2024 Integrated Report

Preparing for change: innovation is at the core of Bouygues’ vision of sustainability

At Bouygues, we believe that innovation is the key to addressing the major economic, environmental and social challenges of our time. The Group’s innovation strategy is based on three pillars: “Explore”, “Cross and Catalyse” and “Change” (see infographic on p. 28). The first pillar – “Explore” – encompasses the work of our global technology intelligence network, which includes specialist units in North America, Asia and the Middle East^a. Through this network, we identify emerging technologies, new habits and practices, and disruptive business models, equipping the Group to adapt quickly and sharpen its competitive edge. This work is supported by partnerships with leading institutions such as MIT^b, EPFL^c and IP Paris^d, giving us unique insights that help us prepare for future trends and developments.

Innovating across sectors: ground-breaking solutions designed for tomorrow’s challenges

At Bouygues, high-impact innovation initiatives are a feature of our work across all areas of our business. To take one example, Bouygues Construction has launched Scale One, a one-of-a-kind innovation centre dedicated to pushing forward the green and digital transitions in the construction industry. It is a place for digital innovators to meet, experiment, collaborate and devise practical solutions to achieve the decarbonisation challenges laid down by the Paris Agreement. Bouygues Telecom is pursuing a similar approach with the AI Factory, a platform devoted to exploring how generative artificial intelligence can be used to build more customised services and boost operational efficiency. Colas, meanwhile, is stepping up to its role at the forefront of the green transition by developing low-carbon road surfacing products such as Vegeroad, a ground-breaking innovation with a carbon footprint at least 30% lower than that of a conventional asphalt mix.

In the media business, TF1 has rolled out TF1+, a free streaming platform that offers an enhanced viewer experience and brings content within everyone’s reach and is exploring immersive news reports as a means of making complex topics easier to understand. Last but not least, Equans is working on industrial process optimisation and automation solutions.

The Green Power Rehab concept is a fantastic illustration of the Bouygues group’s integrated approach to innovation, bringing all of the Group’s sustainable energy production, storage and distribution technologies under one roof. By combining solar, wind and geothermal energy with batteries, hydrogen and other innovative storage systems, the initiative acts as a showcase for the Group’s green transition ambitions and expertise.

Building a sustainable future: our commitment to the transitions of tomorrow

The Innovation Department acts a catalyst, fostering a collaborative, cross-disciplinary approach. The second pillar of the Group’s innovation strategy – “Cross and Catalyse” – focuses on integrated projects around common themes such as decarbonisation, data and artificial intelligence. For instance, the Group is home to around 150 data scientists. As part of a dedicated in-house community, they work together to share best practices and solicit employee input on a wide variety of challenges, helping to fast-track the uptake of AI across the business segments.

AI Impact, a think tank chaired by Bouygues, embodies the Group’s commitment to responsible artificial intelligence. The initiative brings together CAC 40 companies, higher education establishments and research centres with the aim of considering the ethical implications of AI, as well as its impact on healthcare, education and the labour market. In keeping with its open-innovation approach, the Group is also part of Futura-Mobility, a programme that convenes leading organisations in France to explore the future of mobility. With its triple focus on technology, innovation and responsibility, Bouygues aims to lead from the front in the great transitions of our time.