The motto of MIMA 2021 “Bring Data to Value”, saw DACH companies competing in five categories. (Picture: Jörg Greuel/Getty Images)

The Microsoft Intelligent Manufacturing Awards (MIMA) went virtual this year, attracting manufacturing industry leaders from leading companies as well as new players. The annual MIMA Awards recognize creative and innovative digital solutions that are driving a transformative generation of manufacturing. Nominees submitted innovative projects for production, purchasing, supply chain management, engineering and operations.

Shristi Mangal Pal (Editor Team FUENF-G and Freelance Journalist)

The winners of the third Microsoft Intelligent Manufacturing Award (MIMA) have been announced. Microsoft Germany and the management consultancy Roland Berger presented the awards at a virtual event. Led by a jury of leading experts from business and academia at a virtual pitch day, the selection committee had to choose from submissions from DACH companies with solutions in the areas of digitalization, sustainability, adaptability and more from the world of manufacturing.

This year, according to organizer Till Hertwig, there was a strong field of applicants, especially in the area of production optimization. In the foreground are trend topics such as digital twins technology, environmentally friendly system solutions and their increasing importance in the industry.

Sven Marlinghaus, senior consultant at Roland Berger, described the MIMA Awards as “the Oscars of the manufacturing industry” and explained that the MIMA Awards provide a common platform for innovators to make the next quantum leap in digitalization. MIMA, he said, brings together industry professionals, expands their networks and accelerates innovation.

MIMA 2021 format

Under the motto “Bring Data to Value”, the applicants demonstrated their innovative excellence in five categories (Innovate!, Scale!, Add Value!, Envision! and Sustainability!). After a first round of shortlisting, a select group of finalists presented their projects during a virtual pitch day via Microsoft Teams. Finally, MIMA’s advisory board, which acted as the awards jury, selected one winner per category and one overall winner.

The winners 

After the selection phase, 15 cases were invited to pitch to the jury. Subsequently, five category winners and one overall winner competed for their prizes. In the first category, ‘Innovate!’, Haselmeier + plus10 won with its self-learning optimization software in the medtech and pharma sector. In the second category, ‘Scale!’, Wittenstein SE + XITASO snatched the award with their high-growth digital twin product for interactive communication in the world of IIoT. The third category “Add Value!” went to a pitching team from India representing Robert Bosch; the Robert Bosch digital twin enables communication between machines and workers. In the fourth category “Envision!”, the BMW Edge Ecosystem won the medal for creating a platform with synergies for the entire process chain. The fifth and newly added category “Sustainability!” was won by Wienerberger and SAS, who have set the standard for automated energy and emission reduction.

The coveted prize for the overall winner finally went to DÜRR systems AG, which offers one of the first market-ready solutions that use artificial intelligence (AI) in fault analysis. They enable the early prediction and detection of wear and anomalies in production plants so that operations can be adjusted before costly failures occur.

The aftermath of winning a MIMA award

Apart from winning the actual award, the finalists and winners are also offered various benefits. Till Hertwig, manufacturing industry expert at Microsoft Germany, lists the numerous benefits of this title: For one, the focus is on joint marketing and public relations. The winners are presented to the outside world of the manufacturing industry through video marketing. With the help of marketing and PR measures supported by Microsoft and Roland Berger, the winner’s global reach is increased. Last year, both winners were at the Hannover Messe. In cooperation with the DACH winners, joint webinars will also be held. Winners and finalists will be included in the Microsoft Champion Circle – a comprehensive network of winners from all previous MIMA seasons. This opens the door for many more companies in the field of digitization of businesses