NOVA Innovation Competition

After the grand finale that took place in Washington, DC (United States) on November 18, 2015, Saint-Gobain awarded three start-ups among the eight finalists in the 2015 NOVA Innovation Competition. There was $100,000 (about 89,000 euros) in prize money at stake as well as partnership opportunities.

Competition

Innovation

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Innovations from every corner of the globe

Saint-Gobain and the start-up ecosystem

The NOVA team, tasked with facilitating partnerships between the Saint-Gobain’s Activities and start-ups, has been running the Innovation Competition since 2008. It rewards young companies from around the world that propose innovative solutions with applications in the markets served by Saint-Gobain. The most promising are offered the opportunity to become long-term partners.

Did you know ?

The NOVA’s 2015 Competition attracted 270 applicants from 37 countries worldwide.

10x Technology

Alumina Energy

BitFinder

Ecovative Design

In’Air Solutions

Melodea

Q-Bot

US Bionics

Eight innovative start-ups

10x Technology, Alumina Energy, Bitfinder, Ecovative Design, In’Air Solutions, Melodea, Q-Bot and U.S. Bionics: These are the names of the 2015 NOVA Innovation Competition finalists. Their innovative solutions span diverse facets of the construction, high-performance materials, energy efficiency and sustainable development market segments. These start-ups, created between 2004 and 2013, are at varying stages of development. Watch their videos to find out more.

The Competition final at the Greenbuild expo

Saint-Gobain provided the eight finalists with the opportunity to present their innovations in a "fast pitch" session to a prestigious panel of judges at the Greenbuild International Conference & Expo in Washington, DC (United States), on November 18, 2015. After deliberating, the judges have named the three winners : 10x Technology and Ecovative Design are the cowinners of the NOVA Innovation Competition, each receiving a $37,500 cash prize (about €35,000). The third place award, and $15,000 (about €14,000), went to US Bionics. New to this 2015 edition was a fourth prize, the “Saint-Gobain Community Award”, presented to the finalist having gained the highest number of votes from Saint-Gobain employees worldwide.This $10,000 prize (about €9,000) was also awarded to US Bionics, topping the polls, in addition to the third prize awarded by the jury.

NOVA Competition, a catalyst for partnerships

The NOVA team examines opportunities for cooperation with all the finalists, and more broadly, all applicants, in addition to cash prizes and publicity. This cooperation can take the form of a co-development, commercial, distribution or manufacturing agreement, or taking equity interests. The aim is to form long-term, mutually-beneficial development partnerships between these start-ups and Saint-Gobain Activities, by combining Saint-Gobain’s marketing, R&D and manufacturing resources with the freshest ideas in the fields of construction and advanced materials. After almost 10 years’ existence and five Innovation Competitions, NOVA has examined more than 2,900 start-ups and signed more than 70 partnerships.