OREANDA-NEWS. After the success of the 1st edition of ENGIE Innovation Week in 2015, ENGIE and its partners are mobilizing June 6 – 10 to promote innovation and exchange experiences centered on transformations in the energy universe. ENGIE employees will come together in 150 events in 26 countries to organize a whole series of programs throughout the week. http://innovationweek.engie.com/

The energy revolution driving innovation

“Innovation Week” offers a unique opportunity to discover the full range of ENGIE innovations developed with partners (start-ups, intrapreneurs, customers, etc.) as well as occasions to discuss solutions with inventors and innovators that will be transforming the energy universe and, in particular, consumers’ experience. Calls for projects, pitch sessions, hackathons, lectures and contests will be organized in 23 countries and on every continent.

Each day, a theme reflecting the Group’s main métiers will be highlighted: business innovation and performance, renewable energy developments, connected cities, the transformations of our daily lives, as well as new natural gas applications. Themed discussions and lectures led by writer Erik Orsenna of the French Academy, will be organized every day of the week at the Village and may be followed live on You Tube channel OpenInnov by ENGIE.

This 2nd edition will also be highlighted by an Innovation Awards Ceremony in Paris that, for over thirty years, has recognized the employee-innovators of ENGIE. This year’s edition has set a record for participation, with 580 projects entered and 52 teams nominated. The Awards Ceremony will be broadcast live on YouTube and will be preceded by a Market Place program where each team will present its innovations.

Follow, participate, contribute

ENGIE Innovation Week is a dynamic experience: participants are invited to respond to live broadcasts, videos, and day’s bests that will be featured in succession throughout the week on http://openinnovation-engie.com/en/ and on Twitter, using hashtag #InnovWeekENGIE.

Innovation at ENGIE

ENGIE’s objective is to be the global energy transition leader, with a particular focus on innovation. This undertaking benefits the entire Group through the transformation of new ideas into practical customer solutions.

Four key areas have already been identified:

  • Decentralized, renewable, energy generation, load management and storage;
  • The smart home;
  • Cities of tomorrow and urban mobility;
  • Digital control and energy efficiency

ENGIE New Ventures, a corporate venture capital fund with €115 million in capital, was launched to support innovative start-ups and has already invested in eight start-ups in the Clean Tech sector. In addition, an incubation procedure for employee projects has been brought into being, and already supports 20 projects. Finally, innovative start-ups are regularly asked to submit projects for the development of solutions in ENGIE New Ventures’ areas of strategic activity.