In conjunction with the ADWM, the Henri B. Meier Unternehmerschule (Henri B. Meier School of Entrepreneurs) of the University of St. Gallen researches and presents the real global market leaders in Germany, Austria and Switzerland on the basis of scientific criteria in the form of the Global Market Leader Index. The academics consider that the term "global market leader" has so far been subject to excessive overuse and often lacks clearly defined conditions. The initiators therefore pursued an objective and transparent approach when selecting the global market leaders. Furthermore, all the selection criteria and resulting values are disclosed.
According to the academics, a global market leader is characterised by annual revenue of at least EUR 50 million, with over 50 percent of this revenue generated by exports. In addition, it must have a presence on at least three continents with its own exports, production or sales companies and occupy the first or second place in the respective global market segment. The synthetics specialist Schlemmer, with annual revenue last year of EUR 270 million and production plants in 19 countries, more than meets these requirements. "We are particularly pleased to be represented in the index in such prestigious company, alongside German companies such as SAP, Schaeffler and Schott" added Josef Minster.
The complete Global Market Leader Index with a list of all the award-winning companies is available on the online portal of the economics magazine WirtschaftsWoche.