ChangeNOW 2026
SAINT-GOBAIN IS A PARTNER OF CHANGENOW, THE GLOBAL EVENT FOR SOLUTIONS FOR THE PLANET
Saint-Gobain is proud to be partnering with ChangeNOW — the world’s largest event dedicated to solutions for the planet - for the sixth consecutive year.
Every year, the summit brings together innovators, investors, businesses, public decision-makers and project leaders from over 140 countries to accelerate the environmental transition.
The event showcases 1,000 concrete solutions across key themes such as climate, the circular economy and sustainable cities, and helps forge connections that turn ideas into action.
As a global leader in sustainable construction, Saint-Gobain plays a key role in mobilizing the entire industrial value chain to coordinate the various stakeholders and share best practices and solutions.
MEGA TRENDS ARE TRANSFORMING OUR WORLD
Pascal Eveillard, Director of Sustainable Construction at Saint-Gobain, shares his vision
Energy-efficient renovation is gaining momentum, and the challenges it presents are becoming increasingly well understood. Renovation involves reducing buildings’ CO₂ emissions, improving residents’ comfort and well-being, lowering energy consumption and enhancing property value.
With our “Lead & Grow” strategic plan, Saint-Gobain is expanding its range of comprehensive solutions for residential, non-residential and infrastructure projects.
These markets are evolving rapidly, driven by growing demands for performance and sustainability. In infrastructure, Saint-Gobain meets the most demanding requirements—such as those for bridges or tunnels—thanks to its expertise in construction chemicals, a critical lever for differentiation and value in sustainable construction. Data centers, which are growing rapidly, perfectly illustrate this trend: the Group provides modular and lightweight solutions that combine speed of installation, thermal insulation and airflow management.
Other sectors, such as education and the hospitality industry, are paying increasing attention to acoustic comfort and indoor air quality – criteria that are becoming increasingly important in construction and renovation projects and for which Saint-Gobain offers a comprehensive range of solutions.
In this regard, partnerships with start-ups enable us to explore new approaches and accelerate the development of certain technologies, some of which are disruptive.
These collaborations are based on a win-win approach, driven by NOVA, Saint-Gobain’s venture capital arm. The Group expands its expertise while the start-ups benefit from its support to scale up their operations. This innovation ecosystem enables the Group to tangibly accelerate its journey towards ever more responsible construction.
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE EVENT
The 2026 edition will take place at the Grand Palais from 30 March to 1 April at 7 Avenue Winston Churchill, 75008 Paris, France.
- 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm: “Circular Economy (Early Stage)” Pitch Session with Laurent Ehrhard, External Venture Manager, Jury Member
- 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm: “Cities & Mobility” Pitch Session with Basma Kharrat, VP External Venturing, Jury Member
- 8:45 am → 1:00 pm: Cities Program - “Advancing City-Industry Partnerships toward Urban Transformation in Europe”– Breakfast & Workshops in partnership with Saint-Gobain and Climate KIC - with Pascal Eveillard, Director of Sustainable Construction, and Emmanuel Normant, Director of Sustainable Development (by invitation only)
- 2:30 pm → 3:45 pm: “Urban Transformation Through City–Industry Alliances” Roundtable Discussion with Benoît Bazin, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
OUR STAND – CITIES ZONE
Come and see us in the Cities Zone to discover our sustainable solutions for construction and infrastructure. Our team will be on hand to answer your questions throughout the event.
NOVA BY SAINT-GOBAIN
Launched in 2006, NOVA by Saint-Gobain is the team responsible for open innovation and venture capital within the Group.
Its main objective is to foster innovation by collaborating with start-ups around the world, supporting co-development partnerships, distribution, marketing or licensing agreements, and investing in innovative start-ups where appropriate.
NOVA operates globally and has staff in the United States, France, India, China and Brazil.
START-UPS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH NOVA
Saint-Gobain is delighted to welcome two start-ups to its stand, in partnership with NOVA, its venture capital subsidiary:
- Solar Materials: recycling of end-of-life solar panels.
- TH Groupe: low-carbon off-site timber construction.