Helping Corporates & Mittelstand to Reinvent & Grow

How to Get Innovation Right

Define Innovation Focus

We shape future-focused strategies by crafting sharp hypotheses around what’s next – future realities, must-win battles, and business opportunities – powered by our deep understanding for the VC game, funding flows, and emerging tech.

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Set the Right Framework

We build the foundation for innovation to scale – an innovation setup with clear governance, lean processes, smart KPIs, empowered teams, and a culture that actually moves ideas forward with speed and focus.

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Enable Fast Execution

We use innovative methods and processes from the startup space for quick validation and scaling – taking a hands-on, results-driven approach that turns ideas into measurable impact.

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Success in Numbers

10+

Years of corporate strategy and innovation consulting experience

500+

Corporate innovation projects carried out

300+

Clients successfully consulted

20+

Countries where projects were delivered

References

Energy

Enable & Mobilize:

The Platform Bridging Strategy and Startup Innovation

OMV Sphere helps OMV turn strategic sustainability and business challenges into startup collaborations by tapping into external innovation ecosystems. The platform has delivered five research and scouting projects, including reusable e-commerce packaging, sustainable products from spent coffee grounds, and green fuel certificates for aviation.
Reinvent & Transform:

Reliable Drone Inspections Beyond GNSS Limits

An automated drone survey solution enables consistent dam inspections through AI-based navigation and tracking, even in GNSS-denied environments. Pilot trials with Skydio and Dronemajor show its potential to replace manual flights with safer, more reliable, and automated inspection workflows.
Reinvent & Transform:

Online Monitoring for Variable Frequency Drives

ENI assessed non-intrusive technologies for real-time monitoring of Variable Frequency Drives to enable early anomaly detection and predictive insights. The initiative identified Electrical Signature Analysis as the most suitable approach and narrowed a highly specialized market to a focused set of leading providers.
Strategy & Setup:

Professionalizing Innovation to Power the Green Tech Transition

Burgenland Energie professionalized its innovation system to support its transformation into a Green Tech player. The initiative defined an innovation vision, created transparency across ideas and partnerships, established clear processes and decision criteria, and set up a dedicated sandbox team.
Grow & Build:

Vehicle-to-Grid: Turning EVs into Grid Assets

A Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) solution enables electric vehicles to feed energy back into the grid through bidirectional charging, trading platform access, and AI-based optimization. Successful pilots show how EVs can serve as flexible grid assets, helping operators like Moon Porsche balance the grid and unlock new revenue streams.
Reinvent & Transform:

Advancing Structural Integrity Monitoring for Oil & Gas Assets

To address the high cost, risk, and limited visibility of periodic structural integrity inspections for onshore and offshore assets, ENI assessed and implemented advanced structural integrity technologies, thereby reducing scaffolding, downtime, and human exposure in hazardous environments.
Reinvent & Transform:

Laying the Foundation for Scalable Carbon Capture

OMV sharpened its CCUS strategy by assessing how direct carbon capture can support low-carbon hydrocarbon production. A comprehensive market analysis translated this into strategic options and investment hypotheses, guiding plans to scale CO₂ storage and partnerships across the North Sea, Central and Eastern Europe, and the Middle East.
Strategy & Setup:

Wertstatt 8: Inventing the Future of Energy from Within

Energie AG Oberösterreich built Wertstatt8 as a corporate venture studio to drive venture building and spin-off creation beyond its core utility business. The initiative developed and scaled new energy ventures, including Linus for data-driven energy optimization and E-Fairteiler for community-based solar power sharing.
Reinvent & Transform:

Reducing Wind Turbine Downtime Through Predictive AI

Resulting from the need to reduce wind turbine downtime and maintenance costs, VERBUND piloted an AI-based predictive maintenance solution to anticipate component failures and improve maintenance planning.
Grow & Build:

Advancing Energy Ideas Through Venture Building

OMV used the cross-company venture building format Pioneers.Peak to turn exploration beyond its core business into validated new opportunities. In a three-month program, OMV developed and tested concepts in energy storage, biomass utilization, and CO₂ certificate management, leading to C-level backing and the handover of two validated concepts.
Grow & Build:

