Iris Gleicke, the Federal Government Commissioner for Small and Medium-sized Businesses and Parliamentary State Secretary at the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, presented federal prizes for outstanding innovative achievement in craft trades at the international craft trade fair in Munich.
Gleicke had this to say: "The businesses honoured today show just how much creativity there is to be found in craft trades. With innovations like these, they are driving craft trades forward – and with them, our economy as a whole." The Parliamentary State Secretary added that the prize-winners and their "exciting developments" are playing an important role in creating modern and attractive craft trades that will stand the test of time: "It is the only way for companies on the domestic market to win and retain the skilled workers on whom they rely."
A total of ten prizes were awarded. The overriding criteria were the level of innovation and complexity of a development, plus its practical benefit to the craft trades industry. The Federal Innovation Prize is intended to speed up the adoption of new technologies, thus improving the performance and competitive edge of craft trades.