Constant innovation has been the key to Stibo’s success for more than 225 years
Posted: 19 November 2021
Have you ever thought about how big brands like Mc Donalds, BestBuy, The Home Depot, Rituals, Adidas, Siemens and Sony keep track of information about their products? And how do large media companies like The New York Times, The Economist and National Geographic create content and connect with digital customers? The answer in both cases is that they rely on systems from the Aarhus based software company Stibo for that.
Stibo provides information management and print technology software for business operations in more than 20 countries all over the world. It all started out in 1794 when the company was established in Aarhus, Denmark as a classic printing company.
So how has Stibo managed to survive for more than 225 years in a world where disruptive technologies have killed many traditional companies?
A strong belief in innovation
Since the very beginning of the technological revolution, Stibo has had a strong conviction that innovation is the key to future development and growth. That is why Stibo has its own Accelerator offering students and startups the best possible setup for exploring new trends and technologies in close collaboration with industry partners from the Stibo Companies’ vast global network.
“What is so unique about the Accelerator is the enormous value young, unbiased talent bring forth when their creative ideas are brought to life inside our organization”, CEO of Stibo Sten Dyrmose explains.
The Accelerator has existed since 2014. Since then, more than 200 bachelor and master students have attended the Accelerator program resulting in 110 innovation projects.
The purpose is not to make the students solve problems that existing Stibo employees do not have time for. On the contrary, the projects do not have to turn into any profitable solution. The whole idea is that the students examine the most extreme future technological scenarios that can help Stibo and its partner companies see the direction of a distant future – and to use that to make better decisions today.
“In the Accelerator, everything is possible. We ask the students to forget all limitations and think out of the box. We do not want them to solve any specific problems – we want them to work with whatever technology and subject that interest them the most. Our job is to support them in every way we can to reach their goal and bring the real world into their otherwise theoretical research”, director of Stibo Accelerator Karsten Dehler explains.
A nest for future employees
41 of the students who have attended the Accelerator as bachelor or master students have today become Stibo employees continuing their career in the company. Thus, the Accelerator is also a unique way of recruiting talented young people who create value from day one because they already know the company from within.
“In that way, the Accelerator both helps Stibo challenge status quo, and at the same time, it is a nest hatching potential future employees”, Karsten Dehler says.
At Digital Tech Summit, you get the chance to meet current and former Accelerator students who will present their innovative projects and inspiring career paths. Our goal is to inspire you to engage with talented students in a way that creates value for your organization and especially for the students.
