Impulse Labs: Saint-Gobain strengthens its position with French start-ups

At the end of 2015, Saint-Gobain entered into a partnership with the incubator Impulse Labs. Since then, the Group has raised its profile within five incubators integrated inside this Parisian giant, respectively specialized in Digital Construction, Construction and Energy, Well-being through Property, Social Housing and Infrastructures and Mobility uses. Sustaining that momentum, a new partnership was also established with a newly opened incubator in London.

This collaboration offers the chance to provide new development solutions and respond to the growing interest of the Group's business units in start-ups, the BUs primarily coming from Construction, Distribution and Flat Glass. Impulse Labs indeed opens doors to a breeding ground of innovative start-ups and helps detect potential partners in an ecosystem which is both local and aligned with Saint-Gobain's target areas.

The partnership between Saint-Gobain and Impulse Labs has resulted in very advanced discussions between the start-ups and the Group. One of the 3D printers for concrete designed by XtreeE, a start-up specialized in the 3D printing and manufacturing of complex architectural elements, has for example been installed on one of POINT.P's civils sites. More recently, the Group complemented Homly You, the platform for putting individuals in touch with craftsmen launched in July 2016 by distribution in France, by investing in Mon Maître Carré, a start-up that connects individual with architects and interior designers.

Saint-Gobain plans to open up to other geographic areas such as Germany, or Brazil where a partnership with the incubator CUBO has already been signed. Driven by a permanent spirit of innovation, the Groupe strives to establish close ties with the ecosystem of start-ups, the aim constantly being to better identify and respond to tomorrow's changes.