APC 2014 Annual Report Download - page 32

1OVERVIEW OF THE GROUP’S STRATEGY, MARKETS AND BUSINESSES
RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT
Improve the efficiency of R&D 5.3
With digitization, even simple products are now part of a system language. This model can be used to generate mockups that can
comprised of its connection to the cloud, the analytics running in be validated and can evolve with customers before any R&D is
this cloud and the mobile applications delivering the derived committed.
insights to users. The validated model then becomes the reference from which the
While the deployment of technology platforms has allowed to mechanical, electronics and software design team can work in
reduce both the cost and lead time of bringing new products to parallel. From the model, engineers can query libraries of reusable
market, this new complexity requires an upgrade of development components, developed on the technology platforms now
methods and tools. To address this challenge, a very ambitious common to all businesses, thus accelerating projects while
program has been launched to deploy Model Based Systems reducing risks. Successive versions are tested against the model,
Engineering (MBSE) throughout Schneider Electric’s R&D. This and again with customers, ensuring that final integration and
method was pioneered by Aerospace and Automotive and, thanks testing will go smoothly.
to its packaging in modern toolset, now becomes applicable to First pilots have confirmed the potential of MBSE and full
less complex systems. deployment has started mid-2014, with the expectation that every
From the customer requirements expressed by Marketing, a model program will apply this method by 2016.
of the product and/or system is developed using a specific
Financing innovative startups 5.4
In2000, Schneider Electric created an investment structure called
The CoSMo Company – EUR1.5million investment
inJanuary2014
Schneider Electric Ventures to invest in high-tech start-ups whose
innovations fit with the Group’s future development. The business of The CoSMo Company is based on the use of their
In2010, Schneider Electric Ventures became Aster Capital with the internally developed computer modeling and simulation platform.
launch of a new capital investment fund to finance innovative This platform is used to resolve concrete problems and to support
start-ups operating within the areas of energy, new materials and projects under development by taking a complex system
the environment. This second fund received a capital subscription approach. Complex systems are projects with a large number of
of EUR105million from Schneider Electric (EUR40million), Alstom interacting entities, such as cities, infrastructure networks or even
(EUR30million), Solvay (EUR15million) and in2012 by the biological tissues, the understanding of which requires modeling.
European Investment Fund (EUR20million), a benchmark financial
Easybike group – EUR3million investment
partner in Europe.
inSeptember2014
Managing a portfolio of partnership
The French leader in electric bikes, Easybike manufactures,
develops and distributes a complete line of electric bikes, including
opportunities
the Solex and Mobiky brands, which are exported to about twenty
The mission of Aster Capital is to purchase minority interests in countries.
innovative start-ups in the fields of energy and the environment
Digital Lumens – USD3million investment in
based in Europe, Israel, North America and Asia. The scouting
October2014
activities constitute a source of particularly productive partnerships
Digital Lumens is a Boston-based company that has developed
and forge contacts with more than 1,500 small and mid-sized
the first intelligent LED lighting system for industrial facilities,
businesses around the world each year. In2014, three new
warehouses, factories, etc. This system is based on a global
investments were realized, joining the first ten companies already in
approach that combines LEDs, wireless control architecture,
the portfolio, including EcoFactor, Lucibel and Iceotope.
monitoring sensors and centralized management software.
Aster’s first fund currently still holds 10equity interests in Solaire
Direct, Jet Metal Technologies, Tronics, Casanova, Tiempo,
Ordinal Software, Teem Photonics, HBA, Fludicon and Agilence.
30 2014 REGISTRATION DOCUMENT SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC