the Korean-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KGCCI), poses with Joo Hyeong-hwan, fourth from left, vice minister of strategy and finance; Rolf Mafael, fourth from right, German Ambassador to Korea; and other distinguished guests during the “KGCCI Innovation Awards” gala at the Floating Islands on the Han River, Wednesday. / Courtesy of KGCCI
By Lee Hyo-sik
BMW Korea, BASF Korea and va-Q-tec Korea, an insulation device maker, won awards from the Korean-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KGCCI) Wednesday, for innovation in business, workforce development and green technologies.
KGCCI, which represents the interests of German companies in Korea, held its first “KGCCI Innovation Awards” ceremony at the Floating Islands on the Han River Wednesday night and announced the three awardees.
BMW won an award for innovation in business, BASF for innovation in workforce development and va-Q-tec Korea for innovation in green technologies, the association said.
More than 170 German and Korean business leaders, as well as senior government officials, including Vice Minister of Strategy and Finance Joo Hyeong-hwan and German Ambassador to Korea Rolf Mafael, attended the gala.
In a welcoming speech, KGCCI president Stefan Halusa said, “The chamber decided to give awards to the most innovative German and Korean companies to help promote innovation in business and nurture closer economic relations between the two countries.”
In a congratulatory speech, vice finance minister Joo said Korea and Germany share special bond and have many things in common. “This event sends positive signals to the creative economy of both nations that are seeking to develop a cooperative partnership.”
Joo then called on business leaders to make concerted efforts to strengthen economic cooperation between the two countries, saying that the Korean government will offer all the support to promote bilateral business ties.
KGCCI said BMW Korea won the innovation in business award for its driving center near Incheon International Airport.
“The BMW Driving Center is the world first ‘for customer’ facility that contains not only a driving track, but also a brand experience center, a junior campus, a training academy, an R&D Center, a service center, a restaurant and a sports park,” a KGCCI spokesman said. “The BMW driving center created more than 100 new jobs mostly recruited from local community and collaborates with seven Korean partner companies. Other automakers have followed suit by building similar facilities.”
BASF Korea won the innovation in workforce development award for its worker diversity and inclusion initiative.
“Traditionally, many companies in Korea have a strong hierarchy and a culture that is not very inclusive. But BASF Korea established a diversity and inclusion committee with 15 members from different units and backgrounds in 2007,” he said. “The chemical company has been playing a pioneering role in worker diversity.”
About 14.6 percent of BASF workers are women, twice the average of Korean chemical firms, the spokesman said. “BASF was recently chosen as one of the 30 most attractive foreign employers. We think the company is a role model for local enterprises seeking to build a work-life-balanced corporate culture.”
In addition, KGCCI decided to give the innovation in green technology award to va-Q-tec Korea for its vacuum insulation panel, which set new standards for reducing energy consumption. The panel is reportedly 10 times more energy efficient than conventional materials.
“Founded in 2000, the company’s brilliant innovation enables simple design and passive systems. It is a small company with 200 employees, but has taken responsible roles for the next generation and environment by saving energy and reducing greenhouse gas emissions,” the spokesman said.
KGCCI will continue to recognize the most innovative German and Korean companies every year. For more information, go to its website at www.kgcci.com .