Promoting Innovation
It is now perceptible to everyone that an inexorable process of transformation of our economies, our modes of production, and consumption has begun.
The ecological and energy transition of the economy is still in its early stages. This requires a strong capacity for adaptation of the productive system in general and a very significant innovation effort from eco-businesses in particular.
We therefore witness, in parallel, the evolution of traditional environmental professions (from waste collection to recovery, for example) and the emergence of new markets (energy efficiency, renewable energies, etc.).
Although in France more than two-thirds of eco-businesses consider themselves innovative, they face significant obstacles: difficulties finding markets for innovations, obtaining initial references, difficulties connecting with the research world, difficulty choosing which innovations to invest in to stand out.
Several eco-business networks have established solutions to meet the precise needs of companies.
The Cluster of Excellence labeling in Auvergne. To strengthen companies’ innovation capacities, the Auvergne Region launched a labeling process. Clusters having received the label, such as the eco-business network E2IA, must precisely define their strategy regarding technological innovation, performance improvement, commercial development, and international action. The labeling provides access to a dual support system for cluster facilitation. On one hand, the Auvergne economic development structures provide specific logistical support: communication and promotion actions for eco-businesses, ad hoc studies, strategic information, research funding, etc. On the other hand, the facilitation of E2IA, understood as support for project engineering for companies and laboratories of the cluster, is partly funded, strengthening the dynamism of Auvergne’s eco-businesses in terms of innovation.
Eco-Tech meetings: bringing researchers and SMEs closer and facilitating rapid technology transfers. To promote technology transfers to eco-businesses, the association of Carnot Institutes, which groups research teams heavily engaged in R&D projects with companies, and PEXE set up eco-technological meetings. Through a series of meetings between researchers and eco-businesses, the aim is to take stock of current issues in terms of technologies, markets, and regulations, and on forms of collaboration between companies and laboratories. Participants are invited to attend a series of flash presentations of environmental technologies and experimentation means open to companies. This allows exchanges on innovation projects with researchers and partners of the meetings. Six meetings were planned in 2013 on water, soils, waste, industrial ecology, ecological engineering, and air.
Local authorities-cluster workshop. To prepare the ground for the possible implementation of demonstrators for its companies, the green cluster The Living and the City set up mixed workshops between professionals and public actors (Public Establishment Paris Saclay, agglomeration communities of Versailles Grand Parc and Saint Quentin en Yvelines). By raising public actors’ awareness of the cluster’s themes and projects, this allows measuring their interest in setting up a demonstrator on their territory and at the same time identifying areas of interest for the community. This made it possible to identify medium-term collaboration opportunities with these local authorities.
Focus:
Crisalide Project: A complete and original system to stimulate, bring out, and promote eco-innovative projects from SMEs in the Grand Ouest.
The European Center for Business and Innovation Créativ, in collaboration with more than thirty partners, created in 2008 the CRISALIDE Eco-activities competition.
The goal is to promote SMEs with innovative projects in eco-activities, creating jobs in the territories (Brittany, Pays de la Loire, Lower Normandy).
CRISALIDE Eco-activities is supported by over 30 economic development partners in the West: consular network, institutions, clusters, technopoles, technical centers, universities, companies, banks…
The originality of the CRISALIDE Eco-activities system lies in the articulation between partners. Within this business community, they work in collaboration to accelerate the implementation of business projects.
Bretagne Eco Entreprise, a partner closely linked to eco-active entrepreneurs, contributes to the success of CRISALIDE Eco-activities by identifying candidate projects, organizing joint events, and providing technical cooperation in supporting candidate projects.
More than a competition, CRISALIDE Eco-activities offers all candidates strategic support. From the moment their application is submitted, Créativ meets them to assess the viability of their project. Depending on needs, a connection with CRISALIDE partners is proposed to accelerate project development (market targeting, help finding financing, partnerships…).
In 2015, it will be the 7th edition of the competition. More than 250 companies have already participated, with a potential creation of over 1000 jobs in 3 years.
The award ceremony gathers nearly 300 people annually, including 70% companies.
CRISALIDE Eco-activities has become a real label for eco-active companies, recognized by regional funders and decision-makers.
For more information: http://www.crisalide-innovation.org/