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Tonight, Belgian semiconductor manufacturer X-FAB was awarded the 2024 Onderneming van het Jaar® award. EY, in collaboration with De Tijd, L'Echo, BNP Paribas Fortis and WorxInvest, organised the 30th edition of the annual award. His Majesty King Filip presented X-FAB’s CEO Rudi De Winter with the award tonight. The other 2024 award nominees were Drylock Technologies, Golazo and Montea.
Earlier this evening, Equine Care Group received the ‘Prijs van de Vlaamse Regering voor de Scale-up van het Jaar’, an award by the Flemish Government, represented by the Flemish Minister-President Matthias Diependaele.
EY launched the Onderneming van het Jaar® award in 1995 to highlight outstanding achievements of Belgian companies. Over the years, both the Dutch and French language awards – of which the 29th edition was won yesterday by Schréder – have evolved into prestigious accolades.
During this year’s anniversary edition, His Majesty King Filip handed the award to Rudi De Winter, CEO of X-FAB. X-FAB follows in the footsteps of last year’s winner, the Willy Naessens Group. X-FAB is headquartered in Tessenderlo and was founded in 1992 by three Belgian entrepreneurs: Rudi De Winter, Françoise Chombar and Roland Duchâtelet. It evolved into a global supplier of specialised semiconductor technologies with advanced manufacturing capabilities. All over the world, customers rely on X-FAB to develop innovative solutions that make cars safer and more efficient, render cities and factories smarter and make healthcare more effective. With six production sites in Malaysia, Germany, France and the United States, X-FAB employs 4,500 people and generated a turnover of €907 million in 2023.
Michèle Sioen, CEO of Sioen Industries and chair of the jury, elaborates on the jury’s choice of X-FAB: “More than 30 years ago, these three Belgian entrepreneurs developed the vision to start their own semiconductor company. Semiconductors are the bedrock of modern life and microchips are everywhere - not just in computers, smart phones or other consumer goods but also in cars, industrial equipment and medical applications. Over time, X-FAB became one of the world's leading specialised foundry groups for semiconductor technologies with a clear focus on automotive, industrial and medical applications.”
“X-FAB has a massive expansion programme to meet demand. The company acquires struggling companies worldwide, turns them around and provides a successful sustainable business model. This kind of investment is very capital-intensive and has its risks but X-FAB's strong partnership approach to working with customers, driven by values and aimed at achieving long-term success together and developing innovative products, delivers results. Together with their visionary strategy and continued focus on innovation, X-FAB secures a strong financial position and sustainable, profitable growth.”
Rudi Braes, Vice-Chair of EY EMEIA: “Time and again, I am impressed with the many remarkable companies and entrepreneurs in Belgium. Looking back at previous winners, we see companies that have sometimes weathered difficult times, but have proven their resilience and strategy over and over again. With the Onderneming van het Jaar® award, we honour not just individuals, but the strength of an entire organisation. A company is stronger than one person. At X-FAB, that strength comes to life as employees from as many as 45 nationalities work together, showcasing a diversity of cultures, religions, backgrounds, age groups and education levels. The result? An organisation that not only inspires, but excels.”
“The accolade Onderneming van het Jaar® represents much more than an award,” says Patrick Rottiers, CEO of EY Belgium. “It is a public recognition of companies' vision, dedication and exceptional performance. With Onderneming van het Jaar®, we have created a rock-solid quality label that raises the bar for excellent entrepreneurship. X-FAB embodies this perfectly. With its innovative technologies, the company contributes to addressing today's challenges. Just consider its development of greener energy solutions in the fight against climate change, or intelligent medical applications that address the needs of a growing and ageing world population. X-FAB shows how entrepreneurship is able to create a lasting impact.”
As this year’s winner, X-FAB joins an outstanding roll of honour: Willy Naessens Group (2023) – Aliaxis (2022) – Aertssen Group (2021) – Stow (2020) – Kinepolis (2019) – Ardo (2018) – WDP (2017) – Vyncke (2016) – DEME (2015) – Katoen Natie (2014) – Willemen Groep (2013) – La Lorraine Bakery Group (2012) – Soudal (2011) – Taminco (2010) – Studio 100 (2009) – Cartamundi (2008) – Groep H. Essers (2007) – Metris (2006) – Option (2005) – Deceuninck (2004) – Miko (2003) – Omega Pharma (2002) – Resilux (2001) – Melexis (2000) – Sioen Industries (1999) – Compex (1998) – Icos Vision Systems (1997) – ECA (1996) – Real Software (1995).
Equine Care Group receives 2024 Scale-up award
EY has organised the 19th edition of ‘Prijs van de Vlaamse Regering voor de Scale-up van het Jaar’ in collaboration with De Tijd, L’Echo, BNP Paribas Fortis en WorxInvest. Equine Care Group, headquartered in the province of Limburg, was announced as the 2024 winner during the 2024 award ceremony for the Onderneming van het Jaar®.
The other nominees for this prestigious award were Alpha.Bio, Icometrix and Lighthouse. Equine Care Group received the award from Matthias Diependaele, Minister-President of the Flemish Government and Flemish Minister of Economy, Innovation and Industry, Foreign Affairs, Digitalisation and Facility Management.
Equine Care Group (ECG) was founded in 2021 and brings together veterinarians, scientists, horse clinics, nutritional companies, supplement companies and veterinary laboratories into one powerful group, with the aim of promoting equine welfare worldwide. ECG now includes more than 35 member companies spread across nine countries, providing horse care in more than 70 countries. Its rapid growth has been driven by synergy, innovation and strategic acquisitions. Equine Care Group employs 400 people and generated a turnover of €80 million in 2023.
The ‘Scale-up van het Jaar’-award is a prestigious prize, awarded by the Flemish Government, to reward fast-growing companies in full development phase for their efforts and to motivate them to continue with the same drive. Indeed, the jury rewards candidates they believe can one day become winners of the Onderneming van het Jaar®.
“The impressive entrepreneurial story of Tom Mariën and his team is based on a strong mix of strategy, perseverance, expertise, and a sound financial basis. An intelligent buy-and-build strategy, partly supported by external capital, and a passionate focus on continuously improving delivered services through deeply embedded knowledge-driven innovation and technology, using VR and AI, among others, the focus on sustainability as well as strong communication, transformed Equine Care Group into a Flemish world leader within equine medicine, breeding and nutrition,” says Jurgen Ingels, Managing Director of Smartfin Capital and chair of the jury. “Its current solid base on an organisational and competitive level and investment capacity allows Equine Care Group to further exploit the international market potential. Already, the company represents a superb showcase of Flemish entrepreneurship.”
“The ‘Prijs van de Vlaamse Regering voor de Scale-up van het Jaar’ is awarded to companies that have the potential to one day become Onderneming van het Jaar®. Equine Care Group is a particularly fine winner and demonstrates how a unique level of knowledge combined with a strong strategy and a well-thought-out growth path can make companies accelerate quickly. To us, Equine Care Group is a perfect ambassador of Flemish entrepreneurship, showing huge potential for the future,’ adds Stefan Olivier, EY Europe West Private & Core Leader.
As the 2024 winner, Equine Care Group joins an impressive list of previous winners: Loop Earplugs (2023) – FEops (2022) – Deliverect (2021) – Robovision (2020) – Guardsquare (2019) – Ontoforce (2018) – Playpass (2017) – MediaGeniX (2016) – Destiny (2015) – CMOSIS (2014) – Medec (2013) – Itineris (2012) – Skyline Communications (2011) – Clear2Pay (2009) – Netlog (2008) – Financial Architects (2007) – Transics (2006) – Televic (2005).
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