Saint-Gobain wins “European Cleantech Corporation of the Year” award
April 18, 2013
Saint-Gobain wins “European Cleantech Corporation of the Year” award
Saint-Gobain received the “European Cleantech Corporation of the Year” award at the 9th
European Cleantech Forum in Bilbao (Spain), organized by Cleantech Group, a global
network that brings together investors, start-ups and industrial groups in the area of green
technology. This award singles out a company for its significant action to promote innovation
in green technology and environmentally friendly products and services.
Saint-Gobain was selected for its sustainable habitat strategy, for continuing its strategic
investments in 2012, and NOVA External Venturing’s contribution to speeding up innovation.
Tasked with identifying start-ups and encouraging partnerships with Saint-Gobain Activities,
NOVA’s international team promotes a culture of innovation that embraces the world outside
Saint-Gobain.
“We were struck by Saint-Gobain’s consistent approach to cleantech innovation,
underpinning its sustainable habitat vision, as shown by the gradual growth in new products
as a percentage of its sales. In 2012, despite a tough economic context, its commitment to
sustainability, innovation and energy efficiency prevailed, with notably the acquisitions of
Celotex and Sage Electrochromics, and the running of the 4th NOVA Innovation Competition.
Beyond this competition, the NOVA team has progressively encouraged the building of a
true ecosystem gathering together the world of start-ups and investors, to rise to tomorrow’s
technological challenges”, explained Richard Youngman, Managing Director for Cleantech
Group in Europe.
The award was presented at a gala dinner on April 17 to Armand Ajdari, R&D Vice President
Saint-Gobain Innovative Materials. “This award recognizes the Group’s successful efforts to
open up its innovation policy to the outside world through partnerships with start-ups and its
cooperation with prestigious universities and laboratories. More broadly, it honors the style of
management promoted by the Group’s senior executives: a community of united
entrepreneurs, committed to providing their customers with innovative solutions in all its
business areas,” concluded Armand Ajdari.
More about Saint-Gobain
Saint-Gobain, the world leader in the habitat and construction markets, designs, manufactures and
distributes building materials, providing innovative solutions to the challenges of growth, energy
efficiency and environmental protection. With 2012 sales of €43.2 billion, Saint-Gobain operates in 64
countries and has nearly 193,000 employees. Saint-Gobain was ranked among the world’s 100 most
innovative companies by Thomson Reuters in 2012. For more information about Saint-Gobain, please
visit http://www.saint-gobain.com.
More about NOVA External Venturing
NOVA External Venturing examines how projects coming from innovative start-ups can be
implemented faster by leaning on the industrial and commercial assets of Saint-Gobain, for the
greatest benefit of each partner. NOVA serves as a unique interface for start-ups and helps create and
develop links with all Group activities worldwide. Since 2006, NOVA has launched about 60
partnerships with start-ups.
Press contact for Saint-Gobain in France:
Susanne TRABITZSCH: + 33 (0)1 47 62 43 25
Press contact for Saint-Gobain in Spain:
Azucena ROJAS: + 34 91 397 24 27
Press contact for Saint-Gobain in North America:
Dina SILVER POKEDOFF: + 1 610 341 70 31
Press contact for Saint-Gobain in Germany:
Regina DECKER: + 49 241 516 25 04
Press contact for Saint-Gobain in the United Kingdom:
Allyson POAD-HINDLE: + 44 24 76 56 07 23
Press contact for Saint-Gobain in China:
Nicolas NIE: + 86 21 63 61 87 00
Press contact for Saint-Gobain in India:
Bharti SANJAY: + 91 99 52 96 33 98