Competition to find the best green-building and cleantech start-ups
Saint-Gobain, the world leader in sustainable habitat, has officially launched the fifth edition of its Innovation Competition. Since its inception in 2008, this Competition has aimed to reward start-up companies that aspire to develop and commercialize the most innovative solutions in the fields of habitat, energy and the environment such as construction products, advanced materials, energy efficiency and environmental sustainability. The Competition is organized and sponsored by Saint-Gobain's NOVA External Venturing group and offers prizes totaling $100,000.
This Competition was officially launched in Shanghai (China), during an Innovation Day organized in conjunction with the opening celebrations for Saint-Gobain's 350th anniversary, attended by Javier Gimeno, Saint-Gobain General Delegate for Asia-Pacific, Didier Roux, Vice President, R&D and Innovation for the Saint-Gobain Group, and Muthu Jeevanantham, Director of Saint-Gobain Research Shanghai.
Three prizes will be awarded by the panel of judges: first prize, $50,000, second, $25,000 and third, $15 000. New in 2015 will be an additional "Saint-Gobain Community Award", worth $10,000, to be awarded to one of the eight finalists selected by a vote of Saint-Gobain employees. Beyond funding, the NOVA team will evaluate all of the finalists for potential partnerships based on development and R&D, commercial, distribution and manufacturing agreements, or for taking equity interests.
"Saint-Gobain takes a keen interest in working with start-ups because we believe they are at the source of many exciting innovations that could be brought onto our markets. By entering the NOVA Innovation Competition, a start-up will have the opportunity to be evaluated by Saint-Gobain teams and, where there is a mutual interest, to work with our activities on potentially significant business opportunities. Thanks to the Competition, the finalists and winners will also enjoy wide public exposure," comments Didier Roux.
Comprised of a team present in Europe, North America and Asia, NOVA works with start-up companies to identify opportunities with the Group's worldwide business units, in order to spread innovation and accelerate the commercialization of new business concepts. It promotes an open innovation model and facilitates cooperation between young companies with innovative solutions and high-growth potential and Saint-Gobain, a Group with a history spanning 350 years and one of the top 100 most innovative businesses in the world1.
Entry conditions
Start-ups from all over the world with projects aligned with Saint-Gobain's strategic areas of interest mentioned above are invited to submit their entries by June 19, 2015.
A jury made up of members of the NOVA team, in-house and external experts, will examine all entries using an open, transparent selection process and select eight finalists, who will present their innovations before a panel of Saint-Gobain business leaders during a "speed dating" session to be held during the Greenbuild International Conference & Expo (November 18-19, 2015) in Washington, D.C. (US).
