Driven by Responsible Innovation

Signify now a major sponsor of Mercedes in F1

As F1 fan it was a bit of a surprise to see Signify become a sponsor in the Formula 1 world. Connecting a lighting company with a race car does not seem obvious at first sight. But on closer look there are some interesting partnership synergies.   

It is a well-known fact that Signify (formerly Philips) has always been at the forefront of innovation technologies and so are all technologies involved in F1 racing. It is the ultimate sport where the latest light weight materials, smart technologies and innovative concepts are being developed for future use in general public applications. Key synergies mentioned in their press release are the team’s performance and vision to become one of the world’s most sustainable professional sports teams and the drive to enhance the well-being and performance of the drivers and engineers.    

Signify has already lit up several circuits (Singapore and Las Vegas), which obviously has contributed to a great viewing experience, not only for the public track side but also for the viewers watching the races unfold on their tv screens. I am grateful to have been involved and present at the very first night race in Singapore, way back in 2008, certainly an experience to remember! The press release also mentions Signify’s immersive TV and gaming surround lighting for those following the race action from the comfort of their home.

F1 drivers race across the globe in different time zones so I assume that one of the contributions that lighting can provide are human centric solutions that support the sleep-wake cycle to keep the teams performance at top level. The smart lighting technologies will use circadian based lighting concepts to help focus, relax and perform.  

There is also a wider social responsibility at play that both parties recognise towards developing sustainable solutions in everything they do or strive towards. Green house emission reductions have been at the heart of Signify’s vision to reach a net zero status by 2040. Sharing their knowledge and expertise in this field with Mercedes is also being promoted as one of the keys in the collaboration.

While surprising at first, a deeper dive into the reasons seem to make a lot of sense. Responsible innovation should be at the heart of all creative collaborations. Ultimately though, both are commercial enterprises, and the bottom line would have played a major role in the decision to partner. 

Looking forward to see some of the learning experiences from this collaboration.
More at www.signify.com/partnership