The European Innovation Council (EIC) regularly hosts EIC Corporate Days, matchmaking events between Europe's largest corporates and EIC beneficiaries. In this series, we discover what makes these corporates tick, what's their approach to innovation, and what they’re looking for. After the EIC Corporate Day with Safran, we met with Pierre Sallot, Team Lead Manager & Expert for Materials & Processes at the company, to provide us with a few insights.
On 15 and 16 March 2023, the European Innovation Council (EIC) and Safran, one of the leaders in aerospace and defence equipment that contributes to safer and more sustainable aviation, brought together 11 EIC beneficiaries to pitch their innovative solutions related to carbon capture solutions and recycling. After this initiative, we met with Pierre Sallot to ask him some questions.
Can you briefly describe your role within the company?
I am Team Lead Manager and Expert for materials and processes at Safran. We are dedicated to the development of innovative materials and processes for Safran Group. Currently, we are focusing on the maturity improvement of new aeronautics materials, sinter-based powder metallurgy processes, but also materials for electric applications.
Can you tell us more about your approach to (open) innovation and the potential challenges you face in that aspect?
From the innovation aspect, the mission relies on finding innovative suppliers and players that are beneficial and in line with our values. That also includes implementing new materials and processes that are as eco-friendly as possible, which can cope with our internal development roadmaps for More Electrical Aircraft materials and processes (high electrical conductivity, high-temperature insulation, heat management, rare-earth free magnets, development of advanced recycling loops…).
Recently you teamed up with the EIC to co-host an EIC Corporate Day. Can you explain the motivations behind joining forces with the EIC for this initiative?
There were several. First, the fact that the EIC has access to so many experts and innovative companies in their portfolio of SMEs greatly facilitates our actions. Second, 80% of the participating companies that we analysed had potential applications on some of our projects, which was highly positive. Given the nature of my job at Safran, looking for new technologies that could be of interest to the group and our products is key, and it certainly didn’t disappoint.
What are the benefits/advantages of working with the EIC?
The EIC has a good overview of the European SMEs and startups, and the ability to foster the ones that might have good solutions for our products. Ultimately, this is always a plus to have and to save time.
What mindset and skills do you look for in companies you bring to your ecosystem?
The first things we look for are technical skills and innovative solutions – if the companies own technologies that can be applied to our products. If so, then we get in touch to better understand the business case proposed and to imagine the roadmap to build together.
What type of partnerships are you looking for with startups?
Usually, when we evaluate a new startup, we focus on technology readiness level (TRL) around 3 to be able to easily create the link with internal products. Generally, we start with an NDA for the first exchanges and evaluations of the technology, using a collaborative mode where some of the evaluation is done at Safran and shared with the company. After these exchanges, we can go into more structured agreements that involve an R&D agreement, etc., where we define the level of Intellectual Property we wish to share, related budgets or investments if needed. We try to create a win-win setting where both of us can grow their business.
Have you found any interesting opportunities in companies funded by the European Innovation Council?
Definitely. There are at least 4 or 5 that we could initiate contact with. For instance, our Open Innovation team has already started the non-disclosure agreement (NDA) processes, so we can exchange some more details and see if we have a match with the technology they presented, and ultimately move towards working together.
Any advice/tips for companies that want to work with Safran?
Safran is a big company with many teams and applications. Even if you aren’t involved in the aeronautics field you can still work with us. We have different products in various areas, therefore many of them can integrate such new technologies.
We are always looking for advanced technologies that help create a breakthrough in our areas of interest. Therefore, it is important for us when we meet potential innovative companies to understand how much they master their technology. Then based on that, we can identify the product where we will be able to join forces and work together to apply it.
It is paramount to understand what these new technologies can bring in comparison to conventional ones; where is the real breakthrough.
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DISCLAIMER: This information is provided in the interest of knowledge sharing and should not be interpreted as the official view of the European Commission, or any other organisation.