In partnership with Mines ParisTech school, AREVA Renewables organized its first Innovation Challenge during the summer in Aix-en Provence, open to talented ALEF Post-master’s students.
A tough competition
12 candidates coming from the United States, Panama, Finland, Italy, the United Kingdom and France were selected from a total 100 candidates, to participate in this event based on the theme of innovation. On the Challenge menu was total immersion in the world of Renewable Energy within AREVA, with presentations of the Business Group’s activities and leading technologies. Also on the program were a series of tests and simulation exercises to select the future players in innovation within the Business Group.
These three days enabled them to put their knowledge into practice, show their ability to work as part of a team and manage a development project for a specific technology in real-time with a “Project Management Game”. It was above all the opportunity to test the candidates’ ability to manage new innovative design methods and apply them to existing projects such as the development of a solution to hydrogen storage. It was also the chance for the candidates to meet the top management of -level leaders from AREVA, and also experienced searchers Business Group Mines, and share their thoughts with them on innovation or energy.
At the close of these three days, three Challenge winners were awarded a scholarship for their Post-master’s on energy management at the Mines ParisTech School, as well as a six month internship at AREVA Renewable Energies various sites around the world.
A great challenge for AREVA Renewables, too.
This innovation challenge has also been a chance for “Renewable Energies” teams to create strong relationships with universities and to share information on their policies in the area of innovation and human resources. It has also been the opportunity to observe the work of talented students and learn about technology and innovation from a new angle.
“All the students have shown a great motivation to enter our group”, explains Jérôme Gosset, Technical Director of Renewable Energies. “The Innovation Challenge is an original program, enabling AREVA to meet students who, in our opinion, have great potential of succeeding in activities related to renewable energy.”