“Leonard’s 2024 cohorts are working on ambitious projects that reflect the major challenges facing the construction, mobility and energy industries. Today, environmental imperatives are the main drivers of innovation in our business lines, and the many emerging solutions supported by Leonard show the value of the contribution of these new players to this project, notably in the field of construction. Artificial intelligence is widely represented in Leonard’s projects, serving challenges such as the prediction of water and energy resources, and the analysis of mobility flows” explains Julien Villalongue, Managing Director of Leonard.
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Four programs to encourage entrepreneurial innovation in VINCI’s business lines
Leonard supports entrepreneurial innovation through four programs dedicated to startups, innovative companies, VINCI employees and Group companies. The VINCI’s platform dedicated to innovation has therefore supported over 200 projects since its creation in 2017, which are based on artificial intelligence, “Climate Tech” and “Deep Tech” to offer innovative solutions in the construction, energy and mobility sectors.
The CATALYST program, dedicated to the dissemination of the most mature solutions in the field, demonstrated its relevance in 2023, with €2.4 million turnover generated with VINCI Group companies (and €5.8 million since the program began). Since the launch of these programs, 280 contracts between innovative companies and VINCI companies have been signed in the framework of the CATALYST program. Startups supported through the SEED program, aimed at developing young companies, have signed 234 contracts with VINCI companies.
The Intrapreneurs program is dedicated to VINCI employees who are leading a project for a new business activity within the Group. Since the program was launched, over 60 projects have already been supported. This represents nearly a hundred intrapreneurs and 22 new activities and companies launched within VINCI, some of which have become the spearheads of the transition of the Group’s businesses. Lastly, the AI program enables VINCI companies to test the potential of artificial intelligence in their business. Since 2019, 50 projects have been launched by Leonard and participating VINCI’s subsidiaries.
The juries convened by Leonard, composed of VINCI executives and partner investors, selected 39 innovative and sustainable solutions for the 2024 cohorts of the following programs.
SEED: eight startups reflect trends in construction and mobility
With the SEED program, Leonard supports the startups from their creation to the fund-raising. In addition to a financial contribution and accommodation at Leonard:Paris, it provides access to certified training (Stanford Center for Professional Development), to our VINCI experts to validate the relevance of each project, and to a network of investors.
8 start-ups have been selected to join the 2024 cohort. Based in France and Latin America, these startups provide solutions to reduce the environmental impact of cities, infrastructure and related business sectors. This year, the new cohort of start-ups include a digital twin dedicated to monitoring and maintaining port infrastructure, artificial intelligence for the analysis of mobility flows, and a new biocomposite material.
> Discover the selection of the 5th cohort of the SEED program
CATALYST: eleven innovative solutions ready for implementation
With the CATALYST program, Leonard supports the adoption of a selection of mature innovative solutions by VINCI companies. It gives innovators access to VINCI decision-makers, a privileged contact person within the Leonard team and access to Leonard:Paris offices.
11 innovative companies from 5 different countries will be supported through this program in 2024. More than half of the selected solutions have a direct positive impact on the environment. These Construction Tech and Climate Tech solutions, which stem from two fast-growing sectors, offer ways of improving the environmental impact of a construction project, gaining a better understanding of its environment or optimizing the resources of construction projects.
> Discover the selection of the 5th cohort of the CATALYST program
Eight new VINCI intrapreneur projects
With VINCI’s “Intrapreneurs” program, Leonard supports the development of innovative projects initiated by Group employees.
In 2024, 8 new business projects will be supported in the framework of this program: the promotion iincludes over 15 team members from the VINCI Group’s Energy, Construction, Concessions and Immobilier divisions, from France, Europe, the Middle East and Oceania.
This year, half of the projects use artificial intelligence to boost the construction and energy sectors. Four of the projects proposed by VINCI intrapreneurs propose innovations in the fields of the circular economy and Construction Tech.
> Discover the selection of the 8th cohort of the Intrapreneurs program
Twelve new AI application projects initiated by VINCI companies
Every year, Leonard supports projects that use artificial intelligence to meet the operational challenges of the Group’s businesses, from concept to industrialization. The program provides innovators with coaching, training and mentoring services, as well as access to a network of ad hoc experts within VINCI.
Over the past 5 years, 60 projects have been developed in 12 countries in the framework of this program. The program will support 12 new projects in 2024, in three areas of technology application:
- Generative design for construction, for example to optimize the rotation of form panels on-site;
- Predictive maintenance, to anticipate equipment failures during production;
- Large Language Models (LLMs) can be used to digitize the technical documentation of complex systems, optimize tender applications and understand contractual documents
> Discover the selection of the 5th cohort of Artificial Intelligence program
