INFUSER vinder Københavns Erhvervspris
INFUSER vil ud i verden og erobre eksportmarkeder med deres nye trofæ, Københavns Erhvervspris, som de vandt i kategorien Innovation. English version below
”Innovation er et misbrugt og ja, et lidt fluffy udtryk,” startede teknik og miljøborgmester Morten Kabell sin introduktion til dagens nominerede i kategorien Innovation i en fyldt festsal på Københavns Rådshus.
Der er dog intet fluffy over kategoriens vinder, INFUSER, der i sin korte levetid på fem år har opnået om end meget håndfaste resultater.
Virksomhedens unikke luftrensningsteknologi, der udspringer af forskning på Københavns Universitet, har formået at tiltrække internationale investeringer for mere end 70 millioner kroner og forventer en omsætning på 50 millioner kroner i 2016.
De sorte tal på bundlinjen er noget juryen har lagt vægt på. INFUSER er et klart bevis på, at videnssamfundet Danmark har en stor rolle at spille i jagten på vækst.
”INFUSER har formået at omsætte grundforskning til arbejdspladser og skatteindtægter i København, hvilket beviser, at grundforskning godt kan omsættes til en god forretning,” lød det i nomineringsvideoen.
Prisen skal udnyttes ude i verden
INFUSER’s administrerende direktør Lars Nannerup var efter prisoverrækkelsen glad for hæderen, og han lagde ikke skjul på, at prisen skal ud og vises frem i verden.
”Den vil vi udnytte så meget, som vi kan. Det er en blåstempling af det arbejde, vi laver. Så den skal ud og arbejde aktivt for os i de eksportmarkeder, vi bearbejder,” siger han.
Morten Kabell fortalte fra festsalens talerstol, at han ser en potentiel eksportsucces i INFUSER.
”INFUSER har skabt et produkt, der er i stand til at rense luften i ikke bare København, men i hele verden og har derfor et stort eksportpotentiale. Det er et produkt der udspringer af innovationsmiljøet i Copenhagen Science City.”
Morten Kabell, teknik- og miljøborgmester
Vigtig dialog
Erhvervsprisen er en del af tredje udgave af Københavns Kommunes Erhvervsdialogmøde. Der var dækket op til efterfølgende rundsbordssnak med Københavns borgmestre siddende ved hver sit bord
Det er denne særlige dialog mellem erhvervsliv og offentlig institutioner, INFUSER’s Lars Nannerup valgte at dedikere sin pris til.
”Dette er en pris til det generelle erhvervsmiljø, der er i København, hvor der er et etableret samarbejde mellem offentlige institutioner og det private erhvervsliv. Det, tror jeg, er lidt unikt for Danmark, fordi der rundt i verden godt kan være et mistillidsforhold,” forklarer Lars Nannerup.
”Der er også et godt innovationsstøttemiljø i Danmark. Uden de midler, vi fik fra CapNova, var vi aldrig nogensinde kommet i gang.”
Der blev til Københavns Erhvervspris uddelt yderligere to priser. I kategorien Attraktiv by vandt byudviklings- og rådgivningsfirmaet SLA, men KHRS tog prisen for Miljø og socialt ansvar for deres beskæftigelsesindsats for borgere langt fra arbejdsmarkedet.
Hør professor Matthew Johnson fotælle om INFUSER:
INFUSER wins Copenhagen Business Award for Innovation
INFUSER sets its sights on capturing export markets after winning a Copenhagen Business Award in the category Innovation.
“Innovation is a misused and admittedly fluffy term,” said Deputy Mayor of Technical and Environmental Affairs of Copenhagen, Morten Kabell, to a packed ballroom at Copenhagen City Hall while presenting the Copenhagen Business Award nominees in the category Innovation.
Yet there is nothing fluffy about this year’s winner, INFUSER, a company founded just five years ago that has already achieved very tangible results.
The company’s unique air purification technology, based on research conducted at the University of Copenhagen, has already attracted more than DKK 70m in international investments and INFUSER expects total revenue exceeding DKK 50m in 2016.
The jury viewed the company’s profitable bottom line as a critical factor. INFUSER provides clear proof that Denmark’s knowledge society plays a key role in the quest for growth.
“INFUSER has successfully transformed basic research into jobs and tax revenue in Copenhagen, proving that basic research can translate into good business,” proclaimed the nomination video at the ceremony.
Plans to utilise the award internationally
Following the awards ceremony, INFUSER CEO Lars Nannerup expressed delight with the honour and did not hide the company’s intentions of showcasing the award internationally.
“We are going to utilise this as much as we can. It’s an important recognition of the work we’re doing. So now it’s time for the award to go out and work actively for us in the export markets we are building,” said Nannerup.
Speaking from the ballroom’s podium, Morten Kabell declared that he sees great export potential for INFUSER.
“INFUSER has created a product capable of purifying the air – not just in Copenhagen, but worldwide – and therefore it has great export potential. It’s a product born out of the innovation environment in Copenhagen Science City.”
Morten Kabell, Deputy Mayor of Technical and Environmental Affairs of Copenhagen
Important dialogue
The business award was presented in connection with the third edition of the City of Copenhagen’s Business Dialogue Meeting. The event was followed by roundtable talks with each of Copenhagen’s seven mayors (Lord Mayor and six deputy mayors) seated at a table.
INFUSER CEO Lars Nannerup dedicated the award to the special dialogue between the business community and Denmark’s public institutions.
“This is an award for the overall business environment in Copenhagen, where there is an established cooperation between public institutions and the private sector. I think this is a somewhat unique trait of Denmark, as there is often distrust between the two in much of the world,” said Nannerup.
“Denmark also has a strong innovation support environment. Without the funds we received from CapNova, we would have never even got off the ground.”
The Copenhagen Business Award was also presented in two other categories. The urban development and consulting firm SLA won in the “Attractive City” category, while KHRS won the “Environment and Social Responsibility” category for its efforts to help people far from the labour market regain employment.
