maxon motor is ready for the future

This year the 5th European Futurists Conference Lucerne presented a Future Readiness Award for the very first time. Among the winners was microdrive producer maxon motor which has turned in a rela-tively stable performance despite the economic crisis thanks to the firm’s far-sighted policies.

“In the current market situation, it is particularly important that companies systematically look to the future. Those that can identify future trends early can create competitive advantages”, said Christian Weber of SECO, the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs. SECO and the European Futurists Conference Lucerne conducted a joint survey about the future readiness of Swiss SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises).

The result of the Future Readiness Index 2009 study showed that Swiss SMEs are not very good at dealing with the future. Although most of them have business strategies for the next two to six years, as far as trends and developments are concerned, most do not think beyond their own defined strategy. According to Georges T. Roos, the Study Leader and Managing Director of the European Futurists Conference Lucerne, this means that companies draw up many strategies without looking at trends and developments in any depth. The European Futurists Conference Lucerne’s own figures show that it is the largest futurists conference in Europe.

Those companies that adapt well to future market challenges were given the Future Readiness Award 2009. Analysis of the information received shows that in the fundamental future requirement category, maxon motor is one of the companies best prepared for the future in Switzerland. “maxon motor demonstrates wide-ranging foresight. In its trend analysis, it follows developments close to home, but also in the wider business environment. maxon uses different instruments to observe and fashion the future, including scenarios, expert surveys, early identification and simulations. Its findings are incorporated into strategies and marketing”, said Mr Roos about maxon motor.

The winners of other categories were Vosch Electronic, Pixy and Axpo Vertrieb AG. “These companies typically demonstrate a specific and outstanding future readiness”, explained Mr Roos who presented the awards to-gether with Mr Christian Weber, Departmental Head of SME Policy at SECO.

© 2009 by © maxon motor ag