Innovation Hub: 5 years of innovation and transformation for Groupe ADP
Since 2017, Groupe ADP's Innovation Department, called the Innovation Hub, has been spreading the culture of innovation throughout the company, with the aim of transforming the Group's airports and businesses. Through 3 strategic pillars, CONNECT, OPEN and INVEST, the Innovation Hub connects to the Parisian innovation ecosystem, sets up experiments with start-ups and acquires stakes in start-ups or investment funds. Since 2022, a new forward-looking pillar, RE.INVENT, has been added to the overall approach to explore new business lines and areas of activity.
OPEN: spreading the culture of innovation and being a key player in the local innovation ecosystem
For the past 5 years, Innovation Hub has been implementing a wide range of events, conferences, days and pitches to spread the culture of innovation within Groupe ADP to as many people as possible and thus acculturate all staff to new business practices.
At the same time, the department is forging regular partnerships with incubators, local innovation ecosystems, think tanks and challenge providers, as well as venture capital funds and corporate venture capital structures.
participants per year on average
CONNECT: testing and deploying new innovative solutions in the Group's airports
Groupe ADP gives to many start-ups the opportunity to experiment in 3 main areas (passenger experience, employee experience, operations and infrastructure) in order to accelerate the integration of new products, new services and new business approaches present in its airports. The Group also supports entrepreneurs in the development of their solutions.
experiments with start-ups
open innovation challenges over 5 years
INVEST: a hybrid investment model for start-ups and funds
In terms of investments, Groupe ADP has chosen to take an average of two direct stakes per year in start-ups. The Group's priority is to support the industrial development of projects in its airports. Managing its portfolio dynamically, it sold some holdings at the end of this first 5-year investment cycle. As for indirect investments, they all complement each other both thematically and geographically.
direct holdings in start-ups
RE.INVENT: forecasting and exploring new territories
Since 2020, Groupe ADP has been working on eVTOLs (Vertical and Take-Off Landing), or electric aircraft with vertical take-off and landing, as part of a future low-carbon aviation and for new transport uses between airports in peri-urban areas, but also for health and medical uses. In the space of 3 years, an ecosystem and a test zone that are unique in Europe and the world, as well as the first integrated flights in airspace, have been deployed.
vertiport test on an airfield in Europe
International focus
2019 has seen the internationalisation of innovation kick off with Airport Startup Day, a start-up pitch competition at the heart of Groupe ADP's airports. The event took place at Paris-CDG and Izmir, Turkey, alongside partner TAV Airports. The aim was to create a network of innovation capabilities, with all their geographical specificities and expertise.
At the same time, to build this momentum, a network of 50 Innovation Pioneers was set up by the end of 2022. It should be noted that synergies in terms of expertise, targeting start-ups and experimentation could eventually be considered.
Lastly, Innovations Days - dedicated days devoted to exploring in greater depth the challenges of innovation and transformation - will be held during the same week, at the beginning of 2024, in 3 countries in the network.
2023 is the pivotal year in which Groupe ADP is accelerating the zero-carbon transition at its airports. On the agenda is new experimentation, new sustainable construction methods and practices, new employee experiences and support, the greening of all operations and a reduction in environmental impact. As part of the 2025 Pioneers strategic plan, a target of 120 experiments, including 30 industrialisations by 2025, has been set. This objective also involves the airports in the TAV Airports network in the Middle East.