Focus-Business awards special clinic the "Leading Innovators 2026" seal of approval
The Sportklinik Hellersen is one of the most innovative companies in Germany and has been awarded the "Leading Innovators 2026" seal by Focus-Business. With 14 out of a possible 15 points, the specialist clinic achieved an almost perfect score - well above the average of 11.4 points of the 425 award-winning companies.
Four awards: Strength in organizational innovation
In four of the five categories examined - strategy and innovation culture, products and services, business model and organization - Sportklinik Hellersen achieved top marks, clearly setting itself apart from the average of the award-winning companies. Particularly noteworthy is the area of organizational innovation: Here, Sportklinik Hellersen stands out in particular. "Thanks to innovative structures, agile working methods and efficient processes, the specialist clinic is able to react flexibly to changes, minimize risks and actively drive progress. This form of organizational culture strengthens cooperation, the exchange of knowledge and the creative development of employees - a decisive success factor for the future," praises Focus Business.
Furthermore, it is clear that the organizational structure developed in Hellersen is a role model not only in the healthcare sector, but also in the high-performance sports environment. The close connection between sports medicine, science and applied practice forms a supporting pillar for the success of athletes in North Rhine-Westphalia - and strengthens the state's position as a potential venue for future Olympic Games.
"Innovation as an attitude" - medicine and sport in step
"The award confirms our claim to combine modern medicine with strategic foresight, innovative treatment methods and an open corporate culture. We are particularly proud of our strength in organizational innovation, which sets us apart from the competition. Only through specialization, international cooperation and the use of digital technologies can we offer the highest quality and actively shape the standards of tomorrow," says Dirk Burghaus, CEO of Sportklinik Hellersen, and adds: "As the state's center of excellence for sports medicine, we also see our role as promoting sporting excellence and understanding medical innovation as an integral part of modern sports promotion. With a view to North Rhine-Westphalia's Olympic bid, we see ourselves as a strong partner for elite sport and as an example of how medicine and competitive sport can shape the future together."
Business models and the digital future
The Sportklinik Hellersen is also ideally positioned when it comes to business models. It is continuously working on optimizing treatment and organizational processes, implementing digital solutions and making patient care even more efficient. With the international Hellersen Hospital brand umbrella, the clinic has also created a platform that bundles medical excellence, promotes knowledge transfer and enables new forms of collaboration.
This model also opens up new perspectives for sports medicine research and athlete care - from prevention and diagnostics to regeneration and return-to-competition support.
A particular focus is on digitalization and the use of modern technologies. Artificial intelligence is increasingly taking center stage: in future, it will analyze large amounts of data, recognize patterns and relieve the burden on medical staff - with the aim of making patient care even more precise and predictive.
Medical innovation with responsibility
An outstanding example of the innovative strength of the Sportklinik Hellersen is the robotics center, where the VELYS™ Robotic Assisted Solution System from Johnson & Johnson MedTech Orthopaedics is used. The clinic was one of the first facilities in Germany to establish robot-assisted procedures as an integral part of arthroplasty, thereby setting new standards. The combination of state-of-the-art technology and highly specialized surgical expertise enables implantation with maximum precision and individual adaptation - further proof of the role of the Sportklinik Hellersen as a pioneer for the medicine of tomorrow.
This technological pioneering role also has an impact on competitive sport: the experience gained from robot-assisted surgery and precise movement analysis flows directly into the care of top athletes - an important building block for the medical infrastructure of an Olympic venue.
"Our aim is not only to provide patients with state-of-the-art technology, but also to improve healthcare overall through innovative structures and sustainable strategies. We see innovation as a responsibility - for our patients, our employees and the healthcare system of tomorrow," emphasizes Dirk Burghaus.
"And this responsibility expressly includes sport," Burghaus continues. "Because only where medicine and sport work together at the highest level can top performance be achieved in the long term - and North Rhine-Westphalia can play a pioneering role internationally as a sporting state."
Between 7 and 15 points were required for the award. The Sportklinik Hellersen is one of the top 30 of the 425 award-winning companies, making it one of the most innovative companies in Germany.
Press contact
Sarah Burghaus
Head of Marketing, PR & Customer Service, Press Officer
sarah.burghaus@hellersen.de
Marketing & PR
marketing@hellersen.de
