GDF SUEZ’s call for projects, on the theme of sustainable energy, engaged startups

With a strong focus on innovation, ICS, the trade show held in Toulouse, gathered innovators, incubator networks as well as private and public investors. Innovative start-ups, the real stars of the show, were gathered around the Start-Up Place, an innovative village, at the centre of which, a demonstration area allowed all of the 85 French and international start-ups to display and defend their innovations in front of potential investors.

Among the 25 innovative projects received, in 10 days, by GDF SUEZ, further to a call for projects on the theme of “sustainable energy in the city”, 4 project leaders were selected and presented their innovation on the GDF SUEZ booth. How had they heard about it? Through the Pacte PME (SMEs’ Pact) and several competitiveness clusters (Advancity, S2e2, PEXE, Réseau Entreprendre, Systematic, SCS, Minalogic….).

The project leaders had different profiles, some were engineers or manufacturers and some were just the owners of a promising idea.

Two projects among the four presented during ICS successfully passed the first selection phase. The management of GDF SUEZ’s Innovation Department offered them to go further: cross-visits were made and NDAs were signed. As a result, a new generation wind turbine, currently in the phase of international patenting, lead by two engineers -one aerodynamicist and one researcher in mechanics- has entered the competition. “We need support to develop a demonstrator”, they both declared after the interview. The support of GDF SUEZ and a partnership with the Group are at stake.

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