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GLOBAL - Foreign trade in focus

The GLOBAL Foreign Trade Award of the Karlsruhe TechnologyRegion (TRK) is based on the motto: overcoming borders, opening up new markets - and celebrating success. The GLOBAL prize is awarded to companies whose products and services prove themselves in international competition and thus strengthen TRK internationally.

On this page:

The cornerstone of our region

The promotion of international trade is an important cornerstone for our region. Our responsibility is to strengthen relationships in international trade and to support companies from our region in this process. 

Every two years, the Karlsruhe TechnologyRegion (TRK) and the Karlsruhe Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK) award the GLOBAL to internationally successful companies from our region.

On the event page for the GLOBAL Foreign Trade Award of TRK you will find information on the next upcoming award ceremony, the jury and the application procedure. This will be updated as soon as new information is available.  

Past events

In this overview we have summarized the past GLOBAL award ceremonies.

US ambassador visits GLOBAL 2023 - prize goes to the INIT Group

Presentation of the IHK and TRK foreign trade award in Baden-Baden

Innovation and international cooperation were the central themes of the GLOBAL 2023 award ceremony, which took place on November 15, 2023 at the Palais Biron in Baden-Baden. In the presence of US Ambassador Amy Gutmann, the Karlsruhe INIT Group was awarded the foreign trade prize of the Karlsruhe Chamber of Industry and Commerce and the Karlsruhe TechnologyRegion. In her keynote speech, the US ambassador emphasized several times how important cooperation with strong allies is, especially in these turbulent times. "The USA is also of outstanding importance to INIT," emphasized CEO Dr. Jürgen Greschner, who accepted the award on behalf of the INIT Group.

Further speeches were given by IHK President Wolfgang Grenke, Robert W. Huber, Chairman of the Foreign Trade Committee of the IHK Karlsruhe and Jochen Ehlgötz, Managing Director of TechnologieRegion Karlsruhe GmbH.

The "GLOBAL" is an award that honors companies from the Karlsruhe TechnologyRegion every two years for their outstanding international achievements.

In the sixth award ceremony on November 16, 2021, three regional companies were honored for their outstanding achievements in foreign trade. The 7-member jury made its decision based on the criteria of innovation, company key figures, success, systematic approach, interculturality and adaptation to foreign markets. The winners were announced:

Vincent Systems GmbH from Karlsruhe offers medical prostheses that support many people internationally. The jury praised the innovative and internationally unrivaled product, the export of which contributes significantly to the company's economic success.

Weber Ultrasonics AG from Karlsbad has already implemented 2,000 projects in 62 countries. The jury recognized the company's ability to adapt to global challenges, particularly with regard to respiratory masks.

The Brandenburger group of companies from Landau in der Pfalz was recognized for its innovation, customer focus and technological expertise. As a pioneer in the market for high-tech composites, numerous international patents originate from the company's own research and development department.

This year's guest of honor at the award ceremony in the IHK Haus der Wirtschaft was the Ambassador of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam to the Federal Republic of Germany, H.E. Dr. Nguyen Minh Vu. With Vietnam as a partner country, GLOBAL 2021 underlines the groundbreaking signal of the free trade agreement between Vietnam and the European Union ratified last year.

These are the previous award winners

  • Winner of the Global2023:
    • INIT Group from Karlsruhe
  • Winner of the Global2021:
    • Vincent Systems GmbH from Karlsruhe
    • Weber Ultrasonics AG from Karlsbad
  • Winner of the GLOBAL2019:
    • Blanco Group from Oberderdingen
    • Wibu-Systems from Karlsruhe and Wickert Maschinenbau from Landau
  • Winner of GLOBAL2017: Motto "Overcoming borders, opening up markets"
    • race result AG from Pfinztal
    • DBK David + Baader GmbH in the Southern Palatinate (Rülzheim)
  • Winner of the GLOBAL2015:
    • BOKELA Ingenieurgesellschaft für mechanische Verfahrenstechnik GmbH from Karlsruhe (Foreign Trade Award)
  • Winner of the GLOBAL2013:
    • Fraunhofer Institute for Chemical Technology ICT, Pfinztal, in cooperation with the Canadian University of Western Ontario (fiber composite manufacturing technology)
  • Winner of the GLOBAL2011:
    • ARKU Maschinenbau GmbH, Baden-Baden, in the Manufacturing division
    • PTV Planung Transport Verkehr AG, Karlsruhe, in the Service division

Your contact person

Karlsruhe Chamber of Industry and Commerce
Foreign Trade Committee
Contact: Stanislav Fromm

Lammstraße 13 - 17
76133 Karlsruhe
Phone: 0721 174-134
[email protected]

Do you have any questions?
Please feel free to contact us!
Jochen Ehlgötz
Managing Director
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