From Idea to Market-Ready Energy Venture

TTTech and VERBUND established a clear foundation for a joint corporate venture in high-end, grid-serving energy management by sharpening market focus, customer segments, and competitive positioning. The collaboration resulted in a defined business model, clear USPs, and a concrete go-to-market and launch roadmap.
Enable & Mobilize:

Venture Clienting as an Engine for Energy Innovation

VERBUND used venture clienting to connect industry leaders with startups and implement innovative technologies across the organization. The program turned business challenges into 29 pilot projects with 22 corporate partners in areas such as energy management, AI-based market intelligence, predictive maintenance, and digital process control.
Reinvent & Transform:

Energy Management App

Verbund Energy for Customer (VEC) reshaped their digital customer interface based on a thorough market analysis and customer survey by designing a new end-customer app in order to create transparency under existing contracts and act as a channel for direct communication and information.
Reinvent & Transform:

AI-Based Market Intelligence for Energy Trading

VERBUND and YUKKA Lab implemented an AI solution to increase transparency in energy price movements by linking intraday, day-ahead, and futures prices with news, market data, and regulatory developments. Following a successful pilot, the tool was permanently integrated, enabling more informed trading and market decisions.
Reinvent & Transform:

AI-Based Load Management and Forecasting for Smart Charging

SMATRICS and Ogre.AI optimized charging point utilization and energy costs by implementing an AI-based load management solution enabling real-time monitoring, forecasting, and load shifting, thereby strengthening smart charging capabilities across operations.

Financial Services and Insurance

Reinvent & Transform:

Scaling Fintech Innovation Through Open Collaboration

Visa used the Visa Everywhere Initiative to identify and scale high-potential fintech solutions addressing challenges such as NFC and digital payments, API-based money transfers, supply-chain visibility, and exponential technologies. The program attracted 100+ high-quality startups annually across Europe and APAC.
Reinvent & Transform:

Goodbye Paper Receipts, Hello Digital Clarity

A major German bank introduced Digital Receipts, allowing customers to receive their receipts directly in the banking app after paying in-store. The solution simplifies expense tracking and returns and gives customers instant, organized access to their purchase history in one central place.
Reinvent & Transform:

Growing the Next Generation of Bank Customers

Sparkasse developed a junior banking solution for safe online and offline payments by young customers. With features like digital pocket money, spending forecasts, and subscription management, the solution became part of Sparkasse’s strategy and was approved for development as a core product for early customer engagement.
Grow & Build:

Scaling Digital Innovation in Insurance

Viesure, the internal venture building unit by Wiener Städtische, focuses on developing innovative digital services aligned with the core insurance business. The initiative delivered award-winning solutions such as the Voogle search engine and the losleben app, strengthening customer experience and Wiener Städtische’s digital positioning.
Enable & Mobilize:

From Design Sprints to Market-Ready Payment Solutions

Two major German banks launched the SPAYCE innovation lab to develop digital payment solutions beyond core banking. Through iterative design sprints, the initiative generated over 500 ideas and advanced three incubation tracks into implementation, including CardControl, Digital Receipts, and a Junior Banking Solution for young users.

Mobility & Logistics

Enable & Mobilize:

Powering the future of rail mobility through intrapreneurship at ÖBB

Austria’s leading rail operator used intrapreneurship to enter new mobility markets beyond rail and foster an open innovation culture. The initiative created three new business streams and four customer-facing products, including Postbus Shuttle, Smart Cargo, Integrated Mobility, and a Smart Customer Journey.
Grow & Build:

Neuland: Simplifying Retirement Planning Through Digital Pension Solutions

Neuland combines a fully digital, ETF-based retirement solution with real-time calculations and transparent pricing to simplify complex pension decisions. Customers benefit from personalized guidance, low costs, and an easy-to-use platform that makes long-term retirement planning accessible and understandable.
Grow & Build:

