2016 Valeo Innovation Challenge: Only 40 days left to revolutionize the car of tomorrow!

Given this ambition, this year’s contest is open to students from all disciplines worldwide. Whether they specialize in engineering, business, design or social sciences, students are invited to come up with the innovation or idea that will make cars smarter, cleaner, more fun and more intuitive by 2030.

“Through their projects, students must think about how cars are used in and around cities and on highways by putting themselves in real situations of use,” says Guillaume Devauchelle, Vice President of Innovation and Scientific Development at Valeo. “The first step is to imagine how people use their cars and how they would like to use them and to find solutions to possible shortfalls. At the same time, they must bear in mind other types of use as well as societal values.”

Students can enter to win in one of two categories: “Technological innovation”, which has existed since the contest’s inception, and “Idea for new ways of using cars”, a new category created for the 2016 Challenge. Those wishing to develop a tangible product or a system can register in the “Technical innovation” category, whereas those with an innovative concept or business model expressing an original vision of mobility and vehicle use can take part via the “Idea for new ways of using cars” category.

The winning team in each category will take home a grand prize of €100,000 and the second-place team in each category will receive €10,000.

To participate, students need to form a team of two to five people, write up the first draft of their project and register on the contest’s dedicated website by January 15, 2016 at the latest. After reviewing the projects, Valeo will announce the 24 teams shortlisted for the semi-finals on March 18, 2016.
Contest information and registration: https://valeoinnovationchallenge.valeo.com/

Timetable

• September 29, 2015–January 15, 2016 :
  Teams formed and projects submitted
• March 18, 2016 24 :
  Semi-finalist teams announced
• March 18, 2016–July 23, 2016 :
  Teams each given €5,000 to develop their project
• September 23, 2016 :
  Eight finalist teams announced
• October 2016 :
  Projects presented to the panel and winners announced

With the Valeo Innovation Challenge, Valeo is demonstrating once again that innovation and R&D are the Group’s top priorities. Day in, day out, its teams are guided by a constant commitment to innovation as they work to invent the car of tomorrow.

Valeo invests 10% of its original equipment sales on R&D. Most of Valeo’s 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 a wide array of innovative products and technologies that represented 35% of its order intake in 2014.

Valeo is an automotive supplier, partner to all automakers worldwide. As a technology company, Valeo proposes innovative products and systems that contribute to the reduction of CO? emissions and to the development of intuitive driving.
In 2014, the Group generated sales of 12.7 billion euros and invested over 10% of its original equipment sales in research and development. Valeo has 133 plants, 16 research centers, 34 development centers, 15 distribution platforms and employs 78,500 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 75/37 18
press-contact.mailbox@valeo.com