Eiffage initiatives to sustain innovation

A think-tank whose mission is to analyse the evolution of high-growth markets for the group’s various business lines. The goal create innovative, packaged solutions for rapid roll-out within just a few months to enhance the group’s offering across its various markets. Eiffage Construction actively contributes to several fields, including:

• industries of the future
• Eiffage-designed eco-neighbourhoods
• housing of the future
• carbon-free materials
• smart parking.

Innopédia is a collaborative online resource dedicated to innovation. The platform is used to collate and diffuse information on internal innovations. However, it can also be used to promote open innovation by fostering innovative ideas with external partners. It gives Eiffage employees everything they need to find solutions to try out, partners to co-develop a new project and models to be applied elsewhere.

This digital suggestion box encourages Eiffage employees to submit innovative ideas on a given subject. Once Start.box has collected enough responses (generally after one to three months), an in-house jury selects the best ideas, winners are rewarded and their propositions are implemented. Two major Start.box campaigns have already been launched on the themes of safety and housing for the future.

This funding mechanism provides co-financing of up to 50% for innovative schemes submitted by Eiffage’s various business lines. Types of project considered for funding include internal initiatives and those created in partnership with start-ups backed by partner business incubators or with independent small and medium-sized companies. Financial aid is granted after deliberation by a cross-divisional committee, which evaluates the potential that the innovation offers in terms of product differentiation, potential for deployment and market prospects.

The E-FACE fund is a voluntary initiative aimed at encouraging the development of low-carbon solutions across all Eiffage business lines. The idea behind the fund is to offset the difference in cost between conventional solutions and innovative low-carbon solutions. Financial aid is granted on proof of lower CO₂ emissions, following approval by a cross-divisional committee.