About Dražen Carić & i.c.i.c.

Mr. Carić graduated in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Zagreb, Croatia, where he received his Masters degree in Mechanical Constructions. His University internship took place at Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG, in Wiesloch/Heidelberg, Germany.

In 1992, Mr. Carić started his professional career as a function developer for Philips Austria in Klagenfurt. As a project leader, he began to work in close collaboration with Arthur D. Little, using and implementing the most advanced innovation methods in the daily work. Since then, he was responsible for the structured innovation processes at Philips Klagenfurt and dealt with training, consulting and managing for more than 40 innovation projects globally. A collaborative innovation exchange projects between Philips, Procter & Gamble, DuPont, 3M and Hilti and two-year joint innovation project with Procter & Gamble can be named as some of the reference examples.

In 2005 Mr. Carić started his own company i.c.i.c. – Idea Creativity Innovation Competence. Nowadays, he is working with international companies – ranging from small firms up to international concerns. With his expertise, he is supporting projects and structuring the development and research activities. Some references are: IEDC – Bled School of Management, Austrian Federal Economic Chamber, Carinthian Academy for Administration, Congress & Fair Innsbruck, Villach City, Klagenfurt City, Magna, Liebherr, Hidria, Infineon and The Federation of Austrian Industries.

The company i.c.i.c. is involved in a network of very competent partners in many different areas: market research, psychology, organisation, change management, technical development, design, tourism, event management, development of regions and many others. Therefore, it is possible to offer his clients a complete support in the entire innovation process.

With i.c.i.c. Mr. Carić has developed several new approaches and methods to enhance and steer innovation, for example: “Innovation Excellence”, “InnoWINg”, “Different Thinking in the Business”, “Idea Creativity & Network”,”Krea Natura”, ” House of Innovation”, “Business Crossover” and “Shaping Future”.
Together with the partner Dr. Karl Ladler (market and trend research, lecturer at university and university of applied science) Dražen Carić developed a highly efficient Open Innovation approach which is currently in the phase of partner involvement.

Apart from his business activities, Mr. Carić is also active in many institutions and associations. He has been active at “I³ – Initiative Intelligent Innovation” since 2010, during which time he took over both the presidency and the post of president’s deputy of this association/network. In addition, he is or was an active member of three Experts Groups in the Austrian Chamber of Commerce: “Innovation”, “Business Training” and “Cooperation & Networks”. Since 2013 he has been a member of “Austrian Aeronautics” and “CODEx” – a network dealing intensively with development of the regions.

Using his innovation-expertise, he makes it a point to support young companies and start-ups. For example, as a member of an international jury of the project “Future Ideas Karawanks”, he had evaluated many innovative ideas and had continued supporting them afterwards.

Additionally to his business activity, Mr. Carić is active in sport (Aikido, sailing, kite-flying, biking, dancing, archery), art (classic guitar, photography, singing, literature), fine scale modeling and psychology. Besides that he had coached as a team leader a Croatian sailing team for 1.5 years in championships and match races where they once beat the world champion. In 2003 he broke the World Record in team kite-flying with other 46 pilots.