In late June, Total (Paris; www.total.com) announced the launch of its second Plant 4.0 start-up "incubator," with the goal of accelerating the deployment of digital technology in industry. Joining Total in this effort are Air Liquide, AREVA, Eiffage, Solvay and VINCI Energies. This is the first multicorporate Plant 4.0 start-up incubator in the world.
Buoyed by the success of the Plant 4.0 start-up incubator launched by Total in 2016, the Group decided to repeat the experience, and open up the project to include other industry partners, on the narrower theme of innovative solutions offered by the industrial Internet of Things (IoT).
This open innovation approach aims to identify the start-ups that offer practical, relatively mature industrial solutions to meet specialized operational requirements. The fledgling companies can test their technology, product or service directly with their potential customers and are put in contact with the incubator's manufacturing partners and their start-up ecosystems. Total and the other partners will also share their expertise with the successful candidates.
With the spread of sensors and new developments in data collection and management, innovative solutions can improve the efficiency and boost the performance of plants and different industries. This international call for projects focuses on connected objects in industry in four areas:
- Acoustic detection of leaks or anomalies.
- Corrosion monitoring.
- Non-invasive flow measurement.
- Manual valve position displays.
"Total works in an open innovation process with start-ups and manufacturing partners because we all face the same challenges. Building digital solutions together speeds up their deployment in our plants and industrial facilities," says Gilles Cochevelou, Chief Digital Officer at Total. "Digital tech improves safety and efficiency, while reducing costs. It offers a world of opportunities and could increase competitiveness in industry and for start-ups."
For more on this, including how to participate, see the full press release from Total at http://www.total.com/en/media/news/press-releases/plant-40-start-incubator-2nd-edition-iot-five-new-partners