Best-practice examples: Successful eLearning spin-offs in Europe

Since it was founded in 1997 imc AG has developed to become one of the leading international service and technology providers for Learning and Content Solutions. Numerous companies and organisations already place their trust in the products and services. With the Learning Management System CLIX and the authoring tool LECTURNITY the imc AG offer an integrated solution approach for Learning Life Cycle Management. The customers appreciate the high level of advisory competency and the superiority when designing individual content solutions. On an international level we work together with well-known or highly competent local partners.

1997:

• Founding of imc (information multimedia communication) GmbH by Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. mult. August-Wilhelm Scheer, director of the Institute for Information Systems at Saarland University, with the aim of making academic know-how regarding the issue "virtual university" and "multimedia learning programmes" useful for industry.
• Publication of the specialist magazine "Information Management" and organisation of the "Saarbruecken Work Conference" as first economic basis.
• Managing Director: Dr. Wolfgang Kraemer.

1998:

• Dr. Wolfgang Kraemer, Frank Milius and Dr. Volker Zimmermann also become shareholders of imc.
• Managing Directors: Dr. Wolfgang Kraemer, Frank Milius, Dr. Volker Zimmermann
• Start up year:
  • Development of web-based training courses for IDS Scheer, SAP, IBM, Henkel and Veba
  • imc as newcomer in the traditional CBT market.
  • Set-up of the imc university with 70 hours online learning contents in the field of business information technology, IT and process management. Certification of the training course by the IHK [Chamber of Commerce] of Saarland to Business Engineer (IHK).
  • Consultancy order for the conception and realisation of Daimler Benz (later DaimlerChrysler) Corporate University.
  • Development of customized learning platforms.

1999:

• Roll Out of the Learning Management System CLIX 1.0 for DaimlerChrysler (DCU-Online) and Deutsche Lufthansa.
• Industrialisation of the production of web-based training courses (imc Content Factory).

2000:

• AICC certification of CLIX as first Learning Management System in Europe.

2001:

• Expansion of the consulting services by the specialist and technical operation of Learning Management Systems (Learning Service Providing).
• Roll out of CLIX Campus to support business and learning processes in higher education institutions.
• Aquisition of the research group "Authoring on the fly" by Prof. Dr. Thomas Ottmann, holder of the professorship algorithms and data structures at the University of Freiburg and founding of an office in Freiburg.
• Roll Out of LECTURNITY®.
• Participation of SAP AG in the capital stock of imc (10%).

2002:

• Decision to convert to a joint-stock company.
• Supervisory Board: Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. August-Wilhelm Scheer, Gisela Wörner, Michael Müller
• Management Board: Dr. Wolfgang Kraemer, Frank Milius, Dr. Volker Zimmermann
• Offer of "Blended Learning Solutions" – the specific combination of face-to-face and online learning.
• Founding of “Corporate Content Exchange”, a content development community for imc customers.

2003:

• SCORM™ – Certification for CLIX as first German LMS provider.
• imc becomes one of the first associated participants of PROLEARN

2004:

• Executive Board member Frank Milius is announced as chairman of the PROLEARN Industrial Advisory Board