Altran Launches "THE i PROJECT" Collaborative In-House Innovation Programme

PARIS, Jan. 14, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- The Altran group has launched a collaborative innovation operation for all of its employees, comprising more than 20,000 Innovation Makers^[1] throughout the world. THE i PROJECT (whereby "i" stands for innovation) is designed to promote in-house research and innovation by way of a competition open to all Group employees, whatever their profession, industry or country of operation. Candidates must submit their proposition of a useful innovation, either in the form of a concept or a prototype, to the jury.

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Altran's THE i PROJECT operation has enabled the Group to explore another management approach. This programme encourages personal initiative, promotes team work and gives employees the opportunity to come up with and develop concepts which they are passionate about.

Because of the Group's strategic objective to anticipate its customers' new and future needs, these projects must demonstrate the potential benefits they can offer Altran in terms of business (customers, reputation, appeal) new markets, and innovative, added value vis-a-vis our rivals.

100,000 euros awarded to winning innovative projects

The most innovative projects selected within the context of the in-house competition receive financial support of 100,000 euros each. For Altran, the ultimate objective is to flesh out and complete its offering so that the Group can better meet its customers' needs.

Commenting on the success of the first season of the programme, Michael Bailly, Executive Vice-President in charge of programmes and innovation for the Altran group, said: "The first season of THE i PROJECT has been a veritable success in terms of the commitment demonstrated by the Group's Innovation Makers and the quality of the projects presented. This perfectly illustrates the fact that innovation is indeed the DNA of the Group!"

For the first season of THE i PROJECT, five project winners were selected out of a total of twenty finalists. The first season rallied a truly enthusiastic response within the Group resulting in the participation of 340 people from 15 different countries on 104 projects.

The second "THE i PROJECT" season is now underway with another wave of candidates. The new projects are due to be unveiled on 5 March 2014 and will benefit from Altran's major asset, namely the diversity of its teams, sectors of activity and skills.