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	MD Case 'ChemUnity.com' wins EFMD Award Arnhem, The Netherlands - February, 2001 - We are pleased to announce that the IMD case 'ChemUnity.com' has won an award in the '2000 EFMD European Case Writing Competition'. The competition is organized every year by the Brussels-based European Foundation for Management Development (EFMD) - Europe's unique forum for information, research, networking and debate on innovation and best practice in management development. Its membership includes 390 institutions in 40 countries. This year the prize was presented to the case authors on February 9, 2001 at an event near Barcelona hosted by EADA. The case authors of the winning case 'ChemUnity.com', are the Professors Carlos Cordón and Thomas Vollmann and Research Associate Petri Lehtivaara. The 'ChemUnity.com' case, which focuses on the success of a start-up in the electronic marketplace, presents a rather special example of B2B - one that allows an appreciation of the subtle differences that need to be considered in understanding the new world of business through the Internet. The case approach itself is novel. The case is in the Internet format - there is no need for a paper copy - which facilitates understanding of the key issues and combines the content of e-business with the experience/feeling of e-business. The issues of B2B e-commerce are dealt with from the perspective both of the industry and of a new e-business venture. ChemUnity.com has to overcome many challenges including ramp-up, scaleable software and market penetration. The case has four parts that can be studied in a single session or as a multi-step case study. Subjects touched on include ChemUnity.com's beginnings and business concept; how it intends to attract suppliers and buyers to its service; the value proposition to the different parties of the industry; the approach to revenue-generation and costs; the partners who are helping provide the service. Carlos Cordón, Professor of Operations Management and Head of R&D at IMD, commented: "Cases are key to IMD's teaching methods and to developing research that is oriented toward understanding the realities of companies. Our motto of 'Real World - Real Learning' is exemplified in this way of developing materials and doing research, which forces us to steer clear of non-relevant research and focus our efforts on the most important issues facing leading companies. We greatly appreciate this price as a recognition of our work by our colleagues in other institutions." About ChemUnity: ChemUnity is the Europe's leading e-marketplace for chemicals, actively trading products such as caustic soda, solvents and acids. Founded late 1999, it has followed a strategy of activating one product at a time, visiting all suppliers before informing the potential buyers (over 800 producers, traders and consumers visited to date, of which 350+ have registered). It employs 32 professionals with over 500 years of combined chemical-industry expertise, in eight countries throughout Europe. ChemUnity's current status places it in pole position to offer complete e-procurement functionalities to connect buyers of chemicals with suppliers and other marketplaces alike. About IMD: IMD is an independent not-for-profit foundation located in Lausanne, Switzerland. For over 50 years it has been developing managers of leading international companies. Its proven Real World-Real Learning philosophy is designed to enhance leadership in every area of management. IMD helps executives and companies find new and innovative ways in which to sustain global competitiveness. Further information about IMD can be found at www.imd.ch About EFMD: Information about EFMD can be found at www.efmd.be For more information ChemUnity.com T: +31 (0)26 844 6000 F: +31 (0)26 844 6060 info@chemunity.com ChemUnity.com The Leading European Full-Truck-Load Chemical Commodity Solution Online The winning case of EFMD's 2000 European Case Writing Competition is available through the European Case Clearing House Consultant Director: Jeffrey Gray - Cranfield University, Wharley End, Bedford, MK43 0JR - United Kingdom Tel: +44 (0)1234 756400 - Fax: +44 (0)1234 751991 - e-mail: j.gray@ecch.cranfield.ac.uk