“We loved the idea of inventing a product that is going to revolutionize people’s lives in the future. Especially that at the same time it wasn’t only creativity that mattered but also the way of showing that the concept could really work in terms of doing business. We had to prove that our product will bring added value for both: consumers and Henkel. Moreover, we thought such a competition could be great fun and a wonderful experience from which we can learn a lot. And HIC was all that – a great deal of joy, incredible people, but also very hard work and a valuable lesson on not giving up, striving to find the best solution, being ahead of the others with your ideas and the most important, working as a team.
 
We were inspired by our everyday life. Making laundry, drying and ironing are always nightmares for many people .That is why we thought of a solution that would make people’s life easier and be eco-friendly at the same. Thanks to the help of our mentors from Henkel Poland, we were able to come up with a very innovative idea that was also very strong in business terms!

We truly believe that our victory is strictly connected with the fact that we are close friends, who instinctively understand each other. Furthermore the fact, that we were focused on bringing on the best possible performance, from the very beginning. We always tried to think outside the box concerning not only our idea, but also the way of presenting it - everything to find a way to surprise the judges and convince them that our concept is coherent and well thought out – which finally brought us to the top!”

Tim Brüggemann and Matthias Mittelsten Scheid

“When we applied for the Henkel Innovation Challenge we had no idea what high relevance this competition would take on for us.

The first hurdle was to develop a convincing idea. After a few brainstorming sessions our idea developed – our ticket to the Challenge. The biggest challenge, in the national as well as in the international final: to reduce our complex and detailed idea to the essential and explain it simple. Obviously we have found the right balance, because we could convince the international jury. And who knows – maybe one day we will really have the opportunity to put our idea into practice?

Retrospectively, not only because of our prize, we can say that the effort was worth it. We gained valuable experiences, had the chance to test our uni-gained knowledge, forged interesting ties to managers and students, got to know the great metropolis Amsterdam and: had a lot of fun!”

and his dutch team made it into the final of the Henkel Innovation Challenge 2009/2010.

“The Henkel Innovation Challenge was demanding since it not only required a high level of creativity but also strong analytical abilities to derive a coherent vision of the future. The competition provided us with the right stimulus, setting and support to become visionaries, pioneers and inventors. This intense experience also ensured that all participants formed strong bonds with each other and created a community that will transcend the setting of this business competition.

The entire experience from conceiving an idea to translating these ideas into financial numbers was very enriching, to a large part due to the excellent mentoring from Henkel managers who took the time and worked together with us. For everyone who is even remotely interested in his own future or the future of the world at large this challenge is an opportunity that cannot be missed.”

from the second placed polish team of the Henkel Innovation Challenge 2009/2010.

“The final of the Henkel Innovation Challenge in Amsterdam was a very unique experience for me. On the one hand, the competition is a really big challenge: a couple of months of co-operation in the group, complex tasks, time pressure and presentations in front of professionals from different countries.

On the other hand, HIC is a great pleasure and amazing satisfaction! I really enjoyed the tasks: forecasting the trends in 2050, developing a product, preparing marketing plans and financial statements. That was very interesting. The opportunity to work together with a mentor during the international final was a great honor. The mentor, a high-level professional who knows the industry, supported us from the very beginning of the final. He pointed out the best part of our work; advised on what we should work on. His commitment was a very positive surprise for me.

I'm glad I had the opportunity to compare our work with teams representing other countries. Representing Poland was a great honor for our team. It is a big satisfaction to be among the top three teams. The final in Amsterdam proceeded in an incredible, friendly atmosphere. I wish I could participate in HIC again!”

Marin Schuerman, Dorothea Sepopo Attiogbe, Wibe van de Vijver

“The Henkel Innovation Challenge was a great experience. Comprising of many different elements (presentation, negotiation etc) it was fun and challenging at the same time. It was all about creativity, analytical capability and determination to seal the deal.

We went in with an open mind no clue what to expect from the competition or Henkel. As the best teams from all over Europe were selected, the finals turned out to be a fierce match. The dedication of the Henkel employees to the mentoring program after the first round motivated our team to do our very best. We worked very hard and stayed up all night to prepare our final presentation. It was definitely worth it! We learned about the fast moving consumer goods industry first hand, improved our teamwork and presentation skills, and performed under pressure. Moreover, we managed to enjoy it all at the same time and even do some sight seeing in Brussels.

Two of us actually ended up doing an internship at the Henkel headquarters as the Innovation Challenge also proved to be a great place for networking with the Henkel management, which was well represented.

In sum, if you are looking for a business challenge, the Henkel Innovation Challenge is the way to go.“

from the third-place team from Belgium got a job offer as Junior Brand Manager after taking part in Henkel Innovation Challenge 2008/2009

“Think about the future… and start your future career at Henkel.

In the framework of the Henkel Innovation Challenge student groups have to think about how the world would look like in 2050. The purpose of the game is to adapt a Henkel product to the challenges it would meet at that time. (…)

That is where my story begins. My team, Triple Single, had the honors to go to the International Final in Brussels and meet up with teams from ten different countries. For three days we had to give presentations and adapt our product and marketing plan to the changing environment, like you would encounter in everyday business. It was an extremely interesting experience as you come into contact with the managers of the different countries and learn a lot from their experience.

Today, I work as a Junior Brand Manager for Henkel where I already feel like I am part of the Henkel family. I really feel that the values the company aspires are put into practice. Thinking about innovation and sustainability are part of everyday business at Henkel.

The Henkel Innovation Challenge was a really amazing, once in a lifetime experience, and it gave my career a boost. Don’t hesitate… just do it!“

from the third-place team 2008/2009 from Turkey, gained an internship after the competition

“The Henkel Innovation Challenge has touched my life in so many ways; all the way from the beginning till the end. I remember shooting our promotional video for the national finals on a rainy Istanbul day, and then editing it the entire night. At the national finals, we were thrilled by the tough competition and the innovative spirit. Luckily, we were able to impress Henkel Turkey and walk to the international finals.

I did the final presentation in the splendid Atomium and had a king size bed in a single 5-star hotel room. Working really hard, I think we definitely made all the comfort worth it!

What's more, I was able to have precious conversations with Henkel top managers. Ever since, I felt like a member of the team. And I met great people from all over Europe, and still do. Overall, I had such an amazing time, so it's no surprise I am back in Brussels now for a challenging internship. For me, the Henkel Innovation Challenge represents the milestone of moving on from school years to an exciting international career.

A big thank you to my team, the Cubers, Henkel Innovation Challenge team and everyone who made it an awesome experience.“

General Manager Laundry & Home Care Benelux

“In the end all the participating students were winners.
Because they all gathered deep business experience and they got to know managers from an international company.”

President Cosmetics & Toiletries (Retail), Laundry & Home Care, Henkel Norden

“Henkel Innovation Challenge gives the opportunity to students to get closer to one of the world's leading FMCG (Fast Moving Consumer Goods) companies. This year Cosmetics / Toiletries and Laundry & Home Care managers will help the students to open the door of this global company."