Our Partners
Solar Scientific Partners
Université de Genève, Geneva, Switzerland
Founded in 1559 by Jean Calvin and Theodore de Beze, the University of Geneva is the second largest Haute école in Switzerland and is amongst the top 100 best universities in the world. The institution enjoys worlwide recognition and is highly opened to the world. Every year the University welcomes around 16 000 students in its eight faculties teaching science, medecine, humanities, social and economic sciences, law, theology, psychology and educational sciences, translation and interpreting. The University of Geneva has three missions : education, research and knowledge-sharing. The University has been a member of the League of European Research-intensive Universities since 2002.
Solar Ambassadors
Ciel électricité, Lausanne, Switzerland
During the world circumnavigation in 2012, CIEL was the Official Supplier of PlanetSolar. Now the leading electrical installation company in western Switzerland has decided to expand and strengthen its partnership with PlanetSolar. For the upcoming 2013 expeditions, CIEL will function as a “Solar Ambassador” and will increase its technical and financial participation in PlanetSolar. For instance, any audio-visual teaching materials for school and university programs or for the media will be provided by CIEL at the various stages during the 2013 expeditions.
Additionally, CIEL will fund an official member of the crew. Specifically, the company will provide an electrical engineer who will be responsible for technical issues for the entire 2013 expedition. This photovoltaic expert will be specially trained by PlanetSolar for the expedition and will thus contribute to the success of the new challenges this year!
With its 65 years of experience in the field of electrical installations in western Switzerland, CIEL offers its customers a wide range of services, including the planning and implementation of major projects such as industrial plants, hospitals, schools and large residential development projects.
Moreover, the company provides solutions for the generation of clean energy. To this aim, a separate department was created in 2012 to deal specifically with the installation of solar power systems. In this regard, CIEL has once again proved its innovative capacity by engaging in the new growth areas of technology.
Solar Supporters
AOC/IGP, Bern, Switzerland
Products with a registered designation of origin (AOC) or a protected geographical designation (IGP) are firmly rooted in their region of origin, and are made using traditional craft methods. The landscape, the climate, the customs and the people themselves define the character of these specialities. AOC and IGP labels are an undertaking made to the consumers that only high-grade raw materials are used in their production. Moreover, a strict list of specifications, and regular inspection by an independent body of the farmers and also the processors such as the butchers and cheese-makers, guarantee the very highest quality. The AOC label is a guarantee that all the stages in the making of the speciality, from the basic product to its processing and refining, have taken place in the region of origin. However, a product with the IGP label need only to have undergone one stage of processing in its region of origin. Both labels enjoy equal protection under Swiss law. At the present time 28 products carry this federal label of quality in Switzerland.
The Swiss AOC-IGP association is very satisfied with its partnership with PlanetSolar for the following reasons: On the one hand, the project for promoting sustainability all around the world is an ambitious one and tremendously important for creating awareness among the active consumers. On the other hand, thanks to their legally required level of quality, AOC and IGP products fit perfectly into the framework of sustainable production, and as typical traditional specialities they are also perfectly suited to the role of ambassdors for Swiss culinary products. Cooperation between the two partners is thus ensured, and both partners benefit from the positive image projected by the other.
SWITCHER, Le Mont-sur-Lausanne, Switzerland
“Made with Respect” – these words embody Switcher’s identity. Respect and transparency, hand in hand with economic efficiency, environmental responsibility and social solidarity are the key values of the Swiss brand. The notion of sustainability lies at the heart of the concept. Switcher does not manufacture “throw away” objects, but rather long-life, quality products. Switcher offers an extensive range of T-shirts, polo shirts, sweatshirts, fleece and softshell jackets for different occasions in a spectrum of colours. All Switcher products bear the “respect-code” label, guaranteeing total traceability of the entire production line via www.respect-code.org. Furthermore, the Switcher Foundation supports social projects in India, Africa and Europe. In every sector, whether corporate, retail or tourism – Switcher is made with respect.
Younicos, Berlin, Germany
Solar Suppliers
BCCC Avocats Sàrl, Lausanne, Switzerland
BCCC Attorneys-at-Law LLC is a Swiss leading business law firm with offices in Geneva and Lausanne. Our firm groups together seasoned business lawyers and litigators providing adjusted and sophisticated advice to its national and international clients, assisting them in reaching their business goals or with the resolution of their disputes.
BCCC has gained a solid reputation in selected areas of business law and is regularly distinguished by authoritative legal European guides. BCCC’s core areas of practice are:
> General corporate, commercial transactions & M&A
> International assistance & white collar crimes
> Litigation & arbitration
> Corporate finance, venture capital & private equity
> Banking & finance
> Tax
> Real estate & construction
> Employment
> Competition
> Intellectual property and TMT
Our success is based on absolute commitment to our clients, a deep knowledge of our client’s industries, search for excellence, shared ethical values and a special focus on the human factor.
GoPro, California, United-States
Hempel GmbH, Pinneberg, Germany
Jean-René Germanier, Vétroz, Switzerland
From 1896 onwards, when he harvested his first vintage at Balavaud, Urbain Germanier devoted his life to his vineyards. Later, the torch passed to his three sons, Francis, Paul and Charles, whose wines claimed their place among the premiers crus, the best growths of the Valais.
The production of spirits became for many years the most important activity of the family domaine, until winemaking returned to predominance in the course of the 1980s.
Today, two oenologists of the third and fourth generations, Jean-René Germanier and his nephew Gilles Besse, continue the family tradition of wines and spirits with the same passionate and untiring pursuit of quality. They produce wines that have earned them a place alongside the best winemakers in Switzerland, while devoting their efforts in particular to the native varieties and wines characteristic of the unique terroir of the Valais.