120 Ventures: Building New Societal Impact Businesses Beyond Mobility

ÖAMTC strengthened its long-term relevance by launching 120 Ventures, a corporate venture studio focused on demographic, health, and care-related challenges beyond mobility. The initiative established a fully operational studio, launched multiple ventures, and built dedicated governance and talent to scale new solutions.
Grow & Build:

Miina: On-Demand Care Made Accessible

Miina is a digital on-demand care platform that connects families with qualified caregivers through simple booking and transparent pricing. Customers benefit from fast, reliable access to trusted care services without the complexity of traditional care systems.
Strategy & Setup:

Setting the Strategic Path for E-Mobility and Energy Integration

MOON Power, the corporate venture of Porsche Holding Salzburg, defined a Strategy 2030 to drive profitable growth and international scaling across e-mobility. It outlined a path beyond project-based charging toward recurring revenues, including energy-related services, a first energy management system, and pilots integrating EV batteries into energy markets.
Reinvent & Transform:

Simplifying access to public transport through pay-as-you-go ticketing at ÖBB

SimplyGo, a digital pay-as-you-go system, was created to simplify access to public transport for customers while expanding ÖBB’s reach beyond frequent riders. By replacing upfront ticket selection with automatic fare calculation, the product reduces friction, reaching over 1,000 end customers.
Grow & Build:

Weitsicht: Enabling Structured Planning for Future Care Needs

Weitsicht is a digital life-planning platform that brings together care-level calculations, legal document templates, secure document storage, and a care-allowance calculator in one place. Customers benefit from simplified, secure, and legally compliant tools that make planning for emergencies and long-term care easier at every stage of life.

Manufacturing

Reinvent & Transform:

Laying the Digital Foundation for Advanced Plastic Recycling

Borealis advanced the digitalization of mechanical plastics recycling by defining a pathway toward a data-driven software platform. Through a global technology analysis and partner evaluation, the initiative identified solutions for material flow transparency, real-time tracking, and integrated composition data within one digital platform.
Strategy & Setup:

Establishing a group-wide innovation standard

Wietersdorfer established a group-wide minimum standard for innovation management across its building materials and infrastructure businesses, defining a shared innovation strategy, governance model, and organizational setup at holding and business-unit level.
Enable & Mobilize:

Building Industrial Startups from Within

ANDRITZ uses its Ventures Startup Contest to turn employee ideas into internal startups that drive innovation and growth. With executive sponsorship, dedicated time, and resources, selected teams develop solutions that strengthen ANDRITZ’s core industries and open new growth opportunities.
Enable & Mobilize:

Enabling Clear and Confident C-Level Communication

Umdasch strengthened management presentation skills through a structured readiness program combining storytelling, slide design, and delivery training. The initiative enabled leaders to communicate strategic messages more clearly and confidently to C-level audiences, improving decision-making effectiveness.
Strategy & Setup:

Future-Proofing CODICO’s Electronic Components Business

CODICO translated its strategic ambition into a clear Vision and Strategy 2030, aligned across leadership, sales, and support functions. The engagement defined Must-Win Battles, Growth Bets, and Strategic Priorities, and delivered an execution-ready roadmap shaped by technology trends in electronics and semiconductor distribution.
Enable & Mobilize:

From Technical Ideas to Management-Ready Pitches

RHI Magnesita equipped its R&D teams to present innovation projects more clearly and convincingly to executive management. The program combined pitch training, individual coaching, and a demo day, improving the quality and confidence of project presentations.
Strategy & Setup:

Creating Clarity and Consistency in International Sales

Hawle structured its international sales along three pillars—sales structure and leadership, sales approach and targets, and regional scaling and execution. The new setup increases clarity and accountability, improves coordination across countries, and enables faster, more consistent execution of sales initiatives in international markets.
Enable & Mobilize:

Scaling Open Innovation Through Scientific Excellence

Borealis strengthened its open-innovation leadership through the Borealis Scientific Innovation Award, attracting international talent and high-quality ideas. Record submissions from science and startup communities addressed advanced polyolefin catalysts, application-specific recyclates, and novel mechanical recycling technologies.
Grow & Build:

Scaling Green Hydrogen Solutions for the Energy Transition

ANDRITZ built a dedicated green hydrogen business division, turning its Power-to-X expertise into market impact with more than €100 million in order intake within two years. The division delivers end-to-end green hydrogen solutions positioning ANDRITZ as a key enabler of industrial decarbonization.

