Articles and White Papers
GIMI and IPMA: Joining Forces to Promote Cross-Certification for Project and Innovation Professionals
The Global Innovation Management Institute (GIMI) and the International Project Management Association (IPMA) have joined forces under a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to promote mutual recognition and cross-certification opportunities between project management and innovation professionals worldwide.
This collaboration brings together two globally recognized competence frameworks — GIMI’s Certified Innovation Professional (CIP) and Certified Chief Innovation Officer (CCIO) programmes, designed to teach individuals how to bring ideas to commercialization, lead innovation projects, and build innovation management systems and IPMA 4-Level Certification (IPMA 4-L-C), which validates project, programme, and portfolio management competence across four progressive levels (A–D).
Both certification systems share a common goal: empowering professionals to deliver sustainable results through structured competence development, ethical practice, and innovation-driven leadership.
By aligning the methodologies of innovation management and project management, this partnership enhances global mobility, professional credibility, and cross-disciplinary collaboration.
Through this initiative, project managers can deepen their innovation competences, while innovation professionals gain access to IPMA’s proven frameworks for managing complexity and delivering value in diverse project environments.
- Professionals interested in enhancing their project management capabilities can learn more about IPMA’s certification programs at:
https://ipma.world/ipma-certification/
- To explore GIMI’s certifications, visit:
https://www.giminstitute.org/individuals/
Together, GIMI and IPMA are building bridges between innovation and project management — advancing global competence, fostering sustainable impact, and shaping the future of professional excellence.
2025 GIMI INNOVATION AWARDS: Recognizing and Celebrating Innovation Initiatives from Organizations and Individuals Across Sectors and Industries
Top innovators and industry leaders celebrated at the prestigious GIMI Innovation Awards ceremony, recognizing their remarkable contributions in driving and advancing innovation within their respective fields.
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – November 7, 2025, at Casa Firjan, in Collaboration with IEL
Recognizing Global Innovators
The GIMI Innovation Awards, created by the Global Innovation Management Institute (GIMI), celebrates organizations and individuals in the public, private, and social sectors who are pushing boundaries and advancing innovation across industries, regions, and communities. GIMI, known for its pioneering role in training, certifying, and promoting best practices in innovation management, continues to elevate the work of innovators worldwide through these awards.
Dr. Hitendra Patel, CEO of GIMI, emphasized: “Every year, we witness how innovation has the power to redefine systems, unlock value, and set entirely new standards of performance. The 2025 GIMI Innovation Awards highlight the courageous innovators who are not only transforming their own organizations but also contributing to shaping a more resilient, inclusive, and future-proof world.”
Manuel Mendes, Co-Founder of Boston Innovation Gateway (BIG), shared: “Hosting this year’s ceremony in Rio, in collaboration with IEL, demonstrates how powerful global-local innovation collaboration can be. These innovators are proving that excellence is borderless and Brazil is becoming a rising anchor for the future of innovation ecosystems.”
The 2025 GIMI Innovation Awards featured 10 categories honoring both organizations and individual achievements. A distinguished panel of international experts evaluated submissions across rigorous criteria, recognizing original ideas with strong impact, scalability, and sustainability potential.
An esteemed jury of nine international experts evaluated the entries to ensure that the highest standards of excellence were recognized.
