AUSTIN, Texas—The Institute for Innovation Creativity and Capital (IC2) and the Center for Brand Research at The University of Texas at Austin have established the George Kozmetsky Award for Branding Excellence in the 21st Century to recognize innovative, creative and ethical business practices.
The award will be announced in April and will be presented at the May conference “Branding and ReBranding in the 21st Century: A Transdisciplinary Approach.”
Eleven companies have been named finalists for the Kozmetsky Award: BP, The Clorox Company, The Container Store, Dell Computer Corporation, IKEA, Merck, Mini Cooper (BMW), SAS Software, Southwest Airlines, The Timberland Company and The Walt Disney Company.
“Kozmetsky is truly an innovative visionary whose ideas and tireless efforts have led to economic growth and vitality throughout the world,” said Dr. Alex Cavalli, deputy director of IC2. “The goal of the George Kozmetsky Award is to recognize and applaud an organization that reflects Dr. Kozmetsky’s high ideals and whose innovative business practices have benefited both the organization and society.”
The criteria for the award represent the impact Kozmetsky has had on business and society. A distinguished panel of judges representing academia and business will use the following criteria in selecting the first George Kozmetsky Award:
- Innovative and creative business branding practices that deliver profit for its shareholders and substantial benefits for humankind;
- Its vision of the future and the confidence and competence to ensure its brand’s success at that time;
- A history of ethical behavior, respect and integrity in the treatment of its employees, partners and customers; and
- Acknowledgment, accommodation and respect for differences in cultures and beliefs.
Michael Dell, whose Dell Computer Corp. received on of its early investments from Kozmetsky, will present the award at The Center for Brand Research’s inaugural conference at 4:30 p.m., Thursday, May 8. The Center for Brand Research will sponsor two graduate students to complete their research and degree programs in the name of the award recipient. These scholars will research leading-edge brand issues and will report their research results to the Kozmetsky award recipient. An award also will be given to the organization’s advertising agency, if appropriate.
George Kozmetsky is a pioneer in the relationship between academia, business and government. He co-founded Teledyne, a Fortune 100 technology conglomerate, and IC2, a leading think tank at The University of Texas at Austin. He was dean of the business school at The University of Texas at Austin for 15 years and was president of The Institute for Management Science. He also helped develop more than 100 technology-based companies, including Dell, where he was the founding seed investor and a member of the board. Kozmetsky is an acknowledged expert in technology and venture capital, and has received numerous awards, including the National Medal of Technology for achievements in the commercialization of technology.
For more information contact: Erin Geisler, 512-475-8071, or Sherry Holdridge, 512-482-0273.
