Research

10 leading national laboratories (5A+, 3A), 1300 people.

Powerful academic and industrial expertise in terms of materials, digital modelling and simulation of processes, composite and metal processing, robotics, virtual reality and non-destructive testing.

Industrie - Innovation

A "mechanics and materials" sector represents 40% of industrial employment in the region. The region is already French leader in the naval and water sports domain and occupies 2nd position in aeronautics (AIRBUS, AEROLIA, DAHER, BENETEAU, STX, DCNS, ALSTOM).

A highly structured "research and innovation" ecosystem, with the EMC2 competitive cluster, the EMC2 Technocampus and the Institut de Recherche Technologique Jules Verne, leading industrial research centres (EADS IW, FAURECIA) that support the development of a cutting-edge "composites" industry for aeronautics, naval construction, energy and land transport.

An ecosystem that presents a range of skills that is unique in France in terms of "advanced production technologies": design, integration and development of innovative processes for manufacturing complex parts and structures, developing and designing future factories. It is based on the complementary positioning of players and structures in technological research, collaborative R&D, SME/IET-oriented innovation, and high added-value technological transfers.

Research and training

A programme structured around the federations AtlanSTIC and Mathématiques des Pays de la Loire with a strong critical mass and an academic reputation in the fields of mathematics and information technology (decision, software, interaction), robotics and bio-IT. In terms of applications, the digital programme is particularly present in the region in the domain of health, the Internet of the future, advanced production technologies and the social sciences. It is supported by the CNRS and the Inria and is based on nationally-approved institutes of excellence: Labex CominLabs (IT) and Lebesgue (mathematics), IRT Jules Verne (the factory of the future) and B-Com (Internet of the future), Equipex Robotex (robotics).

Robotics is a field with great potential, developed by the IRCCyN laboratory that has expertise in production robotics, bio-inspired robotics, mobile robotics, humanoid robotics, on which expertise the Erasmus Mundus training in advanced robotics is based.

Innovation

The involvement of Digital players in the Images & Réseaux and EMC2 competitive hubs that led to the creation of the Jules Verne and B-Com IRTs testifies to their high degree of interaction with leading players in the telco, aeronautics and automobile sectors, and consolidates their skills and their potential for innovation. The development of creative and industrial industries is also an opportunity to develop digital creation and culture.

Moreover, the industrial fabric of the Pays de la Loire is characterized by a profusion of software companies, particularly in Web 2.0, free software and cloud computing, in interaction with a third sector that is very demanding in terms of large information systems and cloud computing.

The Clarté R&D platform on virtual reality deals with issues linked to computer-generated images, man-machine interactions and real-time multiprocessor IT.

The Electronics sector is also experiencing a boom: the West Electronic Network cluster lends added dynamism to the professional electronics sector numbering 25% of employment in French electronic industry, i.e 50 000 regional jobs.

Research

The region relies on the support of a high concentration of national academic forces (nearly 25% of national research in the domain), focussing on complex infrastructures, studies of the sustainability of works, managing seismic risks and the effect of wind on constructions.

A research programme is developing around:

• The LiRGeC (Institut Ligérien de Research en Génie Civil et Construction) scientific interest group; CSTB Nantes; GeM, Ecole Centrale de Nantes, IFSTTAR, Université de Nantes Observatoire Nantais de l’Environnement Urbain. Employing about 500 people, leading national laboratories (GeM, CERMA…). A configuration that is unique in Europe.
• The IRSTV (Institute for research in city sciences and techniques): 170 researchers, engineers and technicians.

Industry - Innovation

Research is naturally oriented toward public buildings and the works sector (one of the three major sectors in the regional economy), transport, roads and bridges, particularly thanks to the presence of the Nova Build cluster that brings together contracting authorities, engineering and planning consultancies, manufacturers of materials, architects, certification bodies, etc.

With the support of Pôle EMC2, the Technocampus and the IRT Jules Verne, good connections between scientific players and the industrial world (aeronautics, transport, energy).

Research

Nearly 950 researchers and teacher-researchers, fifty laboratories, 27 on a national level (2 A+; 25 A). 2 ERC Advanced Grant (agri-food law, development law, religious minorities in the Euro-Mediterranean space)

Acknowledged excellence in culture, heritage and tourism

• Regional collective programmes: NEOPAT; VALEUR
• The existence of very strong relations between societal Research and Innovation through many research and innovation programmes devoted to cities and heritage.
• A training dimension on an international level (2 masters A+)

Other programmes with regional and national visibility :

• « Otherness, identity, citizenship »
• « Sea and Shore »
• « Environment and territory »
• « Social links, collective actions and institutions »

An institute to receive international researchers in residence (institutes for advanced studies) and a regional structuring system ( (Maison des Sciences de l’Homme Ange Guépin).

