Six companies nominated for the Future Prize 2025

Finalists represent the breadth of Brandenburg's economy / 91 applications

A total of 91 companies applied for the Brandenburg Future Prize this year. Six of them were nominated by the main jury for the final on November 21 at the Holiday Inn Berlin Airport Conference Center in Schönefeld.

The range of services offered by the finalists is broad. They design exclusive and modern spaces with oversized tiles. They consistently invest in innovations, equipping even complicated buildings with balconies. They design children's playgrounds that are not only safe and creative, but above all sustainable. They develop modern and highly effective crane systems for the global market. As building cleaners, they take responsibility for society, employees and the environment by using environmentally friendly cleaning agents and processes. They developed and produce "smart" rowing ergometers and have thus made the leap from the niche to the mass market.

The nominees employ more than 860 women and men and are currently training 27 young people. In 2024, they generated a turnover of around 52.3 million euros. They are united by their passion for and connection to their home country and its people, as well as the will to look to the future even in times of economic weakness.

The award ceremony will take place on November 21, 2025 at the Holiday Inn Berlin Airport Conference Centre in Schönefeld. In addition to a high-quality image film, the winners will receive a media presence, a stele, a certificate and the right to advertise themselves with the "Winner of the Brandenburg Future Prize" label.

The competition has so far produced 187 winners whose solutions have secured jobs and created new ones, as well as helping to strengthen the region in the long term. The prize therefore not only promotes economic success, but also sustainable and fair economic development.

The nominees for the Brandenburg 2025 Future Prize

2M Gruppe GmbH from Potsdam

Founded in 2002, the company takes responsibility for society, its employees, the environment and a sustainable future. This focus is reflected in numerous certifications such as DIN ISO 9001, 14001 and EMAS. Since 2020, the company has been working exclusively with cleaning agents that are eco-certified. The majority of the fleet consists of hybrid and fully electric vehicles.

The shortage of skilled workers is a major challenge in the building cleaning trade. The company is countering this with robotics and AI. Since 2022, all order-relevant data has been recorded in AI software. This is used to calculate the required cleaning times. The employees are also supported by cleaning robots so that the cleaning times are during the day and a work-life balance is possible.

Ardelt Kranbau GmbH from Eberswalde

Ardelt Kranbau is a manufacturer of rail-mounted, electrically powered double jib cranes. The harbor crane and Eberswalde are a symbiosis. For more than 100 years, modern and highly effective crane systems have been developed and manufacturing methods perfected in East Brandenburg. All this was at stake three years ago. Due to the insolvency of a predecessor company, there was a risk of losing the region's identity as a location for crane construction with a global reputation.

Uwe Grünhagen's extraordinary entrepreneurial courage and foresight enabled him to continue the tradition-steeped company in the form of a successor from insolvency. His confidence in the products for the global market, rather than relying on historical experience, was the driving force behind the continuation of the company as part of a management buy-out (MBO) in 2022 / 2023. The trust of the employees, who secured the continuation of the crane construction tradition through new participation and employee retention models, is an important foundation.

AUGLETICS GmbH from Königs Wusterhausen

The company develops and produces "smart" rowing ergometers and enables indoor training at studio level in the digital age. The prototype was developed in a student dormitory, but now the highly innovative fitness device is built in the company's own modern production workshop. The leap from a niche to the European mass market in the home fitness business has been made.

The special feature of the highly innovative high-tech fitness device is the combination of a quiet, maintenance-free magnetic braking system with digital training, virtual coach and app connection. Streaming services can also be used.

For AUGLETICS, exercise is the key to maintaining long-term performance. Innovation and regional quality work are the basis for success. The company has grown very successfully in recent years and invests in sustainability, young talent and rowing.

Metall- und Balkonbau Hansmann GmbH from Jacobsdorf

As both a manufacturer and project developer, the company succeeds in creating tailor-made aluminium balcony systems for even the most complex construction projects - from serial renovations to the densification of living space. By combining traditional craftsmanship, modern series production and the use of artificial intelligence in production, the company sets standards in the industry. At the same time, it impresses with its commitment to promoting young talent, inclusion, employee retention and regional responsibility.

Entrepreneur Kerstin Hansmann consistently invests in technological innovation. In doing so, the company is not only responding to current requirements, but is also actively shaping the future of construction. On the other hand, future viability is reflected in entrepreneurial thinking: early involvement in feasibility studies, the development of individual solutions for demanding construction projects and a clear unique selling point in product design make the company a sought-after partner in the industry - despite stagnating residential construction.

MONARI Arts GmbH from Schlieben

The craft business has quickly established itself as an industry champion in the field of exclusive tile craftsmanship and individual furniture design. With a clear focus on high-quality materials and innovative production techniques, the company offers tailor-made solutions for discerning customers. Particularly noteworthy is the specialization in large-format tiles from 3 x 1.50 meters, which are used not only in classic applications, but also in unusual areas such as ceiling cladding and wall designs.

By using state-of-the-art technologies, including water jet cutting with a 5-axis 3D cutting head and precise CNC machining, MONARI Arts guarantees the highest precision and quality. This combination of technical expertise, creative design and individual customer support makes the company an outstanding player in its industry.

Spiel-Bau GmbH from Brandenburg an der Havel

For years, Spiel-Bau has been a symbol of visionary entrepreneurship that combines ecological responsibility, social fairness and technical excellence. The company has made it its mission to design children's playgrounds that are not only safe and creative, but above all sustainable - setting standards for the entire industry. Exports as far afield as Australia speak for themselves. The development of a slide cooled with water from below, which ensures safe cooling on hot summer days, is just one example of the company's creative engineering skills. The world's quietest ropeway carriage - a revolutionary in-house development - stands for attention to detail and the aspiration to take the play experience to a new level.

Sustainability at Spiel-Bau doesn't just start with the use of materials - it permeates all processes: from energy-efficient production and low-emission supply chains to an employee-friendly working environment that focuses on long-term loyalty and mutual respect.

Members of the "Brandenburg Future Prize" main jury

Carsten Christ, President of the East Brandenburg Chamber of Industry and Commerce

Patricia Dost, Head of Business Clients DB Privat- und Firmenkundenbank AG Unternehmensbank-Firmenkunden Deutschland Geschäftskunden Brandenburg-Ost

Jochem Freyer, Chairman of the Management Board of the Frankfurt (Oder) Employment Agency

Ina Hänsel, President of the Potsdam Chamber of Industry and Commerce

Sandra Fritsch, Studio Manager in Cottbus at Rundfunk Berlin-Brandenburg / rbb

Christian Kistner, Member of the Board of the Investment Bank of the State of Brandenburg (ILB)

Wolf-Harald Krüger, President of the Frankfurt (Oder) Chamber of Skilled Crafts for the East Brandenburg region

Claus Liesegang, Editor-in-Chief of the Märkische Oderzeitung

Henry Lohmar, Editor-in-Chief of Märkische Allgemeine

Corina Reifenstein, President of the Cottbus Chamber of Crafts

Silke Baron, Spokeswoman of the Management Board of Bürgschaftsbank Brandenburg

Jens Warnken, President of the Cottbus Chamber of Industry and Commerce

Jörg Wieczorke, Network Region Manager of the Brandenburg/Rügen network region of EWE Netz GmbH

Robert Wüst, President of the Potsdam Chamber of Crafts