Innovation Awards: fostering the innovation spirit at Alstom
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Innovation is one of Alstoms strategic pillars and what makes the Group a world leader in its sectors. Since 2008, Alstom has organised the « Innovation Awards », an annual competition open to all Alstom employees which invite them to submit innovative projects or inventions.
This programme, also called « I nove you » was introduced in order to foster a spirit of innovation in Alstom and the cross fertilisation of ideas and over the years, it has truly found its place in the Group. The final list of winners in Alstom's 6th Innovation Awards was revealed to all Alstom employees at the end of November 2013 : there were 14 winning teams in 4 categories. No less than 510 innovations were submitted this year (up 40% on 2012s submissions) which came from 31 countries and involved 1,900 participants from Alstom.
Among the 14 winning innovative projects, here are a few examples:
- « Innovative process » category : Functional combustor prototypes made with selective laser melting (SLM) technology, also known as 3D printing (Alstom Thermal Power).
- « Innovative products and systems » category : an ultra-fast mechatronic circuit breaker for HVDC grids (Alstom Grid).
- « Innovative products and systems » category : a new wind turbine design using 72.5 kV output voltage in order to reduce electrical losses, simplify wind farm collector systems lay-outs, as well as reduce cable consumption (Alstom Renewable Power).
- « Green innovations » category : New ballastless track (NBT) made of concrete, ensuring enhanced stability in curves, optimised construction costs and simplified maintenance operations (Alstom Transport).
- « Small but smart » category : Inspection of complex surfaces (inside turbines for examples) using adaptive ultrasonic sensors (Alstom Thermal Power).
Alstom increased its R&D effort through the years. The Group spent 737 M in the 2012/2013 financial year (against 440 M in 2006/07). These investments account for 3,6% of 2012/13 net sales. Around 12, 000 people work for R&D at Alstom, out of a total of 93,000 employees.
« Innovation in operations, products, processes, is not merely a competitive advantage – it is the competitive advantage! »
Patrick Kron, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.