The Application Center Oberpfaffenhofen (AZO) was awarded the Diesel Medal, Germany’s oldest innovation prize, for “Best Innovation Promotion”.
Over 200 invited personalities from the German innovation scene attended the ceremony in the Hall of Honor of the Deutsches Museum in Munich. Together with Dr. jur. Heiner Pollert, Chairman of the Diesel Medal's sponsoring association, the German Institute of Inventions, the spokesperson of the Diesel Board, Prof. Dr. Alexander J. Wurzer, presented the Diesel Medal for "Best Innovation Promotion" to Stefanie Herrmann (CFO) and Thorsten Rudolph (CEO) of AZO.
On the Diesel Medal: “This award confirms our mission”
AZO, a subsidiary of the German Aerospace Center (DLR), has supported more than 155 Bavarian startups in space and satellite technology since its founding in 2004. At the same time, it operates the largest space innovation network in Europe. The application center focuses on the commercial use of satellite infrastructures such as satellite navigation and communications, as well as Earth observation and space technologies by startups, SMEs, and large corporations.
“We are very honored to receive this award for ‘Best Innovation Promotion’ from Germany’s oldest innovation award for economically successful entrepreneurial inventions,”
explained Stefanie Herrmann, CFO of AZO.
Thorsten Rudolph, CEO of AZO, adds:
"This award validates our mission. However, such an achievement doesn't come from a single person. Behind it all is always a highly motivated team. That's why the Diesel Medal also goes to the ESA-BIC Bavaria and AZO team."
