Honoured as the "Entrepreneur of the Future"
16/02/2026
The owner of Dr. Walser Dental, Senator h.c. Gerhard R. Daiger, was honoured as the "Entrepreneur of the Future" for his particularly proactive, committed and forward-looking approach.
To support small and medium-sized enterprises in the competitive landscape, the German Innovation Institute for Sustainability and Digitalisation (DIND) presents the “Entrepreneur of the Future” award. The patron of this initiative is Brigitte Zypries, former Federal Minister for Economic Affairs.
Megatrends such as digitalisation and sustainability are currently experiencing a huge surge. The bottom line is this: any entrepreneur who fails to embrace these issues as challenges has no future. The right mindset is crucial when it comes to attracting and retaining staff, customers and business partners.
“It has never been more important to attract and retain the right talent. Only in this way can the increasing
pace of innovation and the challenge of transformation be turned into an opportunity.”
Brigitte Zypries, former Federal Minister for Economic Affairs
Forward-thinking entrepreneurs who receive this award are characterised by a unique ability to learn from experience and skilfully apply this to the challenges of tomorrow. They put this into practice in a sustainable and clear manner, with the strong support of their staff. Gerhard Daiger, for example, has launched over 430 innovations since 1999.
To identify suitable entrepreneurs for this award, the jury is in regular contact with experts from the worlds of business and academia, as well as experts from the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK), and assesses promising entrepreneurs through a comprehensive, three-month, multi-stage evaluation process.
The criteria assessed included, for example, innovation potential and forward-looking approach, creativity, digital presence, activity and networking, entrepreneurial activities and business practices, economic success, social commitment, sustainability and sustainability reports, as well as social engagement.
“Entrepreneurship is the ability to create and build practically anything from a vision; fundamentally, it is a human, creative act.”
Jeffry A. Timmons
Jeffry A. Timmons was an American professor of entrepreneurship and is regarded as a pioneer in both entrepreneurship research and entrepreneurship education. Over the course of his career, Timmons published several books and over a hundred articles and essays. He lectured on entrepreneurship, business start-ups, corporate finance and venture capital. In 2004, Timmons was named ‘Entrepreneurship Educator of the Year’ by the United States Association for Small Business Entrepreneurship. Source: Wikipedia.
Following an assessment and after meeting all the criteria, Gerhard R. Daiger was honoured as the ‘Entrepreneur of the Future’.
There is great delight within the company at this award, and it was celebrated extensively with the staff in a wonderful atmosphere. During the celebrations, Managing Director Gerhard R. Daiger received much praise and recognition for his achievements, as well as a great deal of gratitude and high regard from his colleagues.
Source: German Innovation Institute for Sustainability and Digitalisation
Caption: Senator h.c. Gerhard R. Daiger, Managing Director of Dr. Walser Dental GmbH
