Congratulations to Fairmat, Trinov and Neolitik

During the BoostUp! FRANCE 2023 – Circular Economy event, EIT Manufacturing witnessed a showcase of new solutions aimed at encouraging a circular economy in the French manufacturing sector. Ten startups reduced their unique methods into three-minute presentations, captivating the 80 attendees of the innovation ecosystem who were joining the in-person event at Station F in Paris. The national startup competition recognized the projects of three excellent startups: Fairmat, Trinov and Neolitik.

The event began with a collaborative attitude, stressing a day dedicated to exploration, collaboration and sustainable innovation, and was blessed by EIT Manufacturing’s CEO Caroline Viarouge and Business Creation Director Kevin Lenehan. Caroline Viarouge described Circular Economy as “a cornerstone of green manufacturing” and explained “EIT Manufacturing supports and stimulates innovation accelerating sustainable growth. The BoostUp event in France is the opportunity to bring together visionary minds to fuel innovation and build a future-proof industry for a more resilient Europe.”

Caroline Viarouge, CEO at EIT Manufacturing, opens the BoostUp! FRANCE event at Station F in Paris.

“EIT Manufacturing bridges the gap between potential and achievement”, added Kevin Lenehan. “Our commitment at French and European levels is to cultivate an environment where relations between startups and corporates thrive, translating innovative ideas into impactful solutions for the industry.”

Keynote Jean-Marc Boursier shared his thoughts on resource scarcity

Attending entrepreneurs, corporate leaders, investors, IT enthusiasts and visionaries have been inspired by keynote speaker Jean-Marc Boursier, Chairman of the Institut National de l’Économie Circulaire. He praised Circular Economy as “the solution to combine economic growth, protection of the planet’s natural resources and a much more inclusive society”. His ideas revolved around reforming industry to overcome resource constraints through circular solutions. He thanked EIT Manufacturing for “offering a unique opportunity to French startups specializing in circular economy to go international and accelerate their business development in Europe.”

Jean-Marc Boursier, Chairman of the Institut Nartional de l’Économie Circulaire, praises Circular Economy as THE solution.

Following a lively Q&A session, the focus switched to the startup competition. A video clip showing participants from previous European BoostUp! editions gave helpful advise before the finalists presented their pitches to the jury.

The expert panel moderated by Oriana Rodríguez, Business Creation Manager at EIT Manufacturing, was composed by Ronan Le Roy, CEO at Goodfloow, Dominique Mercier, CEO at Kheoos, Daphné de la Grandière, Circular Economy Manager at Saint-Gobain, and Geoffrey Richard, Circular Economy Director at Schneider Electric.

An expert panel, featuring industry giants like Schneider Electric and Saint-Gobain alongside visionary startups as Kheoos and Goodfloow, showcased how the fusion of corporate experience and entrepreneurial creativity can foster a more sustainable industrial landscape.

Trophies for top three startups, networking for everybody

Three lucky winners at the BoostUp! FRANCE 2023 startup competition: third prize for Marc Dib, Founder of Neolitik, second prize for Dan Dassier, Founder of Trinov and frist prize for Matis Veniant, Sustainability Project Manager at Fairmat.

Fairmat was the winner, taking home 7,000 € for its second-generation carbon fiber composites. The French deeptech recycles, designs and provides low-impact carbon fiber parts and tech-driven industrial solutions for a more circular future.

Second-placed Trinov was awarded 5,000 €: They use IoT, APIs, and artificial intelligence to assist manufacturers in reducing waste at the source and optimising waste management as a new processable resource in a variety of processes and circular economy chains.

Another 3,000 € cheque was given to Neolitik for the development of EcoLithe, an innovative construction material alternative. It is built entirely of recycled materials, is completely recyclable, and requires no water to be manufactured.

The event, actively supported by Impulse Partners, concluded with a vibrant networking lunch, offering attendees the chance to connect, share ideas and form meaningful partnerships. A matchmaking platform enables follow-up contacts and facilitates connections between like-minded professionals.