The top prize, a light production Canon imageRunner Advance C9070 Pro digital press, was won by Nässjötryckeriet in Sweden for its business plan to move into the corporate and marcomms sectors.

According to the company's managing director Per Simonsson the contest inspired him to undertake a wholesale review of his firm's business model. "It gave us the motivation to compile a new business plan," he added.

Mark Lawn, European marketing manager for Canon Europe, said: "Business Leap was born from the research we undertook prior to Ipex that told us the old print industry was no more, the recession had changed the rules and standing still was not an option and change was a must.

"Simply put, the companies that survived the recession best were those with strong leadership, a strong plan and a vision for the future of their business and the winners embody these goals."

As well as winning the C9070 for three years, Nässjötryckeriet will also benefit from Canon's Essential Business Builder support package.

Second place in the pan-European competition was secured by Moeyaert W in Belgium, which proposed the consolidation of three businesses. The company won a 44-inch imagePrograf iPF8300 large-format printer with starter package and Essential Business Builder support.

Third prize, which consisted of Canon's Essential Business Builder support package, was won by La Crysalide in France.

The winners were revealed at Canon's Paris Expo event earlier this month, where the company unveiled a raft of beta products and new technologies.