APP Call for R&D incubation projects 2024

The Anticipation Portfolio Performance division (APP) invites you to submit a proposal for R&D incubation projects.

TotalEnergies R&D roadmaps are operated by programs with set missions and objectives. Within this organization, the Anticipation and Portfolio Performance (APP) division is exploring beyond these programs' scopes, targeting new areas of science and technologies with a potentially, disruptive impact and high-value creation, serving the ambitions of TotalEnergies.

We believe that some of these disruptive high impact R&D projects can emerge from the ideas of our scientific and engineering community. Therefore, we provide this space as an opportunity for some of these projects to be incubated to provide proofs of concept, before potentially being integrated into R&D programs or Technical Line solutions.

If you have an idea that fits the criteria of disruption and value creation for the ambitions of TotalEnergies, this call is for you!

 

Areas of interest

We are targeting projects with a strong potential impact for TotalEnergies as a multi-energy major.

They should target as a priority the following preferred areas of interest:

  • Renewables & Electricity
  • Biofuel & Biogas
  • Hydrogen
  • Carbon capture & storage
  • Sustainable mobility
  • Low carbon molecules
  • Recycling & ecodesign
  • Energy efficiency
  • Health, Safety & Environment

 

The call for proposal is phased

The call is organized in 2 phases:

  • Phase 1: Declaration of interest (by 19th January)
             Short description of your idea or project
  • Phase 2: Submit a full proposal (by 22nd March)
              Detailed description of the project

During Phase 2, APP will offer support to project proposal owners to build a proposal as robust as possible. Project proposal owners will be challenged to question him/herself on the structure of the project, the best partner(s), the novelty of the proposal, the potential impact with respect to TotalEnergies’ ambition, strategy, current or new businesses.

The call is open to everybody in the Company.

Eligibility & Commitment

Only proposals meeting the following criteria will be considered for review:

  • The project's main objective must be in line with TotalEnergies' strategic ambition to become a sustainable major multi-energy company.
  • The project must be operated in partnership with an external research partner.
  • The project lead will commit to at least 150h/year to the project with the support of his management line.
  • The requested budget is below 300k€
  • The project duration is less or equal to 18 months

 

Requirements

Phase 1: the declaration of interest will be a description of the idea that the project is aiming at addressing or solving within 400 words maximum. If you have already a project frame and a potential research partner, feel free to mention it here.

Phase 2: the full proposal, which is a formal R&D project proposal, should include important aspects such as

  • a description of the context of the idea, including the aspects of TotalEnergies’ strategy the project is addressing
  • a description of the scientific topic and proposed approach
  • a timeline, a budget, and expected deliverables along with detailed work packages
  • an initial assessment of the partnership strategy

Declaration of interest is mandatory and will let you access to phase 2 automatically. The project proposals will be evaluated at the end of phase 2.

 

Confidentiality

Please keep in mind the following recommendations before subscribing to the Incubation call 2024

  • Please make sure to avoid sharing any information considered as confidential (such as know-how, data, patent, …) with a potential external partner during the preliminary phase of an incubation project.
  • Note that we highly recommend to put in place a Non-Disclosure Agreement to share such information
  • If you have any questions on how to disclose certain information with potential external partner, please contact  APP/ incubation team for guidance

 

Selection process and criteria

The selection will be based on an evaluation involving internal and external experts.

The evaluation criteria are centered on the disruptive potential, the novelty, the potential business impact, and the presented preliminary state of the art. We will also consider the technical/scientific questions laid out that the project will answer.

The differentiating impact potential on TotalEnergies will also be important. We acknowledge that it is difficult to evaluate the precise impact at this stage. Accordingly, for this type of proposal, the impact will be evaluated based on its potential and not proven value. Note that low-risk ideas will require a significant demonstrated impact.

In addition, projects supporting ideas that do not naturally fit with existing R&D program because of their transversal dimensions will be favored.

APP Incubation will support project proposals that are (in order of priority):

  1. Disruptive with potential high value for the Company
  2. Addressing an innovative scientific concept
  3. Having a potential business impact
  4. Being at a low maturity level
  5. Addressing transverse topic(s) across several R&D or Technical Lines

The project proposals should not be:

  1. at a pilot stage yet
  2. an incremental contribution to existing activities

During phase 2, ARC will support you to assure that your project proposal objectives are clear, the state of the art is well documented, the scientific approach is well defined with clear deliverables etc.

Whatever support ARC will provide during Phase 2, it does not mean that the project proposal will automatically be granted.

 

To apply

The call is opening 11th December 2023 and you will be able to apply through this website. 

Please send an email to [email protected] if you have any questions.

 

Important dates

  • Open call: 11th December 2023
  • Declaration of interest : until 19th January 2024
  • Submission of full proposal: until 22nd March 2024
  • Pitch to R&D VPs: mid-May 2024
  • Publication of the Final selection: 24th May 2024

 

Additional information (FAQ)

You think you have a great idea, but you do not have much time to prepare the full proposal. Can you submit an incomplete proposal? No. An incomplete proposal will be rejected but as soon as you submit the declaration of interest, you’ll be contacted by an ARC member to discuss your idea/project. ARC will then provide support and assistance to build the full proposal. Also, as the project applicant will be the project lead if the proposal is accepted, we expect a minimum commitment.

You think you have a great idea, but you do not know how to properly answer certain parts of the application or you are not certain to properly answer some questions? We understand, that’s why as soon as you submit the declaration of interest, you’ll be contacted by an ARC member to discuss your idea/project. APP will then provide support and assistance to build the full proposal.

You believe your idea could have a strong impact for TotalEnergies but it does not fall within the preferred areas of interest. Should you apply anyway? The areas of interest are preferred, not mandatory, meaning applications falling within these areas will be evaluated with a stronger consideration. The period between the declaration of interest and full proposal submission is the best moment to exchange with ARC on the potential value of your project proposal.

Your proposal is about de-risking an idea with a long-term application and potentially a strong impact. However, you are not comfortable with the value assessment, which is hard to do at this stage. Should you apply anyway?  Yes. We are used to High Risk / High Impact ideas, so your proposal is a perfect fit for our call! We acknowledge it is difficult to evaluate the impact of HR/HI ideas. Accordingly, for this type of proposal, the impact will be evaluated based on its potential and not proven value. Try to do your best to describe the potential value and do not hesitate to ask for help.

Submit a new application