Originally published by Fiets Award 2016 and RAI.
The jury had already nominated six entries. The final three winners were selected on 24 March, after a pitch to the professional jury. Three Bike Innovation Awards 2016 were awarded to:
Sparta / AXA Stenman: Sparta M8i with AXA connect module
The owner is always connected to his e-bike via a permanent internet connection to a track & trace system developed by AXA. The new system can send a message if the bike is unexpectedly moved or falls over. A stolen or relocated bike can also be traced in this way. Besides the tracing function, the owner also automatically receives a message advising him to charge the battery when it is almost empty, or to plan an appointment for timely service.
The jury praised the connectivity and sees many applications for this innovation in the future. With this contemporary innovation, Sparta and AXA Stenman have successfully connected the owner with his bike online.
Obvious eye for product innovation
There were 27 entries this year. The jury was pleased with the number, the variation and the level of the products. As in the elections of previous years, there were quite a lot of entries in the field of lighting and bike racks; however, this time products in the field of clothing and tools were lacking.
The jury nominated six entries. Despite the fact that the innovations were of a very respectable level, the jury saw no reason to award a special ‘Golden Award’ in view of the limited mutual differences in the degree of product innovation.
Pitch product towards victory
Unlike previous years, the expert jury, composed of professionals from the field of bicycles, innovation and industrial design, judged the entries in two rounds. Six nominations were chosen during the first round. The eventual winner of the Bike Innovation Award 2016 is determined after the special FIA pitch on 24 March. The nominees have three minutes to present their entries and to show the jury why their product should win.
The presentation took place today during the Bicycle Retail Trends Congress in Utrecht. See www.fietsawards.nl for more information.
