APC 1999 Annual Report Download - page 36

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Encouraging
innovation
To quicken the pace of innovation
and the development of high technology products,
Schneider Electric has set up a EUR50 million
venture capital fund for information technology
start-ups
32
Schneider Electric’s core businesses
Innovation
to support growth
In today’s highly mobile environment, the ability to think ahead
and innovate is crucial to competitiveness. Schneider Electric’s
Research and Development teams make it their business to anticipate
technological breakthroughs and emerging market opportunities.
They are continuously enhancing the functions of our leading
product ranges while seeking new ways to cut production costs.
Anticipating
technological change
Information technologies now play a major role
in product performance in electrical distribution,
industrial control and automation.With more than
1,500 software engineers, Schneider Electric is
engaged in numerous R&D programs to integrate
electronic technologies, embedded software and
networks and to prepare e-business applications.
To give just a few examples of Schneider Electric’s
continuous innovation, we are using new polymer
plastics to improve efficiency, enhance design
and facilitate product recycling; we are exploring
potential applications for superconducting materials
and we are developing new optical-technology
sensors.
Cooperating
to innovate faster
Schneider Electric conducts research programs
with some fifty laboratories, university teams,
start-ups and small businesses, as well as with
the research centers of its leading customers
and suppliers. As a very active member
of international standards organizations,
we are working hard to develop open systems.
Schneider Electric is also a member of the World
Wide Web Consortium, which is defining
Web protocols.
Merlin Gerin/Square D
Masterpact
This new range of power
circuit breakers handling
up to 6,300A gives
customers access to even
more reliable and high-
performance products
and related services.
Electrical installations
are more compact,
thanks to Masterpact NT,
the world’s smallest
1,600A circuit breaker.
They are also safer,
thanks to Masterpact NW,
the world’s most powerful
circuit breaker (up to
200,000A without fuse).