Valeo unveils six finalist teams for the second “Valeo Innovation Challenge”
Paris, September 2, 2015 – Valeo today announced the six teams selected by its experts to present their projects to the “Valeo Innovation Challenge” jury, with the chance of winning the first prize in Paris on September 29.
For this second edition, 1,324 teams from 89 different countries signed up to propose and develop innovative solutions in response to the following question: "What will make cars smarter and more intuitive by 2030?"
The Valeo experts met to assess various enterprising and highly accomplished projects, most of which related to driving assistance systems to develop autonomous driving solutions and enhance safety. The engineering students harnessed all of the opportunities offered by digital technology and adapted them to the automotive sector to improve safety on board as vehicles become increasingly autonomous.
The six finalist teams are:
- From Germany, the team from the Leibniz Universität Hannover,
- Also from Germany, the team from the Universität des Saarlandes,
- From China, two teams from Peking University,
- From Spain, the team from the University of the Basque Country,
- From India, the team from the Sri Aurobindo International Centre of Education.
Jacques Aschenbroich, Valeo Chief Executive Officer and Guillaume Devauchelle, Vice‑President Group Innovation and Scientific Development, will announce the winners at a press conference on September 29 at 9:00 a.m. at the Maison de La Recherche in Paris. The jury will award the first prize to one of the six finalist teams, which will take home a €100,000 prize, as well as two other prizes of €10,000 each for the runners up.
The Valeo Innovation Challenge is a unique opportunity for engineering students to play an active role in automobile innovation and exchange ideas with leading business, industrial and academic figures. The jury, which is comprised of an eclectic group of experts in various fields, will be chaired by Valeo CEO Jacques Aschenbroich.
Valeo dedicates nearly 11% of its original equipment revenue to innovation, which is a priority focus for the Group. Most of its research and development programs are focused on the design of technologies that reduce motor vehicle carbon emissions and promote intuitive driving. Ranking among the leading patent filers in France, Valeo has close to 11,000 researchers in 50 research and development centers around the world. Valeo has developed an array of innovative products and technologies that represented 35% of its order intake in 2014.
For more information: https://valeoinnovationchallenge.valeo.com/
Valeo was also awarded the Top Employers label in 22 countries for 2015.
Valeo is an automotive supplier, partner to all automakers worldwide. As a technology company, Valeo propose innovative products and systems that contribute to the reduction of CO2 emissions and to the development of intuitive driving. In 2014, the Group generated sales of €12.7 billion and invested over 10% of its original equipment sales in research and development. Valeo has 136 plants, 16 research centers, 34 development centers and 15 distribution platforms, and employs 81,800 people in 29 countries worldwide.
Valeo is listed on the Paris stock exchange and is a member of the CAC 40 index.
For more information about the Valeo Group and its activities, please visit our website, www.valeo.com
For more information, please contact:
Valeo Media Relations
Tel: +33 (0)1 40 55 21 75/21 20/37 18
or Torque
Amy Miller or Adam Forshaw: 0207 952 1070
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