Damm joins the world ranking of the 100 companies that contribute the most to open innovation
Damm is the only Spanish company in the food and beverage sector in this ranking, compiled by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and Mind the Bridge
Damm has been distinguished at the Corporate Startup Stars Awards 2025, held yesterday in Paris, as one of the most outstanding companies in the world in terms of innovation. In addition to being included in the global ranking of the 100 corporations that most promote open innovation, drawn up by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and Mind the Bridge, the company has also received one of the jury's special mentions for its LAB1876 Talent intrapreneurship programme, an initiative that promotes creativity and the generation of new solutions from within the organisation.
Damm is the only Spanish company in the food and beverage sector listed in this international ranking which, for the last 10 years, has annually recognised corporations that stand out for their excellence in collaboration with start-ups, impetus to innovation and capacity for transformation.
According to Laura Gil, Chief Digital and Data Officer at Damm, "today, no challenge can be solved in isolation. That's why we actively partner with start-ups, universities, organisations and other actors in the ecosystem, which allows us to combine our internal knowledge with the agility, creativity and specialisation of our external collaborators. This network of talent and knowledge expands our ability to explore new perspectives, accelerate the development of solutions and anticipate trends that will transform our industry.
The LAB1876 Talent programme enable Damm teams to propose, develop and test out new solutions with the potential to become real business projects. Throughout its four editions, LAB1876 Talent has involved more than 1,029 participants with a wide range of profiles, fostering a participatory culture where innovation emerges from the internal know-how and experience of the team itself. As a result, this model has been consolidated as a driver of creativity and cultural transformation within the organisation, while accelerating the development of solutions in areas such as sustainability, operational efficiency, improved customer experience and digitisation, thus helping to strengthen Damm's position as a benchmark in innovation within the sector.
Jordi Torrent, head of open innovation at Damm, stresses that "this recognition highlights the commitment and creativity of Damm's people. LAB1876 Talent proves that when internal talent is given space, ideas emerge that help evolve the way we work and transform the future of the company and the industry.”
During the event, Candace Johnson, jury member and former ICC Executive Board member, underscored that "these awards highlight not only the creative mindset of corporations and start-ups, but also show how they are able to channel that creativity to drive meaningful change through the development of inclusive, high-impact innovation ecosystems."
A firm commitment to open innovation
LAB1876 came about in 2020 with the aim of boosting internal talent. The success achieved during its first calls prompted its evolution in 2023 towards a broader, more open and collaborative model. Today, LAB1876 has become Damm's global open innovation platform, which drives the company's relationship with corporations, universities, start-ups and other stakeholders in the innovation ecosystem with the aim of promoting the generation of disruptive solutions for both the company and the industry at large.
Under the umbrella of the new LAB1876 paradigm, the company also encompasses all external collaborations that Damm pursues in the areas of innovation and digital transformation. Examples of this are the Horeca Challenge, an initiative launched in collaboration with other partners in the sector with the aim of boosting growth and technological transformation in the hospitality sector; the Sustainable Festival Challenge, an open innovation call promoted together with the Cruïlla Festival in its challenge to turn the festival into a 100% sustainable event; and the collaborations that Damm maintains with educational institutions such as IED, ESADE and UPC through which students from different degrees contribute ideas related to challenges launched by the company.
With this international recognition, Damm reaffirms its commitment to an innovation model that combines internal talent, collaboration with start-ups and the application of new technologies such as artificial intelligence. The distinction obtained in the CSS 2025 is a full endorsement of the maturity of the LAB1876 Talent programme and reinforces the company's commitment to continue fostering projects capable of generating long-term sustainable value.
