Hilden / Cologne in June 2020.
With around 5,000 branded articles and around 500 new products every year, the WENKO company stands out as particularly innovative. This was once again the verdict of the largest private science sponsor 'Stifterverband', which presents this seal every two years as special recognition for entrepreneurial commitment in the areas of research and development. After evaluating the R&D survey, WENKO can claim this award. The figures identified by the Stifterverband Wissenschaftsstatistik, which is commissioned by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), showed that the company contributes both with its monetary commitment and with its commitment to research and development to ensuring that Germany remains one of the leading innovation nations. WENKO Managing Director Niklas Köllner comments: "Our company owns more than 1,500 patents and industrial property rights. It is our ideas, such as the luminous LED shower rods that have just been delivered, that we implement together with trend scouts, inventors and designers. These are lengthy and cost-intensive research processes, but they are worthwhile and move our company and the economy in the country forward. Our unique selling proposition THE BETTER IDEA stands for the fact that we solve problems and take innovative paths. With the seal, we show to the outside world what we implement on the inside."

The Stifterverband is one of the largest private science sponsors in Germany. In addition to its commitment to young academics, excellent universities and top-level research, it is also its task to examine and evaluate the German research and innovation system. How much does industry invest in research and development in Germany? What impact does this have on the future viability of this country? These questions are the focus of the R&D survey, which the Science Statistics Division of the Stifterverband conducts annually on behalf of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research.