Dear readers,
Analyze, observe, reflect, and advise – all of this is part of a responsible approach to processes and decisions, as well as to new ideas. But in the end, what counts is that we have the courage to act. Good ideas can only unfold their potential if we also put them into practice.
Excellent suggestions repeatedly come from within our own ranks, for example, as a result of our internal innovation competitions. It is our job to make these impulses visible and give them room to flourish. This is precisely why we are creating formats like the innovation management workshop or the continuous improvement process. They show: we not only have ideas, but also the will to „bring them to the street.“.
And because tackling things together is not possible without mutual trust, we also need moments of lightness. Whether at the summer party or other relaxed occasions outside of everyday work: when we celebrate together, closeness arises that strengthens our collaboration and lays an open, trusting foundation for new things.
In this regard, thank you very much for your commitment!
Best regards,
Your Thomas Biedermann and Dr. Fabian Fechner
Promising
„Smart Innovation for a Safer Tomorrow“ is the headline for the 5th Internal Innovation Competition. Since September 8th, all subsidiaries, sub-subsidiaries, and affiliates of the RWTÜV Group worldwide have been invited to be innovative and creative. Valuable prizes await the creators of the best ideas.
Ideas are sought for RWTÜV services related to infrastructure and security. The corporate group aims to specifically focus on the special funds announced by the federal government, either directly or indirectly. Other national or European government funding programs should also motivate employees to develop new service offerings. In the spirit of move AS ONE, synergies between companies within the group are also welcome. The focus is on existing or new customers in the security/military, infrastructure, networks, and similar sectors. The potential service offering should contribute to sustainable progress.
Two already provided food for thought Online Kick-off Events. Nearly one hundred participants reflected a great deal of interest. Here, the managing directors of those RWTÜV companies already active in the targeted fields presented their perspectives and preliminary analyses. The speakers were Torsten Brinker (CONSULECTRA), Tobias Apel (apro.gmbh), Andreas Ehre (cetecom advanced), and Dr. Bernd Benser (critisLAB) on the topic of security, and Klaus Nordhorn (IB Nordhorn), Ralf Schade (Enoplan), and Alexander Dietrich (Van Ameyde) on the topic of infrastructure.
Winning Idea
The format for this successful interdisciplinary exchange originates from the preceding competition on the topic of move AS ONE: Clara Sessler, Evelyn Fröhlich, and Julia Weise from Enoplan had been honored for their submission titled „One Connect“ and were now able to witness how the premiere of their innovative online meeting format boosted information exchange within the company and heralded the next internal innovation competition.
The concept of a live event with moderation and selected active participants was convincing. All viewers could not only follow the exchange in the livestream but also actively participate in parallel via the chat with questions and suggestions. A dynamic and informative dialogue was created. It promises exciting developments for the current competition and promotes cultural cohesion in the spirit of move AS ONE.
Corporate security
Comprehensive services such as consulting, training, and coaching for operators of critical infrastructures (KRITIS) are offered by critisLAB GmbH, located in Hoppegarten near Berlin, within the RWTÜV Group.
Six years ago, critisLAB created a forum with the Corporate Protection Conference, which facilitates the necessary exchange between operators of critical infrastructures and representatives of responsible authorities.
RWTÜV Managing Director Dr. Fabian Fechner represented the RWTÜV Group on-site at the latest edition on September 4, 2025: „From the outset, the idea for this format was outstanding, as it closes a gap in the information exchange among the key players. Six years later, times have changed radically again, especially for operators of critical infrastructures in Germany, where threat scenarios continue to increase. The forum is more important than could have been foreseen at its inception, which is also shown by the great response!”
It is therefore not surprising that a move to larger conference rooms was necessary for the 6th edition, which just took place, to accommodate twice as many participants as last year. In a geopolitically challenging environment, exchange and networking are essential.
In the coming year, the 7th Corporate Security Conference will once again take place in Berlin on September 3, 2026. A recommendation for your calendar – and that of your (potential) customers.
Innovation Management
Within the scope of the internal innovation competition, the RWTÜV Group regularly seeks new ideas. But how can an open-minded atmosphere be fostered in general, how can employees be inspired to actively participate in the development process of new service offerings, and how can promising proposals ultimately be accompanied on their path to actual portfolio expansion for customers?