MétéoFrance, Toulouse, France
Tempur, Rothrist, Switzerland
Once you have slept on a TEMPUR mattress and pillow, you realise there is no comparison. The TEMPUR temperature-sensitive material conforms to the shape of your body. It reduces the discomfort caused by pressure points by redistributing pressure so you can immediately relax into your most comfortable sleeping position and remain there fully supported. It is thanks to this unique combination of comfort and support that TEMPUR® has become the world’s No. 1 for mattresses and pillows.
The innovative sleeping concept was born in the 1970s out of a product developed for NASA, to help reduce the pressure on astronauts during lift-off. This pressure-absorbing material formed the basis for a unique range of mattresses and pillows which has now become a complete, perfectly coordinated system for a good night’s sleep, which now also includes the bed bases, quilts and so on.
TEMPUR has made good use of this expertise and for nearly 20 years has been offering pressure-relieve visco-elastic products in Switzerland to help you sleep better.
Solar Institutional Partners
Energissima, Fribourg, Switzerland
Espace Gruyère opened its doors in 1998 thanks to the efforts of three main partners: the city of Bulle, Agribulle SA and Société Coopérative du Comptoir Gruérien. The project’s main objective was to replace the original covered market facility, which had fallen into disrepair, in order to meet the needs of the farming community with its four annual cattle shows.
Espace Gruyère has developed significantly since it was opened. Today, it hosts over 160 events per year, with close to a million square metres of exhibition space rented and over 150,000 visitors.
As a result, Espace Gruyère has acquired a very high level of organisational expertise and excels in providing support to the organisers of numerous types of events ranging from trade shows to seminars, to business congresses and even evening events, not forgetting of course the agricultural shows. The merger with Forum Fribourg has also brought synergies, boosting both companies.
Through the excellent progress they have made, Espace Gruyère and Forum Fribourg have become pioneers in the organisation of energy and the environment events. The Aqua trade show on the theme of water was first run in 2003, and the Energissima show began in 2007.
Energissima was then moved to Forum Fribourg to benefit from a larger venue. It has progressively emerged as a key event for energy, environment and green technology professionals, and is now complemented by the Swiss Eco Leaders Day, a Swiss forum for environment-sector leaders.
In such a context, it was important for Espace Gruyère to make its contribution to the Planetsolar project. It is therefore a logical step for Espace Gruyère to support this new adventure within the framework of Energissima and Swiss Eco Leaders Day.
For further information, please visit:
> www.energissima.ch
Présence Suisse, Bern, Switzerland
As the part of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs responsible for Switzerland’s image abroad, Presence Switzerland implements the Confederation’s strategy on Switzerland’s communication abroad.
The aims of Switzerland’s communication abroad are to increase knowledge about Switzerland and its international visibility, present Switzerland’s concerns and positions to the foreign public, and enhance and foster Switzerland’s network of contacts with current and future decision-makers and opinion-leaders.
Presence Switzerland pursues these aims through carrying out projects abroad, inviting foreign journalists and decision-makers to visit Switzerland, as well as through compiling and distributing through various channels and media information about Switzerland and its presence at major international events such as World Expositions or the Olympic Games. The so called Brand Switzerland defines the messages about Switzerland that Presence Switzerland communicates abroad and specifies the visual presentation of Switzerland abroad
UIM, Union Internationale Motonautique, Monaco
Waste Free Oceans, Brussels, Belgium
Waste Free Oceans (WFO) is a ground breaking public-private foundation that mobilizes and unit the fisheries sector, public authorities and the international plastics industry in combating the growing issue of floating litter on the coastlines, at the rivers and in the seas.
Various projects were launched in Europe (France, Belgium and Spain) during 2011 with participation and full support of EU Commissioner Mrs. Maria Damanaki (Maritime Affairs & Fisheries) and MEP Mrs. Anna Rosbach. During 2012 more projects were launched in Portugal, France, Sweden, Austria, Turkey, Denmark and Hungary.
WFO also has pilot operations and offices for the Americas in the Dominican Republic (Santo Domingo), The Middle East & Africa in Turkey (Istanbul) and the Far East & India in Mumbai.
WFO is contributing to remediation of existing pollutions and removal of floating marine debris in so-called ‘environmental hotspots’ in coastal areas. It is a movement that is developing very fast on a global level with an appropriate management structure put in place.
WFO is keen to work with international bodies and local authorities to find permanent solutions and avoid littering of seas and rivers. Meanwhile many environmental hotspots are being identified on a daily basis and these need to be cleaned up with a view to recovery and recycling through the assistance of all stakeholders. Our goal is to show society how our initiatives and activities help improve the environment.
Using existing fishing trawls and new technology, WFO engages fishing community in cleaning up floating marine debris and brings it back to land for sorting, recycling and/or energy recovery. WFO was officially launched in May 2011 following 18 months of discussions between industry, national authorities and EU institutions which culminated in an agreement that the time had come for industry to act together in tackling the growing problem of marine litter and to ensure the health and purity of coastal waters.
The synergies between WFO and PlanetSolar came out from the beginning. As a foundation looking for the restoration of our oceans, to recover marine litter using the solar energy in the MS Turanor boat is a win-win situation (no CO2 emissions, self-sufficient boat…).
By working together and sharing our know-how we can make a difference. During 2013 we want to proof that existing technology (solar energy, WFO trawls to collect debris) we can start to clean part of the gyres.
Nowadays we can count with clean energies that can contribute to restore the quality of our waters and we are in the right moment to promote and start to build alternative solutions.
In WFO we believe in the mission of the MS Tûranor PlanetSolar as a breaking point for more sustainable oceans where the contamination does not have a predominant position.
Solar Sound Partners
