ONE ROOF

For further information on R&D
and innovation projects, please
see www.hochtief.com/rd, our
Sustainability Report and www.
hochtief.com/sustainability.
50 Annual Report 2009
Research and Development
• Innovations an integral part of many projects
• Numerous products rooted in R&D projects
• Leading edge in the construction industry
through innovations
• Persuasive examples of strong innovative drive
One of a kind, not one size fits all
As an international provider of construction services,
HOCHTIEF only designs, finances, builds and operates
facilities that are unique and often also complex. Nearly
every one of our projects involves research and development
(R&D) work to ensure individuality and to provide
customers with quantifiable added value. Our aim
is to optimize these projects.
Innovation management spurs growth
Our company’s pioneering developments set standards
in the construction industry worldwide. We continue to
bolster this leadership position primarily through systematic
innovation management in all areas of the company.
For instance, we do not simply produce unique
solutions for projects and develop high-growth business
segments: Our innovations also contribute to the
continual optimization of internal workflows and processes
and set us apart from the competition.
Three levels of innovation
HOCHTIEF’s innovation management operates at three
levels:
The first level, central innovation management, ad-
dresses cross-cutting issues that could have a sustained
impact on the operating business. Our international
expertise and global network allow us to develop and
implement such innovation projects throughout the
Group. Central Corporate Development coordinates
integrated innovation management, reviews promising
innovation projects and sees to their implementation.
Our Innovation Committee, which is made up of members
from all divisions, the corporate centers and the
Executive Board, decides which projects will be carried
out. Implementation is supported by Corporate Development,
and efficiency is ensured by systematic monitoring
and control. In the year under review, HOCHTIEF
spent more than EUR 5 million on Group-wide R&D
projects. Sixty-five employees worked on 41 of these
projects in 2009, with 14 initiatives started and 17 completed.
The second level of innovation management at
HOCHTIEF targets innovations by the divisions. These
projects are developed, financed and implemented by
these divisions and the respective companies.
The third level consists of project-specific innovations.
These services account for the majority of our innovations
and are mostly provided directly at building sites
or as early as the project planning phase. We not only
develop custom technological solutions, but also optimize
areas such as materials and logistics for our
unique projects. The expenses for this work are allocated
to the projects and not recognized at Group
level.
Examples of current innovation projects
Level 1: Central innovation management
Offshore wind energy activities bolstered
HOCHTIEF operates in several segments of the expanding
offshore wind energy market. We design, build and
lay the required concrete and steel parts anchored directly
to the sea floor. Moreover, our company performs
soil analyses, and installs and maintains wind turbines.
In 2009, key parts of the first offshore wind farm in
Germany, “alpha ventus,” were constructed north of
the island of Borkum. We also expanded our product
and service spectrum in 2009 with the Beluga HOCHTIEF
Offshore joint venture. In cooperation with the world’s
leading heavy-lift cargo carrier, Beluga Shipping, we aim
to develop and operate special-purpose vessels that
enable the installation of offshore facilities with a height
of over 100 meters and a capacity of more than five
megawatts. The first vessel is expected to be operational
in 2012. Thanks to Thor, our new jack-up platform,
we have been able to build wind farms that serve
at depths of up to 50 meters since 2009, thereby unleashing
additional sales and earnings potential.
Innovations for sustainable airports
“Sustainable airports” is a new market strategy for environmentally
friendly consulting services developed by
our subsidiary HOCHTIEF AirPort along with central
departments in other divisions. One of the four corner-