And the winners are? Saint-Gobain picks top EU cleantech startups

France-based Saint-Gobain (FRA:OLG) wrapped up a startup competition for European companies developing cleantech technologies in construction, energy and the environment. This year’s top picks were: M-Therm, TVP Solar, and Shark Solutions.

The second year of the competition, at the European Research and Innovation Exhibition in Paris from June 3-5, included a speed-dating style round of 10 minute interviews with nine entrepreneur finalists judged by senior executives from Saint-Gobain, which manufactures construction and other materials. The judging panel was chaired by Saint-Gobain CEO Pierre-André de Chalendar (see Saint-Gobain launches cleantech speed-dating in EU)

The three winning startups each received €15,000 ($20,800) and are expected to be connected with potential investors and receive business development help. They’ll work with NOVA External Venturing, a Saint-Gobain entity set up to create strategic partnerships between the company and startups.

Germany’s M-Therm, winner of the 2009 Habitat Award, is developing and marketing an electric heating system that uses low-voltage radiating films applied directly on walls. The system is available for new construction and renovation projects. The company started in December 2008.

Swiss startup TVP Solar was named the winner of the 2009 Energy Award. Launched in June 2008, the company is developing flat, vacuum thermal solar panels. The panels can be used for solar air conditioning and are able to achieve high fluid temperatures. The product can be manufactured on existing plasma screen assembly lines, which helps to keep the product's cost down.

Shark Solutions, a Danish startup formed in June 2005, took the 2009 Environment Award. Shark Solutions is developing technology for recycling laminated windows from buildings and cars by separating the glass and polyvinyl butyral plastic film in an industrial process. The two products are then recovered as the raw material in a variety of high value added applications.

Shark Solutions was highlighted in the Cleantech Group’s April 2009 report identifying 50 leading cleantech companies in the Nordic market (see New report showcases 50 most promising Nordic cleantech companies).

Last year's Saint-Gobain winners were France-based vegetalized-wall developer Plantover, France-based technology developer Sensitive Object, and Austrian-based Gapsolution, a developer of prefabricated panels for renovation of thermal insulation.