sain t-gobain annu al report 2008 annual report

20
A research and innovation-led
strategy
For several years now, Saint-Gobain has been engaged in an
innovation-led process of strategic refocusing on the habitat
and construction market. With a steadily increasing Research
and Development budget (up 34% in four years, including the
effect of changes in consolidation scope), we have chosen to
pursue a strategy of embracing the markets of the future. This
has meant pinpointing and directing resources towards the
most promising targets. We conduct both strategic projects
and cross-functional programs designed to increase synergies
between our various businesses. We also cooperate actively
with internationally recognized organizations and universities
to prepare and promote the hiring of young talents. Lastly, as
well as partnering promising start-ups, in 2008 we set up
an Innovation Habitat Committee to encourage the research
and development teams and the new Corporate Marketing
Department to work together on the innovation pipeline.
The Group’s increased investment in Research and
Development has also led to a steady rise in the number of
patent applications filed in recent years. In 2008, 80% of the
338 filings concerned the Innovative Materials Sector and were
spread more or less evenly between the High-Performance
Materials Division and the Flat Glass Division. Saint-Gobain
has around 20,000 current patents worldwide.
Number of patent applications filed
253
2006
316
2007
338
2008
Research and Development budget (in € millions,
based on a comparable consolidation scope
and constant exchange rates)
Strategic projects
At the forefront of our research programs are groundbreaking
projects designed to meet the needs of new markets. Several
of these projects were continued or speeded up in 2008.
Photovoltaics: research into this area was massively ramped
up in 2008. The classification of these projects and of future
manufacturing targets is aligned with the market’s value
chain (extra clear external glass, layer glass, thin-layer
technology). The installation of solar panels on new buildings
is also being promoted through increased cooperation with
promising start-ups and through the partnership strategy
being pursued by the new dedicated subsidiary, Saint-Gobain
Solar.
Lighting: considerable advances have been made in this area,
with a new sapphire substrate manufacturing technique now
being actively trialed. At the same time, strategic partnerships
are being established in the promising area of organic
light-emitting diodes (OLED).
Polymer films: the quality of co-extruded products has
improved significantly. The target markets are the building
and photovoltaic cell markets.
High-performance insulation: several product objectives
have been identified. The Insulation Division’s acquisition
of a stake in Japan’s MAG has given us access to the
technology used to manufacture the very fine glass fibers
used in vacuum insulation panels (VIP). The various exterior
insulation projects have been combined within the Group’s
broad Innovation Habitat program (see below).
Diesel particulate filters: research into this area has been
realigned to take account of the significant economic changes
in the market and competition from alternative materials.
An accelerated program has been launched in response
to the changed environment.
Fuel cells: the solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) project led
to major technical advances during the year. The aim is
to validate an approach that allows us to meet our cost
and reliability targets, and then to set up the first
partnerships in SOFC markets such as combined heat
and power-generating boilers.
324
357
378
Cross-functional programs
Seven cross-functional programs were pursued or
developed in 2008.
2006
2007
2008
Progress was made on all fronts under the “New Bonding
Agents” program (designed to develop an alternative
to traditional products), and there is now a good chance
of a bonding agent being brought to market as part of a Saint-
Gobain-developed solution.
Saint-Gobain - 2008 Annual Report