Innovation is a core value of the corporate culture at ebm‑papst, a fan and motor manufacturer based in Mulfingen, Germany. The company’s commitment to innovation has once again been recognized with the TOP 100 Award—its third time receiving this prestigious honor. This competition celebrates highly innovative small and medium-sized enterprises, with winners selected through a rigorous scientific evaluation of their innovation activities based on more than 100 criteria.

The TOP 100 Award recognizes Germany’s most innovative small and medium-sized enterprises. The selection process is based on a rigorous scientific evaluation led by innovation researcher Prof. Dr. Nikolaus Franke. Companies are assessed across five key categories: innovation-driven top management, innovation climate, innovative processes and organization, external orientation and open innovation, and overall innovation success. The central question is whether a company’s innovations stem from a structured innovation management approach or occur by chance. “Innovation means acting instead of reacting,” says Franke. “It means actively shaping the future rather than merely hoping nothing will change.”

Innovation Drives Major Efficiency Gains
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Tomas Smetana, Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of the ebm‑papst Group, highlights the critical role of innovation in maintaining the company’s global leadership: “True innovation emerges where efficiency meets enthusiasm—both of which are driven by people. As a technology leader, we develop and manufacture high-quality components and systems for ventilation and heating technology. By combining decades of product expertise with the opportunities presented by digitalization and AI, we continue to achieve significant efficiency gains—an essential factor in advancing the energy transition. Rather than relying solely on individual creativity, we foster an environment where innovative ideas can continuously develop in the minds of all employees. As a team, we are proud to be among Germany’s leading innovators. Medium-sized companies like ours form the foundation of sustainable growth, ensuring long-term prosperity in Germany and across the EU.”

Ongoing Commitment to “Glocal” Innovation
The TOP 100 Award highlights ebm‑papst’s ongoing commitment to sustaining its innovative strength and technological leadership in the long term. At its Mulfingen headquarters alone, the company has made significant investments in R&D infrastructure in recent years. Notable projects include the establishment of an EMC laboratory in 2021 (€12 million), a testing center in 2023 (€8 million), the HighSpeed Technikum in 2024 (€15 million), and the E-Drive Solution Labs, set to open in 2025 (€30 million). Beyond Germany, ebm‑papst continues to expand its “glocal” presence—combining global expertise with local market focus. Key initiatives include the opening of its new Chinese headquarters, “OneShanghai,” in 2024, the expansion of its Xi'an plant in China by 2025 (€30 million), the establishment of a new manufacturing facility in Telford, USA, in 2022 ($30 million), and the expansion of its production and development site in Farmington, USA, in 2024 (€3 million).