Damm launches LAB1876, its open innovation platform
The company is taking a step further in its commitment to innovation, and expands LAB1876, its intrapreneurial program to date, in order to transform it into a global, open innovation platform also aimed at corporations, universities, and startups
Damm launches its open innovation program LAB1876, in order to transform it into a global disruptive and innovative solution search platform. The new paradigm, which involves both Damm's own employees, as well as corporations, universities, startups, and other agents from the innovation ecosystem, was presented today during an event held at the Estrella Damm Pier 01, located at the Tech Barcelona Headquarters.
After consolidating a high degree of digital maturity, both in its teams and in its day-to-day operations, the company took a further step in its commitment to innovation by bringing together, under one roof so to speak, all its programs and collaborative initiatives that promote open innovation. LAB1876 was born in 2020 as a call for intrapreneurship, from which Damm intended to promote the in-house generation of creative, disruptive, and innovative solutions. During the two editions carried out, the company's employees had the opportunity to present projects that would be responses to the challenges the company faces.
"After culminating an important digital transformation process by a centenary company such as Damm, our current digital maturity allows us to broaden our path by betting on open innovation as a means to boost the search for more disruptive solutions that go beyond product innovation and promote new ways in which to work and new solutions to the challenges the company faces in the sector", said Laura Gil, Digital Transformation Director at Damm, during the LAB1876 presentation by Damm.
Business impact challenge, first call involving efficiency
The first call launched by LAB1876 is Business Impact Challenge, aimed at startups within the supply chain and energy efficiency sectors, the purpose of which is to search for innovative value solutions for Damm's short-term business.
Startups in this field may present themselves to the call and contribute value solutions with which to solve the challenges industry companies face in the current social, economic and environmental context. The first edition of the Business Impact Challenge will facilitate Damm's work with startups, and in the event that a solution with potential is found, it will conclude with the launch of a pilot test in winning projects, thanks to Damm's financial support.
The new LAB1876 platform will also comprise all the external cooperations carried out by Damm in the areas of innovation and digital transformation. An example of this is Horeca Challenge, an initiative launched in cooperation with other sector partners, in order to boost the technological growth and digital transformation of the hospitality sector; Sustainable Festival Challenge, a call for open innovation promoted along with Festival Cruïlla, which aims to transform the festival into a 100% sustainable event; and the work Damm does with educational institutions such as IED, ESADE, and UPC in which students from different grades contribute ideas related to challenges launched by the company.