2025 GIMI Innovation Awards Winners
Organizational Awards
Most Innovative Company
- 1st Place Winner: Promigas S.A E.S.P. (Colombia)
- 2nd Place Winner: Bank of the Philippine Islands (Philippines), Bank of Africa Academy (Morocco)
- 3rd Place Winner: ROSHN (UAE)
Most Innovative Government Entity
- 1st Place Winner: Curitiba’s Development & Innovation Agency (Brazil)
- 2nd Place Winner: Ministry of Energy & Infrastructure (UAE)
- 3rd Place Winner: Dubai Police (UAE)
Most Innovative Project – Private Sector
- 1st Place Winner: Auditorium S.r.l. (Italy)
- 2nd Place Winner: Faculty of Medicine, Brawijaya University (Indonesia)
- 3rd Place Winner: Safeen Green – Abu Dhabi Ports (UAE), Klabin (Brazil)
Most Innovative Project – Public Sector
- 1st Place Winner: Dubai Police (UAE), Mohammed Bin Rashid Housing Establishment (UAE)
- 2nd Place Winner: Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine (Ukraine)
- 3rd Place Winner: Politiiet / The Norwegian Police (Norway), Ministry of Energy & Infrastructure (UAE)
Most Innovative Project – Social Sector
- 1st Place Winner: CEJAM (Brazil)
- 2nd Place Winner: PETRONAS Holdings (Malaysia)
- 3rd Place Winner: Center for BrainHealth (United States)
Best Startup
- 1st Place Winner: Sparring (Brazil)
- 2nd Place Winner: Color Pencil Technology Inc (United States)
- 3rd Place Winner: Nello Spettro (Italy)
Best Innovation Framework
- 1st Place Winner: BIO D (Colombia)
- 2nd Place Winner: PETRONAS Holdings (Malaysia)
- 3rd Place Winner: Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs & Port Security – ICP (UAE)
Best Innovation Hub / Science Park
- 1st Place Winner: Dubai Roads & Transport Authority (UAE)
- 2nd Place Winner: TechPark CV (Cape Verde)
- 3rd Place Winner: Fundación Bi (Guatemala)
Individual Awards Winners
Innovator of the Year Award
- 1st Place Winner: Yuvraj Kshirsagar (United States)
- 2nd Place Winner: Kulathendral Loganathan (India)
- 3rd Place Winner: Demetrio Filocamo (United Kingdom)
About the Global Innovation Management Institute
The Global Innovation Management Institute (GIMI) is the largest global nonprofit innovation certification board, based in Boston, Massachusetts. Dedicated to democratizing innovation worldwide, GIMI’s network includes over 18,000 members across 116 countries. GIMI provides world-class training and certification programs, working with organizations, individuals, and governments to implement best practices in innovation management.
GIMI is the preeminent thought leader in driving innovation within organizations and equipping individuals with skill sets to innovate successfully. After merging with the International Association of Innovation Professionals, GIMI became the main innovation certification organization in the world now driving Global ISO Innovation Management standards.
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Erila Haska
Chief Operation Officer
IPMA and GIMI Sign Memorandum of Understanding to Advance Project and Innovation Management
The International Project Management Association (IPMA) and the Global Innovation Management Institute (GIMI) are pleased to announce the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), marking the start of a strategic collaboration to strengthen the global development of project and innovation management.
Through this partnership, IPMA and GIMI will jointly promote professional standards, certification programs, research, and events, leveraging their complementary strengths to enhance competences and foster sustainable impact worldwide.
Key areas of collaboration include:
- Cross-promotion of certifications and training (IPMA’s project management standards and certifications alongside GIMI’s innovation management programs).
- Joint events and webinars, including participation in IPMA’s World Congress, Global Project Profession Forum, and GIMI’s Innovation Awards and Think Tank series.
- Development of integrated certification programs to combine project management and innovation leadership skills.
- Regional cooperation in the Middle East and United States, aligning efforts with IPMA-USA and IPMA UAE office. GIMI and IPMA-USA have formalized a strategic partnership to collaborate on project management and innovation in the USA.
- Research and publications, with reciprocal contributions to IPMA and GIMI journals, platforms, and practitioner magazines.
Prof. Dr. Mladen Vukomanović, President of IPMA, said:
“IPMA has always been at the forefront of advancing competences for sustainable project success. By joining forces with GIMI, we are creating a bridge between project management and innovation management — two disciplines that are increasingly inseparable in today’s complex world. Together, we will empower professionals to deliver change and innovation with lasting impact.“
Dr. Hitendra Patel, CEO of GIMI, added:
“At GIMI, our mission is to make innovation a global professional discipline. Partnering with IPMA, a pioneer in project management, allows us to combine our expertise and networks to shape the future of work, foster agility and creativity, and support organizations in navigating transformation. This collaboration is a natural step forward for the professions of innovation and project management.“
Mr. Timothy Jaques, President of IPMA-USA, added:
“More than ever, the world needs competent leaders who are equipped to handle modern, complex projects. We are excited to create new innovation and project management capabilities that our members can deliver in the real world.”
For enquiries, please contact: info@ipma.world