Support for SMEs

Technological support

IFPEN transfers technologies or know-how acquired in its own fields of activity to these companies. The support provided also takes the form of an R&D partnership, to help companies develop an innovative process or product that will enable them to stand out in their market. The SME only pays IFPEN in the event of commercial success, in the form of royalties calculated on the basis of revenues.
 
Hence SMEs have access to IFPEN's technical resources, its expertise in more than 50 professions and its very extensive network of academic and industrial partners. IFPEN also shares its expertise in the field of intellectual property, project management and the industrial development of research, more broadly. Each year, around 400 new contacts are made with SMEs. As a result, some 50 projects undergo technical and economic analysis, with some 20 to 30 of these leading to a partnership agreement.
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Financial support

IFPEN's support for innovation also takes the form of financial participation in specialized investment funds for the eco-industries and eco-energies sectors. In addition, IFPEN provides technical expertise in terms of selecting the companies to be supported.

The 3E seed money fund (Emertec-Energy-Environment)
Created in 2003 by IFPEN, the Caisse des dépôts and the CEA, this fund is dedicated to new environment technologies and targets start-up companies.

The Demeter expansion capital fund
This is the first European fund to specialize in eco-industries and eco-energies. It was created in 2005 on the initiative of IFPEN, the Caisse des dépôts (CDC Entreprise) and Veolia Environnement. In 2011, three companies in the Demeter portfolio (Soltecture, Electrawinds and Solairedirect) were included in the Global Cleantech 100 list, which identifies the top 100 most eco-innovative private companies.

The Demeter 2 expansion capital fund
Launched in 2009 by the founders of Demeter and new subscribers, this fund specializes in eco-industries and eco-energies, with a European scope. The new themes covered by Demeter 2 include regional development, sustainable construction and clean transport, in particular electric vehicles.

Spin-off support

IFPEN provides support to employees wishing to create companies that use innovative technologies and know-how developed or used by
IFPEN, whatever their field of application, which neither IFPEN nor its subsidiaries intend to bring to market. This encouragement system schedules an incubation period of 6 to 18 months, during which time IFPEN supports the employee's project and shares its business start-up experience: market research, business model, development plan, legal and financial aspects, search for and equipping of premises, etc.

	START-UP, SME OR INTERMEDIATE-SIZED COMPANY Whatever their size, innovative companies can count on IFPEN's support. Three of these stood out in 2011. • Ozoval - Recycling water in car wash stations Through the use of an ozonation process, it is possible to treat water and air by oxidation, without the addition of chemicals. Specialized in this green technology, the start-up company Ozoval has developed an innovative hybrid ozonation procedure enabling the closed-loop operation of water machines. IFPEN lends its expertise in the field of process engineering and industrial equipment design to adapt this technology to the recycling of wastewater in car wash stations. • Newton's - Industrial dryers in India Newton's is an SME that specializes in the production of desiccant agents used to dry solvents in the refining, petrochemicals, chemicals and gas sectors. IFPEN's support in the fields of testing and process design calculation has allowed the company to expand its offer to include optimization of existing drying units and dimensioning of new units. As a result, it won its first export contract in India, where its industrial dryers first began operating in 2011. • Desautel - A fire hose for confined spaces Desautel, the European leader in fire extinguishers and equipment, worked with IFPEN for three years to develop a new fire hose concept dedicated to fires in confined spaces. Patented by IFPEN, it secures the advance of firefighters by cooling smoke and makes their actions more efficient through a better firefighting approach. Dubbed Optimal Nozzle™, this hose will be marketed in France by Desautel and internationally by Pok, France's leading fire hose manufacturer.