Theses on innovative entrepreneurship awarded the Serafin Research Prize

This year's Serafin Research Prize was awarded to the two students Niclas Derichs and Dr Julia Sattelberger from the Faculty of Management, Economics and Society at Witten/Herdecke University (UW/H). The prize, endowed with 2,500 euros each, honours a Bachelor's and a Master's thesis that shed light on a current problem from an entrepreneurial perspective.

Increasing entrepreneurial resilience through innovation

Niclas Derichs dealt with the topic of "The importance of organisational innovation to increase entrepreneurial resilience in the context of global economic challenges" in his final thesis in the Management (B. Sc.) degree programme. Companies must continuously adapt to technological and market-related changes in order to be successful in the long term. The study shows that innovative strength - particularly in the development of new products and processes - is crucial to ensuring economic stability and resilience. The study also finds that small, agile companies are more likely to drive innovation; large companies scale these innovations and apply them on a larger scale.

New business models in telemedicine

Dr Julia Sattelberger examined innovative business models in telemedicine to improve the care of chronically ill people in her Master's thesis in the General Management (M.A.) degree programme. To this end, she combined market analyses of international telemedicine start-ups with interviews with experts from German companies. Her analysis shows that telemedicine could significantly improve healthcare. However, German start-ups are currently facing major challenges on this path - for example due to inadequate payment models and a lack of cooperation with health insurance companies. In order to remain internationally competitive, appropriate remuneration, supportive framework conditions and collaborations with a strategic focus are therefore essential for German telemedicine companies.

Innovations as the key to solving social challenges

The Munich-based Serafin Group is now presenting its award for the twelfth time. Philipp Haindl, founder of the Serafin Group, explains: "Both award-winning projects embody our endeavours to overcome the challenges of the future through innovative approaches. We need personalities who are able to address these challenges with foresight - and this is exactly what the two projects achieve in an outstanding way."

"The award not only reflects the commitment and innovative strength of our students, but also emphasises the special focus of our faculty: At the interface of business and society, we place great value on practical and interdisciplinary research," says Prof Dr Dirk Sauerland, Dean of the Faculty of Management, Economics and Society at UW/H. "Our students not only learn to think economically, but also to develop impact by working on economically and socially relevant topics - this is exactly what is reflected in the award-winning work."