GRTgaz announces the selection of the second class of its Nova incubator

As part of its second call for applications, a jury made up of representatives from GRTgaz and the UI-Investissements investment fund has selected four start-ups to benefit from a one-year support program in the Nova incubator. Incubation began on January 9, 2024, when these start-ups were welcomed at GRTgaz's RICE research center in Villeneuve-la-Garenne (92).

"RICE combines cutting-edge skills and expertise with equipment and testing facilities that are unique in Europe, to design, manage and carry out R&D projects. The incubation of these 4 new start-ups will open up opportunities for cross-fertilization between GRTgaz experts and these innovative entrepreneurs."

Pierre Blouet

Director of RICE

Through its Nova incubator, GRTgaz offers start-ups working on solutions linked to the industrial, energy and ecological transition the opportunity to accelerate their development while sharing their expertise. This year of incubation will enable start-ups to immerse themselves in the world of a major European gas transporter, which has embraced the energy transition thanks to renewable gases, low-carbon hydrogen and the transport of_CO2 for recovery or storage. For its part, GRTgaz will benefit from the entrepreneurial experience and creativity of these start-ups.

4 winners with complementary and varied profiles and expertise were selected from 27 candidates:

• SeADvance is a Marseille-based start-up that introduces next-generation predictive maintenance for industrial electromechanical equipment such as batteries, alternators and pumps, with the aim of eliminating breakdowns and unscheduled maintenance. Right from the maintenance period, their solution anticipates breakdowns and the need for maintenance and spare parts over the following 24 months of operation. To achieve this, SeADvance introduces an innovation that breaks with conventional datascience approaches by taking a key step forward in the use of ageing simulation technology.
• Mirega (based in Saint-Martin d'Uriage - 38410) aims to develop, produce and sell sensitive, robust and compact gas analyzers for industrial and academic customers. Thanks to innovative optical cavity technology, these analyzers will enable precise measurement of low gas concentrations in open spaces.
• Revcoo is a start-up created in 2019 in Vourles (69390), developing a patented carbon capture technology called CarbonCloud®. This clean, efficient solution, combining anti-sublimation and continuous carbon separation, enables all industrial emitters to capture_CO2 cost-effectively, even at low concentrations.
• Finally, Safehear is a young innovative company based in Lyon, developing audio and radio technologies to help people's hearing. Their first product is Louis: a communication system capable of connecting to hearing protection, enabling factory operators to communicate easily through noise while remaining protected from hearing risks.

As of January 9, the selected start-ups will have access to shared workspaces on GRTgaz premises. They will also benefit from the support of its Researchand Innovation Centerfor Energy (RICE), with access to test areas and the support of researchers to carry out in-house experiments. The Nova incubator will also offer start-ups tailor-made technical, methodological and entrepreneurial support, via its own innovation acceleration system (market research, economic studies, intellectual property, business models, etc.).

At the end of the jury, chaired by Pierre Blouet, Director of RICE, GRTgaz's research and development center, he declared: "RICE combines cutting-edge skills and expertise with equipment and testing facilities that are unique in Europe, to design, manage and carry out R&D projects. The incubation of these 4 new start-ups will open up opportunities for cross-fertilization between GRTgaz experts and these innovative entrepreneurs."