The Pôle Mer Bretagne and Atlanpole strengthen their partnership to the benefit of marine sectors of the Great West
12/09/2011
This summer, the marine science and technology cluster Pôle Mer Bretagne signed a collaboration agreement with Atlanpole that positions the latter as an operational relay for the Pôle Mer Bretagne in the Pays de La Loire. A powerful signal of how the Pôle Mer has opened out to the Pays de la Loire region.
The Pôle Mer Bretagne, which develops skills in marine and maritime themes (including marine bio-resources, renewable marine energy and naval themes), and the Loire region science and technology park have come together in view of complementing each other and pooling their competences. In 2008, Atlanpole began coordinating the Atlanpole Blue Cluster in the Pays de la Loire and Poitou-Charente regions, a network based on marine bio-resources (microalgae, biotechnologies, fishing co-products, etc.), which takes action in the field of renewable marine energies in liaison with the EMC2 cluster.
A number of projects have already been signposted for the 2011-12 period:
- To firmly establish the Pôle Mer in the Pays de la Loire region with institutional cooperation,
- To foster partnerships with partners in Brittany and the Loire region to develop collaborative innovative projects. Opening out to the territory helps to boost existing collaborations between the Pôle Mer and other clusters like EMC2 and Atlanpole Biothérapies.
- To collaborate on formative national and regional initiatives
- To develop collaborations in French overseas territories and throughout the world.
More than 25 players in the Loire region are already members of the "Pôle Mer network" and partners of labeled projects alongside players in Brittany. In order to coordinate and strengthen this network of Loire region players made up of manufacturers, researchers and teachers, the convention notably makes provision for a close partnership between the engineering and coordination teams of Atlanpole and the Pôle Mer Bretagne. As with other competitiveness clusters, Loire region players participating in Pôle Mer-labeled collaborative projects can thus claim co-financing from their local authorities. The coming together of the Pôle Mer Bretagne and Atlanpole means that the marine and maritime industries of Western France can continue with their organization and thus increase their visibility.
About the Pôle Mer Bretagne:
Shored up by a wealth of marine and maritime bio-resources, the Pôle Mer Bretagne competitiveness cluster federates a network of some 350 members: large companies, SMEs, research centers and higher education establishments. Its task is to seek out and foster the emergence of innovative projects aimed at meeting the needs of the new markets.
Modern players in the maritime world, the project partners draw their resources from the sea, and their work as a network helps to develop ideas that eventually become sustainable products and services.
The Pôle: some key figures (September 2011):
- Five work themes: maritime, naval and water sports safety/security; marine energy resources; biological resources; the environment; the development of the coastal area.
- Nearly 350 members, of which over 50% are SMEs.
- 117 projects labeled by the Pôle Mer Bretagne, representing an overall budget of €400M.
More information on:
www.pole-mer-bretagne.com
Contact:
Nisha Le Joliff, tel: +33 (0)6 88 84 48 22
