winnovation

Pioneering Cross Innovation

For almost two decades, winnovation has been connecting diverse actors, data, and perspectives to develop truly novel products, services and business models.

With this approach, winnovation has successfully aided the public sector and businesses in Europe to find innovative solutions for the problems of today: from ESG compliance to AI usage, mobility and digitalistion, we keep innovating with an open mind.

Inspired by MIT Professor Eric von Hippel and the User Innovation Concept, Dr. Gertraud Leimüller returned to Austria after her studies in the U.S. to establish the cross innovation consultancy, winnovation, in 2006, making it one of the first of its kind in Europe.

Her goal: Renew the way the public and private sector operate across Europe. By utilizing expert knowledge, she aims to make customers’ companies and organisations more digital and sustainable in all aspects.

The Innovators

Agata Kasjaniuk

Assistant to the CEO

  • Agata Kasjaniuk is the right hand of the management and responsible for office organization and human resources.

    She has honed her communication and negotiation skills during her tenure within sales, which she now uses to act as an interface within winnovation as well as to external partners. Together with her educational background in nutritional sciences and food technology, she adds to winnovation’s knowledge base with her previous work in the pharmaceuticals and food industry.

Celina Lutter, BA

Innovation Expert

  • Celina Lutter brings a unique blend of perspectives and expertise from her diverse background. She’s gained experience in business, health, and sports tourism, combined with a strong focus on human resources, particularly in People Development.

    With her hands-on approach, Celina excels at designing impactful training and workshop concepts. She is skilled in moderating and supporting teams to deliver innovative, sustainable solutions that meet client-specific needs.

Katrin Roseneder, MSc MA

Senior Innovation Expert

  • Katrin Roseneder is a strong solution oriented analytic thinker and develops novel approaches by cross-linking ideas from various industries.

    She has extensive experience in public sector services and the creative industries. With her empathy and outgoing personality, she is able to unlock the potential for innovation in individuals and teams. - Currently on maternity leave.

Nikolas Magele, BSc

Innovation Expert

  • Nikolas Magele is an open-minded and strong thinker and joined the winnovation team with his passion for innovation topics.

    His focus is on natural science topics but with his professional experience already spans the arc to sustainability and retail topics. Nikolas holds a bachelor’s degree in business and economics and is currently doing his master’s degree in innovation management.

Dr. Gertraud Leimüller

Founder & CEO

  • Gertraud Leimüller is founder and CEO of winnovation, one of the first cross innovation management consultancies in Europe.

    As a leading open innovation expert, she has been successfully transforming organizations for almost two decades. Gertraud has been working with leading companies across sectors such as Philips, Fujitsu, voestalpine and Schindler Escalators.

    Furthermore, she is passionate about developing completely new solutions in the public sector. As an alumnus of the Harvard University, she has strong networks around the globe.

    Gertraud serves as an evaluator in national and European innovation programs and shares her knowledge as a book author, columnist for a daily newspaper, and university lecturer. In 2018 Gertraud was appointed member to the Board of Trustees (Stiftungsrat) at Paracelsus Medical University Salzburg.

Dr. Brigitte Ömer-Rieder

Senior Innovation Expert

  • Brigitte Ömer-Rieder is a skilled expert in international technology search as well as in applying the lead user method.

    She is very passionate about systematically identifying solution holders across industry boundaries. She has strong expertise in technology, sustainability, and creative industries.

Mag. Elisabeth Gumpendorfer

Senior Innovation Expert

  • Elisabeth Gumpenberger is a well-structured thinker and passionate about discovering promising areas for innovation in clients’ markets.

    She has a strong track record in designing and facilitating multi-stakeholder workshops. With her interdisciplinary approach, Elisabeth knows how to create cross-industry solutions.

Lena Müller-Kress, MA

Senior Innovation Expert

  • Lena Müller-Kress combines human centricity with analytical skills, fueled by her background in design.

    She combines customer needs with future technological developments to create holistic solutions. Her specialties are strategic thinking, digital business models and artificial intelligence.
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Patrick Kosmider, MA

Communications Manager

  • Patrick Kosmider is a jack of all trades in the realm of communications. With a background in the humanities and a specialisation in philology, he worked within media for a decade.

    As a multimedia journalist, analyst and writer, Patrick supports winnovation in increasing its outreach through a cross-media approach, added by his analytical skills in finding new ways to expand the brand and dessimiante its successes.