cab has once again been awarded TOP 100. This indicates that the company belongs to Germany's most innovative SME. Christian Wulff is going to congratulate cab face-to-face at the award ceremony during the German SME Summit on June 26, 2026, in Heidelberg. The former German Federal Minister and Lower Saxony Prime Minister is accompanying this competition as a mentor.
How much worktime does management reserve for innovation? How many innovative ideas are presented by the employees? These and further questions are the focus of the TOP 100 scientific selection process. Participating companies fill in a web-based questionnaire in advance. Innovation researcher Professor Nikolaus Franke and his team examine more than 100 criteria to assess innovation-promoting management, the climate for innovation, processes and success. With respect to 27 research awards and more than 200 publications, Franke is a world leading innovation researcher. He conducts the selection process on behalf of compamedia, the organizer of this competition. “At TOP 100, we thoroughly analyze how focused on innovation applicants have been. Those who did best are confirmed TOP 100,” says Franke.
Employees and customers key factors to success
“Innovation management takes into account a chain of things,” says cab CEO Alexander Bardutzky. “Collecting, developing, structuring and monitoring ideas are included, so is coordinating all the people involved in the process.” Bardutzky adds: "Wherever people are involved, we are dealing with complexity. We cannot predict in a linear, causal manner how each individual will deal with this and what effects result from this. However, we see a positive corporate culture as essential for our innovative power. ‘Positive’ refers to the ability, willingness and freedom of involved parties. At cab, employees are encouraged to engage in innovation based on personal initiative and self-organization. Resources are provided accordingly within the company. Talking of innovation ‘triggers’, we must also mention our close contact and lively discussions with customers and business partners. The input we get from them drives us to continually create innovative solutions for meeting these challenges.”
To ensure equal opportunities for all participants, TOP 100 awards in three categories: companies with a maximum of 50 employees, 51 to 200, and 200 or more employees. A total of 356 SME applied in this 33rd edition, 282 were successful. A maximum of 100 companies per category can be awarded.
cab impressed in the selection process and is authorized to use the TOP 100 seal since February 1. The company is now a top innovator for the fourth time in 2026. All top innovators of this year's competition will meet on June 26 at the Heidelberg Congress Center for the German SME Summit. There, Christian Wulff will congratulate face-to-face on their success in the TOP 100.
Image: Ralf Ritzert, cab Head of Marketing, and the 2026 award
See cab online at www.cab.de/en