Almost four thousand companies submitted projects. In the end the prestigious National Award for Innovation in the Management category went to Enel, ahead of the other two finalists, Samsung (technology) and Natura (cosmetics).
This important acknowledgement rewards the efforts of the Group that has put innovation at the heart of its company strategy: from e-mobility to smart grids, from start-ups to the development of renewables and the Internet of things.
“This prize is the result of the hard work and commitment of many colleagues in Brazil and around the world,” commented Bruno Cecchetti, Head of Innovation at Enel in the South American country. “We are very proud to receive it: it is confirmation that our Open Power strategy is moving in the right direction.”
The National Innovation Award (Prêmio Nacional de Inovação) was established by the Mobilização Empresarial da Inovação (MEI) and is supported by the National Federation of Industry (Confederação Nacional da Indústria - CNI) and by the Brazilian support service for small and micro-businesses (Serviço Brasileiro de Apoio às Micro e Pequenas Empresas - SEBRAE).
The 2016-2017 edition enjoyed a record number of entries: 3,987 companies submitted their projects for the four categories. Enel was a finalist in two categories, Innovation Management and Innovation Marketing.
The success in the Management category acknowledged the endeavours of the Group, which employs 15 thousand people in Brazil. “Innovation is in our DNA,” explained Cecchetti. In order to guarantee that innovation is always at the heart of the debate at the company, Enel Brazil has created an innovation committee chaired by the country manager Carlo Zorzoli, who received the award yesterday, and involving the participation of the principal directors of the company. The committee discusses and evaluates new projects, improvements to processes and management methods suggested by members of staff regardless of their role within the company, according to the philosophy of Open Power.