Martin Gren, founder of Swedish network CCTV product company Axis Communications AB, was awarded a medal at a ceremony at the House of the Swedish Nobility (Riddarhuset) in Stockholm. The Royal Patriotic Society (Kungliga Patriotiska Sรคllskapet) Business Medal is an award for entrepreneurship. The Business Medal was presented by Princess Dรฉsirรฉe of Sweden.
The motivation read as follows:
โMartin Gren, technological visionary and one of the founders of Axis AB, almost 30 years ago. Martin has influenced the security industry worldwide and his concentration on network cameras for surveillance represented a new technology at the time, which has now become a world leader. In 1996, Axis released the worldโs first network camera and is today the global market leader in network video and Martin is regarded as the world’s most influential person in the security and fire industry, according to a trade association ranking. Today the company generates more than SEK 4.2 billion in sales globally, and has more than 1,400 employees.โ
Martin Gren says: โTo receive the Business Medal is a gratifying acknowledgement that we have made the world safer, by developing and offering our surveillance cameras in security installations all over the world.
โIt is quite simple; if you solve the customersโ problems then you have a viable line of business. I start entirely from the customerโs problems and needs. Then you get happy and satisfied users. I am most proud about all the capable people that I managed to employ in the company and that we have been able to preserve our unique corporate culture.โ
Each year, the medal is awarded to about ten people, who through their power as owners, have created and developed companies — and thereby worked for a better Sweden, which the Royal Patriotic Society has done since 1772, when King Gustav III signed the Societyโs charter. The purpose of the medal is to honour the recipient for long-term important work and to inspire others. The Society also provides support for humanistic and social science research and for social causes. The Society also awards medals and honorary gifts for work contributions.
