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Research and Innovation
Research and Innovation: Alsace in pole position
Alsace is one of the leading areas for scientific research and innovation in France. In the context of the globalisation and enlargement of Europe, focus will in future consist in facilitating the emergence or reinforcement of clusters of competence structured around a number of networked areas of excellence combining training, research and industry.
The transfer of technologies and skills
Region Alsace supports the rapprochement between business and the world of research, fostering the setting up of partnerships between public laboratories and private companies which have an original technological development or research and development project.
In addition, the regional institution supports technology transfer structures by providing aid to the six Regional Innovation and Transfer of Technology Centres (CRITTs) and Technology Platforms (PFT) intended to strengthen ties between training and enterprise.
Innovation, new intelligence to be circulated throughout Europe
Region Alsace wishes to create an environment which favours innovation by developing technological aid networks. It has thus created a Regional Innovation Agency (in French) , supported the development of the Conectus (in French) network and assisted in the launch of the Biovalley* programme, a trinational initiative (Germany, Switzerland and France) whose aims are to set up a European biotechnology cluster in the Upper Rhine and the economic development of a life and health cluster. This network brings together 300 companies specialised in biotechnologies. The Region also provides aid in the creation of innovative companies by offering expertise and support to pioneering project sponsors.
Alsace is organising itself into competence clusters
The competence clusters bring together laboratories, research centres, training organisations (universities and schools of engineering), technical assistance organisations (CRITT, Technical Centres) and business.
They coordinate and exploit competence in broad fields by fostering relations with the outside world (regional environment and business).
Region Alsace is involved in constructing premises and facilities suitable for research and training by offering support to universities, schools and research bodies. It also helps in the development and coordination of the regional competence poles, bringing together laboratories and business through a Tender for Projects in Research & Development.
It is with this in mind that the regional institution provides considerable support to the three competitivity poles: “Therapeutic Innovations” (in French) and “Natural Fibres” (in French).
In addition, Region Alsace allocates research grants (in French) to students with a Masters or equivalent degree. The purpose of these grants is to strengthen regional competence in terms of innovation, research and technology transfer.
last update : 11.12.2008