Construction & Infrastructure

Grow & Build:

Using Space Tech to Solve Mobility Challenges

Pioneers and BMK launched a multi-corporate program to apply space infrastructure to mobility challenges. The initiative defined four use cases, mobilized startups and students, developed early prototypes with corporate partners, and initiated follow-up pilot projects with organizations including ASFINAG, Austro Control, ÖBB Infrastruktur, and viadonau.
Reinvent & Transform:

Making Energy Use Visible on Construction Sites

STRABAG introduced an energy monitoring solution that uses smart-meter data to make electricity consumption on construction sites transparent. Paired with an app, it helps site managers analyze, control, and optimize energy use to reduce costs and improve efficiency
Reinvent & Transform:

Advancing Property Maintenance Through Robotics

Resulting from the need for versatile robotics to support inspections, documentation, surveying, BIM inventory, and maintenance across a large property portfolio, Bundesimmobiliengesellschaft (BIG) implemented a snake-like robot for fire protection damper maintenance.
Reinvent & Transform:

Unlocking Talent Through Job Sharing

STRABAG launched Team-Up, a job-sharing platform that matches part-time employees with qualified roles through complementary job pairs. The initiative improves workforce flexibility and retention while expanding access to skilled talent, strengthening STRABAG’s employer attractiveness.
Enable & Mobilize:

Building Investment-Ready Digital Solutions for Construction through Intrapreneurship

A leading European construction group leveraged intrapreneurship to create digital solutions for efficiency and sustainability challenges, leading to investment-ready ventures, follow-up investments, and a spin-off
Strategy & Setup:

Building a Strong Future in Essential Infrastructure

Hawle developed a shared Vision 2035 to define where to play across and beyond its water infrastructure markets. The strategy sharpened market positioning, prioritized growth and innovation fields, and created a concrete roadmap to strengthen Hawle’s role in the global water and utility sector.
Grow & Build:

Using Space Data for Smarter Green Area Maintenance

As part of the Space4Mobility program, ASFINAG and Latitudo40 explored how space data can improve green area maintenance. The initiative combined partner scouting, a hackathon, and pilot workshops to develop and validate practical use cases for infrastructure-related vegetation management.
Reinvent & Transform:

Seeing What Humans Miss: AI for Tunnel Safety

STRABAG introduced an AI-powered tunnel inspection solution that uses image recognition to detect quality issues up to ten times faster than traditional methods. The solution improves inspection accuracy, reduces operational risk, and accelerates maintenance decisions, leading to safer and more efficient tunnel operations.
Reinvent & Transform:

Giving Surplus Building Materials a Second Life

STRABAG came up with a surplus-materials management approach that systematically redistributes leftover building materials from construction sites into social construction projects, reducing waste and disposal costs while improving resource efficiency and generating positive impact.

Client Voices

Slide

Karin Krumpel

CEO

"Together with the Pioneers team, we developed the CODICO strategy 2030 providing the major guidelines for innovation-powered transformation and growth. Through our great collaboration and by applying the Pioneers strategy framework, we anchored the strategy in the future external and internal realities, derived must-win battles and growth bets and set strategic priorities across customers, products, markets, value chain position, and internal initiatives."

Slide

Markus Tatzer

Geschäftsführer

" Pioneers helped us develop a clear picture of the e-mobility ecosystem, shaped our scaling strategy, and supported us in creating a comprehensive roadmap for implementation. Their extensive know-how and experience proved invaluable throughout the process. We especially appreciated their hands-on and practical approach, which ensured that we could move from strategy to action seamlessly. "