The answer is: with targeted innovation management. The RWTÜV Group is dedicated to promoting this, and not just since the Austrian agency isn – innovation service network became part of the group.
The corporate management wants to stimulate and enable structured, permanent, and successful innovation processes from within. Therefore, together with TÜV Thüringen, they are supporting training for their employees to become Innovation Managers, conducted by isn.
A total of 18 colleagues from Enoplan, ENOMETRIK, the Van Ameyde Group, cetecom advanced, as well as TÜV Thüringen and the RWTÜV Group Headquarters itself are taking on the challenge. On the agenda for the innovation experts Reinhard Willfort and Victoria Wallner The guided online teaching units cover strategic innovation management, creativity methods for workshops, innovation process management, and all of this with a special focus on the integration of AI.
The kick-off meeting for the intensive innovation training phase took place on September 1st at Kronprinzenstraße in Essen for participants to get to know each other. Months of exciting input and inspiring exchange, as well as further mutual understanding, now lie ahead for the participants. move AS ONE. Recommend the practice-oriented and certified training to your customers too!
https://innovation.at/zertifizierte-ausbildung-innovationsmanager/
Summer festivals
The summer festival of RWTÜV subsidiary cetecom advanced took place this year at Schmachtenbergshof in Essen Kettwig. The focus was on convivial get-togethers, cross-departmental exchange, and of course, delicious food.
With this, the organizing team hit the nail on the head with the staff, who had identified „networking” as the most important item on the agenda for company celebrations in a corresponding survey.
Joining the colleagues at cetecom advanced Essen were the group's management, represented by Thomas Biedermann and Dr. Fabian Fechner. They made „move AS ONE” tangible through practical examples of change management and the innovation competition, and were receptive to any questions or concerns. Their conclusion: "It was a well-rounded event, focused on human interaction. Thank you to the organizers!"
RWTÜV subsidiary apro.gmbh was out and about in Erfurt on September 5th for the summer festival, on a „scavenger hunt.” Managing Director Tobias Apel did not miss the opportunity to put together the puzzle tour himself, which took participants around St. Thomas Church, Augustinian Monastery, State Parliament, and other beautiful sights. A cozy dinner at Patrick's Irish Pub in Erfurt rounded off an equally varied and educational day.
Cybersecurity
The pilot phase of the continuing education program for women as cybersecurity experts at the eurobits women academy | ewa, which RWTÜV Foundation has been supporting since 2022, concluded with a formal certificate presentation to all graduates.
„But this is an interim step!” emphasized Christine Skropke, Chairwoman of the eurobits e.V. board, at the opening of the event. „We are convinced we are on the right track and determined to transition the program into a permanent fixture!” This was supported by the patron and sponsor Mona Neubaur, Minister for Economic Affairs, Industry, Climate Protection and Energy of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, in her emotional and convincing plea for more women in IT security, but also for more women in the economy as a whole. „Show your teeth!” she advised the attending graduates.
RWTÜV CEO Thomas Biedermann, in his role as Chairman of the RWTÜV Foundation's Board of Directors, which significantly supported the program financially, gave a welcoming address, as did Marc-Julian Siewert, CEO of secunet Security Networks AG. Both of them also brought the encouraging message: „We need you, women, in this important future professional field, and we are in favor of much more diversity!”
After the certificates were handed over to the ewa graduates, Prof. Dr. Martina Angela Sasse, holder of the Human-Centred Security chair at the Horst Görtz Institute for IT Security at Ruhr University Bochum, dedicated her keynote to the mood in IT security departments, and specifically among CISOs. Her conclusion: The need for female experts in particular is huge, in order to strengthen teams in many ways.
In the subsequent panel, led by Birgitte Baardseth, the conversation focused on opportunities, perspectives, and hurdles for women in the cyber world. With her on the panel were Beatrice Huck, ewa alumna, NeoMINT, Evelyn Breitenstein, ewa mentor, secunet, Raik-Michael Meinshausen, Partner, Stanton Chase, and Robert Franken, DEIB Expert, ConsciousU.
A concluding remark from Nadine Nagel, the executive board member responsible for ewa at eurobits, rounded off the event before networking and forging future plans took place in a relaxed get-together, with the hope that cybersecurity will soon be significantly more female.