2018 EDF Pulse Awards: looking back on an evening dedicated to strong innovation
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This year, 5 French startups were honoured and awarded a Jury Prize in the “Smart Home”, “Smart City”, “Smart Business”, “Smart Health & Self” categories and the Public Grand Prize.
More than 400 candidates, 12 finalists, 5 winners
For this great innovation contest, 424 applications from all over Europe were submitted. A craze that shows, as pointed out Jean-Bernard Levy, CEO of the EDF Group, “how energy is a world that is full of initiatives.”
After a long process of selection by different panels of experts and personalities, finally 12 finalists came on stage at the ceremony to give a final pitch exercise in front of the public, gathered at the Grande Halle: 60 seconds to present their project. The challenge? To be thorough but succinct, educational and hard-hitting at the same time.
The 2018 EDF Pulse Awards winners
It is with great pride that Jean Bernard Levy then revealed to us the names of the 2018 winners. Five projects that place innovation at the heart of their strategy, to transform our uses in cities, homes, businesses, but also to optimize our performance in the areas of health and safety.
Smart Home Category: Lancey, the radiator that stores energy
Among the innovations aimed at improving our home, it is the start-up Lancey that was put in the spotlight. The goal: to fight against energy poverty by allowing access to cheaper energy. The solution? Make it possible to store electricity at home, during off-peak hours, thanks to the first smart radiator equipped with batteries.
" We talk a lot about storage because it is an essential element of the energy transition [...] there is no energy transition without storage. "
Smart City Category: HySiLabs, hydrogen transport by a liquid vector
Among the innovations that will transform our cities, the Smart City Award has been awarded to HySiLabs. Their findings? While hydrogen is considered essential for the energy transition, its deployment is struggling to materialize. Simply because it is a gas that is both difficult and dangerous to transport. The innovation of HySiLabs: a liquid vector to transport hydrogen. A powerful solution, without entailing any risk for humans or the environment.
" We can transport seven times more hydrogen in a single truck dedicated to the transport of liquid, compared to high pressure gas. This represents seven times fewer vehicles on the road and seven times fewer vehicles to buy. "
Smart Business Category: Hyperlex, contract management using artificial intelligence
Innovating for businesses also saves time. Today, contract managers can spend more than 50% of their time searching for information in different contracts. To facilitate their day-to-day lives, Hyperlex offers software with an artificial intelligence capable of understanding contracts and highlighting important elements automatically (deadlines, exclusions, impacts of regulatory changes, etc.).
" Hyperlex, the online solution that helps you find the right information at the right time in all your contracts. "
Smart Health & Self Category: Helper Drone, the drone that saves lives
The objective of Helper Drone: revolutionize rescue missions thanks to a drone device. Deployed for 3 years on the beaches of Biscarosse to assist rescuers at sea, the Helper Drone solution makes it possible to quickly secure drowning victims. How? By sending them a lifeline before help arrives. Valuable and effective assistance since it has already saved 10 lives and was crucial in 150 interventions.
" In all the cases of use of rescue services in general, it is the time needed to secure you that will make the difference. "
Public Grand Prize: Vitirover, robotic weeding
Finalist in the Smart City category, Vitirover has conquered the public. Thousands of Internet users voted for this small four-wheeled robot, which is responsible for maintaining large areas of grass with just the energy of the sun. A mechanical alternative to chemical weeding solutions. Used primarily for viticulture, the yellow Vitirover robot is now deployed in other markets, including rail transport, industrial land, photovoltaic fields, etc.
" I am a viticulturist in Saint-Emilion and it is due to a business need that I have studied this machine. "