Created in 2006 by Prince Albert II of Monaco, the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation encourages sustainable and balanced management of natural resources and places mankind at the centre of its projects. It supports the implementation of innovative and ethical solutions in three main areas: climate change, biodiversity and water.

The Foundation aims to act as a catalyst for environmental projects and solutions. In order to become an important actor in environmental protection at an international level, the Foundation hopes to create networks of scientists, companies and citizens who are prepared to work together towards the same objective. The Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation supports and promotes initiatives by public or private organisations and businesses within the field of studies and research, technological innovation and citizens’ practices. It is committed to raising awareness among populations and States, through the development of its communication activities, which have a strong capacity for mobilisation. In order to stimulate and promote innovation, the

Foundation relies on scientific and technical monitoring work on an international level. The Foundation is behind participants and projects, and is ready to listen to environmental problems, issues and solutions. It encourages the creation of debate sites for environmental actors, mobilises financial support and is committed to the establishment of responsible social investment tools.

Created in 1992 in the wake of the Rio Summit, the Total company’s Foundation’s projects have been dedicated to protecting the environment and, more specifically, to marine biodiversity, for fifteen years. Three intervention approaches are prioritised: research, rehabilitating threatened ecosystems and raising awareness. All of these activities are carried out thanks to partnerships formed with research institutes, NGOs or institutional actors who are recognised in their field of expertise.

Over 160 programmes have been supported in 40 countries, in extremely varied coastal and marine ecosystems.

Since 2008, the Foundation has extended the scope of its activity to two other areas of patronage: Culture – Heritage (The Louvre, the Arable World Institute and the Quai Branly Museum) and Health – Solidarity - Education (Preventative health, road safety and education in priority areas…). Not only does the Foundation work with the Museum, but also with the Port-Cros National Park, the Conservatoire du Littoral (the French coastal conservation body), Ifremer (French Research Institute for the Exploitation of the Sea), the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature), the Sloan Foundation and many others. These all share recognised competence in carrying out studies and research in the field of biodiversity.

The Museum and the Total Foundation have had an established partnership for over fifteen years in geosciences (Year of the Earth partnership) and mineralogy (acquiring minerals and launching a virtual gallery), two areas which are linked to Total’s professional activity, as well as environmental science. Before the naturalist expedition to Madagascar and Mozambique, the Foundation supported the marine sections of the Lifou (Polynesia), Panglao (Indonesia) and Santo (Vanuatu) expeditions. It also finances research programmes within the fields of the taxonomy and genetics of marine species.

The Stavros Niarchos Foundation is an international philanthropic organisation which supports activities in four main areas: art and culture, education, health and social action. The Foundation helps non-profit organisations around the world.

The Foundation also has an important commitment to supporting programmes in Greece. The Foundation aims to make contributions with strong added value. At the heart of each category of programme, the Foundation supports initiatives with solid leadership and healthy management, which can also demonstrate a tangible impact over time.

The Foundation hopes to encourage discussion and co-operation between recipient institutions, by supporting a wide range of organisations through its targeted programmes in different areas of the world. The donations given by the Foundation finance construction projects, varied programmes and operational support. Biodiversity is an important subject in the 21st century and, having financially participated in the Santo 2006 scientific expedition, the Stavros Niarchos Foundation’s governing board approved a donation for the initiative entitled “Our Planet Reviewed”, where marine and land expeditions will focus on the most threatened areas of biodiversity in Madagascar and Mozambique.

The ARS-Cuttoli-Paul Appell Foundation was created in 1978 under the aegis of the Fondation de France and is providing financing amounting to €60 000 for the inventory of zoological biodiversity during the expeditions to Mozambique. With a firm commitment to supporting Life Sciences, the Foundation has helped to facilitate several ambitious and innovative scientific research projects. The Fondation de France supervises over 650 funds and foundations created under its aegis (which is around 40% of the foundations in France) and, in 2008, distributed 83 million euros in the form of 6800 grants, prizes and scholarships. The Foundation is independent and private, does not receive any public funding and is only able to act thanks to donors’ generosity.

The Richard Lounsbery Foundation aims to enhance national strengths in science and technology through support of programs in the following areas: science and technology components of key US policy issues; elementary and secondary science and math education; historical studies and contemporary assessments of key trends in the physical and biomedical sciences; and start-up assistance for establishing the infrastructure of research projects. Among international initiatives, the Foundation has a long-standing priority in Franco-American scientific cooperation. The Foundation generally provides seed money or partial support, rarely renews grants for continuing activities, does not normally fund endowments or laboratory research, and aims to achieve high impact by funding novel projects and forwardlooking leaders.

Joint venture of Solvay and BASF, SolVin is the second biggest european producer of PVC resin, with a capacity of 1.32 million of tons and 8 production sites. SolVin produces different types of PVC for various uses, taking part of everyone’s daily life. The combined competences of the two companies and the geographical distribution of the production sites enable SolVin to maintain a safe delivery of products and services. For many years now, SolVin also cares about environmental issues, and is for example engaged in the european programme Vinyl 2010®.