In today's article, we talk about the CEX (Center of Excellence) Quality Innovation Awards. Find out how to take part in the competition.
The Quality Innovation Award (QIA) was created in 2007 by Excellene Finland. It is an international competition to highlight innovative projects in companies and organizations. The Organizing Committee is made up of entities promoting Quality, Excellence and Innovation from different countries. The objective of increasing the competitiveness of participating organizations and countries. The competition is free. The QIA Awards consist of two phases: one national and one international. The winners of the national phase will move on to the international phase, where they will compete with organizations from other countries. The local phase consists of 3 stages:
- Evaluators: They analyze the documentation and select the 3 most outstanding innovations in each category based on the 5 characteristics being evaluated, issuing a report on Strengths and Areas for Improvement.
- Experts: They write a report evaluating the degree of innovation of each of the 3 selected.
- sworn: Taking into account the Evaluators' report and the Experts' report, they choose the winning Innovation in each category (and the prize may be void in any of the categories).
Until June 1, you can pre-register at the Next link.
What is Quality Innovation?
It is a type of innovation that responds to one of these characteristics:
- Novelty: It is a product or service that meets and exceeds the needs of customers or the environment in a novel or significantly revised way.
- Usefulness: Implemented and presents solid arguments for how innovation is applied.
- Learning: Based on a new idea, based on existing knowledge.
- Customer orientation: It answers, meets or exceeds current or future needs.
- Effectiveness: It presents results and an indicator of the success of the innovation to the target.
What Innovation categories can you participate in?
There are 8 categories:
- Microenterprise and startup: Turnover of less than 2 million and less than 10 people
- SMEs: Turnover of less than 50 million and less than 250 people
- Large company: Turnover greater than 50 million and/or more than 250 people
- Circular economy and zero carbon footprint: Innovations with an environmental focus
- Healthcare sector
- Education sector
- Public sector
- Potential: Innovation approaches that have not yet been implemented or have no results.
What are the goals and benefits of participating?
The QIA Awards seek to help companies:
- Evaluate: It allows for a professional evaluation of the company's innovations.
- Learn: Compare innovations and learn from others both nationally and internationally.
- Communicate: It increases the visibility and international recognition of innovations.
- Encourage: Promote innovative culture among all.
- Participate: In a dynamic international competition.
- Project: Transmit the innovative vocation to the organization.
Dates to participate
The key dates for participating in the competition in 2022 are:
- April 9 to June 1: Online pre-registration
- June 1 to July 15: Online application submission
- July 15 to October 7: National phase award winning evaluation and election
- November: National Stage Awards Gala
- November: Evaluation of the international phase
- January-February 2023: International phase award ceremony
For more information about the QIA awards you can visit the Next link.
