Octapharma Dessau GmbH receives the “Grand Prize for Medium-Sized Enterprises” 2025!
Just one year after being honoured as a regional finalist, Octapharma Dessau GmbH has reached the next milestone — and made history: As one of the few companies from Dessau-Roßlau, it has been awarded one of Germany’s most respected business awards.
On Saturday, 27 September 2025, Octapharma Dessau was named state winner for Saxony-Anhalt in the prestigious Grand Prize for Medium-Sized Enterprises. General Manager Thoralf Petzold accepted the award on behalf of the company.
“It is a great honour for us to be recognised as a state winner for Saxony-Anhalt,” says Thoralf Petzold. “The demanding criteria of the competition make this award all the more meaningful , and we are incredibly proud to have emerged as a winner. Our heartfelt thanks go to the entire team, whose outstanding performance and collective effort made this success possible.”
The recognition crowns a remarkable journey: what began in 1990 with a small shipping team has grown into a site with more than 300 employees responsible for visual inspection, packaging, and worldwide distribution of Octapharma’s medicines. Today’s award reflects not only the site’s growth and resilience, but also its lasting contribution to both the company and the region.
The Head of Human Resources, Stephanie Kauert, notes: “This award reflects not only business success, but also the passion and dedication of our colleagues. Their engagement makes us strong — and underlines our ambition to remain an employer of choice in the region and beyond.”
About the Grand Prize for Medium-Sized Enterprises
The Grand Prize for Medium-Sized Enterprises is a business award that has been presented annually since 1994 by the Oskar Patzelt Foundation in Leipzig. Medium-sized companies from the fields of industry, services, trade, crafts, and commerce can be nominated by municipalities, associations, institutions, and companies. Octapharma Dessau GmbH was nominated for the third time this year. The nomination was submitted by the IHK Halle-Dessau (Chamber of Industry and Commerce) and the City of Dessau-Roßlau.
More than 4,000 companies were nominated across Germany, including 111 from Saxony-Anhalt. In the end, Octapharma Dessau GmbH was selected as the only prize winner in Saxony-Anhalt, alongside four other finalists.
The evaluation of the companies is based on five key criteria:
Overall development of the company
Creation and safeguarding of jobs and apprenticeships
Modernisation and innovation
Regional commitment
Customer service, proximity, and marketing
The jury particularly highlighted the following aspects in its acclamation:
International significance with strong regional roots
Octapharma supplies life-saving medicines to patients in over 120 countries — while remaining firmly rooted in Dessau, where the company has strategically and sustainably expanded its operations. Octapharma Dessau GmbH currently employs 311 people.
Exemplary work-life balance
Octapharma has long been committed to family-friendly working conditions — with measurable success: second place in the “Family-Conscious Workplace” competition in 2023 confirms that this commitment is not just a slogan, but an integral part of the company culture.
Innovation in products and processes
Octapharma consistently invests in modern technologies — from robotics and AI-supported software to ergonomically optimised workstations. The company also leads by example in sustainability: the use of green energy, conversion to LED lighting, and the already implemented photovoltaic system underscore its strong commitment to environmental responsibility.
Employee development and corporate culture
Through modular leadership training, international development programmes, and a modern learning management system, Octapharma fosters talent and supports long-term career growth. Health and wellness offerings further strengthen the sense of community.
Social and regional engagement
The company supports local sports clubs, cultural institutions, and social organisations such as the Dessau Association for the Disabled — a clear sign of its deep connection to the region and its sense of social responsibility.
Receiving the state-level award in the Grand Prize for Medium-Sized Enterprises is a special honour for Octapharma Dessau GmbH. This marks a significant achievement for the region and sends a strong signal for the economic strength of Dessau-Roßlau.
The full tribute by the Oskar Patzelt Foundation can be read here.