This is the second time that measuring instrument provider Testo from Lenzkirch has been among the winners. The employees mix 10 percent good ideas and 90 percent correct implementation of these ideas into their innovation pool. One example of this is Testo's sophisticated development planning for new products, which structures all steps from the idea to market maturity as a step-by-step process. The Lenzkirchen-based company calls this process 'Stage Gate'. It qualifies the initial idea until it is ready for product development. All of the company's employees can submit new ideas for products, which are then put through their paces by the head office in Lenzkirch. Top management also provides important impetus for new developments, and customer proximity is also important: every employee from product management and sales must spend 100 days a year with the customer.