PARIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb 10, 2026--
The jury of the Grand Prix ACF AutoTech 2026, which met on February 9 at the Automobile Club de France, has selected six finalist startups following several hours of deliberation.
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The selected companies stand out for their technological ambition, economic viability and tangible impact on automotive cost reduction and industrial performance. Key themes this year include AI-assisted engineering design, strategic independence from critical materials, and advanced LiDAR optimization.
Finalist startups include:
Grand Prix ACF (Mature startups)
- Altrove (Paris, France): Develops innovative alternatives to high-risk critical inorganic materials using a proprietary algorithmic approach and unique artificial intelligence, strengthening industrial resilience and technological sovereignty.
- Cognitive Design Systems (Toulouse, France): Provides an AI-powered engineering design platform that accelerates design exploration and automates complex engineering workflows.
- Spark Cleantech (Essonne, France): Has developed a breakthrough plasma technology that splits methane into hydrogen and solid carbon with zero CO₂ emissions.
ACF Pioneer Prize (Seed-stage startups)
- Sumot (Grenoble, France): Develops an over-flux inverter technology that increases electric motor performance or reduces motor size for equivalent power.
- Bloomineral (Saclay, France): Produces a carbon-negative mineral material designed to replace polluting minerals used in automotive plastics, components and batteries.
- Iridesense (Paris, France): Has created the world’s first multispectral 3D LiDAR capable of identifying material types to enhance vehicle perception and safety.
Four awards will be presented in 2026: the Grand Prix ACF, the ACF Pioneer Prize, the GPACF GreenTech Mention, and a new Industrialization Trophy recognizing a former finalist that has most successfully industrialized its solution since 2018.
Founded and coordinated by Richard de Cabrol, the Grand Prix ACF AutoTech is held under the high patronage of Yann de Pontbriand, President of the Automobile Club de France, and Thierry Peugeot, President of the ESSEC Auto & Mobility Club.
"Automotive and industrial innovation is deeply rooted in the DNA of the Automobile Club de France. For nine years, this competition has highlighted international startups whose pioneering spirit reflects our own," said Yann de Pontbriand, President of the Automobile Club de France.
"The quality of projects presented this year is outstanding. Artificial intelligence, productivity gains, material sovereignty, energy performance and electric powertrain innovation are all represented. This edition confirms that the Grand Prix ACF AutoTech remains fully aligned with the key challenges facing the industry," said Richard de Cabrol, Managing Director of the Grand Prix ACF AutoTech.
The Grand Prix ACF AutoTech 2026 Final will take place on Wednesday, April 15, 2026 at 7:00 p.m. at the Automobile Club de France in Paris. The event will be livestreamed on YouTube and will include audience voting.
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About the Grand Prix ACF AutoTech
Founded in 2018, the Grand Prix ACF AutoTech is an international startup competition dedicated to innovation in the automotive, mobility and industrial sectors.
en.grandprixacfautotech.com
Candidate
Jury members
NEW YORK (AP) — Aaron Judge turned to the Bleacher Creatures during their first-inning Roll Call at the New York Yankees' home opener Friday, bent a knee and flexed with both arms in honor of Brett Gardner.
“Still hoping he gets a chance to come back here and share his knowledge with the boys a little bit,” Judge said after his go-ahead, two-run homer in the first inning started the Yankees to an 8-2 win over the Miami Marlins. “He was a big part of this team, his long tenure here as a Yankee, so I always like paying him a little credit. He's tuned into the game and watching.”
Gardner spent his entire big league career with the Yankees from 2008-21, and Judge made his major league debut with New York in 2016. Judge started flexing for Roll Call when playing center field, Gardner's old position. Judge roomed with Gardner in 2017.
“He was a leader. He was a professional. He was a prankster. He was everything that you look for in a guy to lead the team,” Judge said, speaking slowly and choosing his words carefully. “He took me in at a young age when I first got here and he treated me just like everybody else and showed me respect. He taught me a lot of things. It kind of teaches you how to lead a clubhouse. He had a big influence on me not only on the field but inside this clubhouse, just the way he played the game and the way he held everybody to a standard. Very few guys are made like Brett Gardner.”
Gardner has been in the Yankees' thoughts even more since March 2024, when his youngest son died at age 14 during a family vacation in Costa Rica. Authorities determined carbon monoxide poisoning was the cause of death.
Judge, the team captain, wanted the Yankees to arrive in style after opening 5-1 on their West Coast trip.
“That's Cap, again, setting the tone,” said Ben Rice, who homered and drove in three runs. “Sent us a text late last night saying: `Hey, suits tomorrow.' So everybody was fired up and we were happy to continue that momentum out on the field.”
Trent Grisham reached leading off with the first of 11 walks by Marlins pitchers and Judge drove a slider into the left-field seats against Eury Pérez for a 2-1 lead.
Judge, who had three RBIs, hit a record 20 first-inning home runs last year, when he finished with 53. Three of Judge’s five hits this season have been home runs.
Coming off his third AL MVP award and first batting title, Judge is off to a slow start with a .185 average.
He gave his teammates a scare in the second inning when he was hit below the right wrist by a 98.9 mph fastball from Pérez, one pitch after Grisham's bases-loaded walk.
“I’ve broken my wrist like that, so that’s always the main concern,” Judge said.
Judge missed 45 games after he was hit by a pitch from Kansas City’s Jakob Junis on July 26, 2018.
“Felt like he was probably OK but I tend to jump up a little quicker when it’s to him," Yankees manager Aaron Boone said.
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/mlb
New York Yankees' Aaron Judge (99) hits a two-run home run during the first inning of the Yankees' home-opener baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Friday, April 3, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
New York Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge (99) walks back to dugout during the fifth inning of a home-opener baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Friday, April 3, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
New York Yankees' Aaron Judge (99) successfully steals second base during the eighth inning of a home-opener baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Friday, April 3, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
New York Yankees outfielders Cody Bellinger (35), Trent Grisham (12) and Aaron Judge (99) embrace each other after wining a home-opener baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Friday, April 3, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
New York Yankees' Aaron Judge (99) celebrates after hitting a two-run home run during the first inning of the Yankees' home-opener baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Friday, April 3, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