Research

An excellent national reputation in the domain of regenerative medicine (10 units, 700 people) and internationally acknowledged expertise in biotherapies, nanomedicine, transplants, immunotherapy, cardiology, gene therapy, medical systems for reconstructing bones based on calcium phosphate (biomaterials), nuclear medicine.

A powerful structural dynamic with good international visibility:

• A significant increase in the workforce with the support of large organisations (INSERM, CNRS, INRA)
• The emergence of nationally-approved research centres and laboratories of excellence (LABEX IGO and IRON) and a University Hospital institute of excellence
• Several translational research programmes based on visible clinical platforms (2 Centres of Clinical Investigation, IbiSA-approved platforms, F‐CRIN, BioGenOuest)
• Teams that are highly involved in European or international programmes.

Industry - Innovation

High clinical appreciation: several tens of trials (phase I/II) at the Nantes and Angers sites.

Significant industrial appreciation with more than 20 academic and biotech spin-offs created in the last 15 years. The Atlanpole Biothérapies competitive cluster is driving this economic dynamic.

Research

An increasingly dynamic programme with, new to the region, two factories and an Alstom engineering centre for constructing offshore wind turbines, combined with the involvement of STX for installing these turbines on the seabed.

An ongoing academic structure developing around the following aspects: mechanics/structural materials, civil engineering, energy, Hydrodynamics and Fluid-Structure Interaction, with the support of considerable experimental means gathered in the LHEAA (ocean engineering, traction, wind tunnels, engine test benches, etc.), some of them unique in Europe.

More broadly, more than 10 laboratories working on Energy and innovative equipment being developed, particularly :

• A 1000 m² technical platform for Energy, Thermal Energy, Associated Materials and Processes,
• A PREVER (Research and Studies on Residue-to-energy conversion) platform.

A deliberate strategy in the Region (financing major research programmes) and the ongoing establishment of CEA Tech is accelerating the structuring of regional expertise

• Electrochemical energy storage (lithium batteries, supercapacitors): Presence in the region (IMN) of a large team with international visibility for materials for electrochemical energy storage. Contributing to the RS2E network and the Labex STORE-EX
• Photovoltaics for the development of organic photovoltaic cells (Moltech’Anjou) and hybrid organic-inorganic cells (CEISAM)
• Sustainable management of nuclear waste (Subatech)

Excellent structuring of research and a strong INRA presence in the region, around a unique organisation, the SFR QUASAV (9 laboratories, 400 people) and training (Agrocampus Ouest, ESA, Université d'Angers). Recognised expertise in vegetal biology applied to seeds and horticulture (IRHS laboratory): selection, genetics, physiology, phytopathology and plant architecture, sustainability, resistance to tree diseases, seed pathologies, biology and physiology of seeds, biology of parasite plants, nutritional and taste qualities, developing plants and their metabolites, including in urban milieu (particularly green walls).

Powerfully emergent programmes :

• Genomics and epigenomics of perennial and pathogenic species
• Metagenomics of microbial communities associated with seeds
• Phenotyping, of seeds and interactions with pathogenic plants

Industry - Innovation

A considerable capacity for innovation and experimentation thanks to the presence of the Végépolys competitive hub with an international vocation and many installations (IbiSA platform, phenotyping platform) and the presence of the INRA experimental units.

Moreover, the programme is based on a dense industrial fabric constituted by the major seed manufacturers (CLAUSE, LIMAGRAIN, VILMORIN), horticulture and arboriculture companies.

Research and training

A programme that covers a broad range of skills (production, transformation, consumption, with an original across-the-board programme for food quality and safety) with more than 20 laboratories, mobilising nearly 320 researchers. The powerful presence of the INRA and leading research units and equipment (BIA, GEPEA, IBiSA platforms).

Acknowledged skills on a national and international level for managing animal productions (epidemiology, risk analysis), biopolymer engineering and processes, food safety, food risk analysis, imprint of perinatal nutrition, sensometry, chemiometry.

A training offer structured around reference establishments: Agrocampus Ouest, ONIRIS, ESA. A nationally-approved (IDEFI) "Manimal" training excellence project for food safety co-supported by Oniris and the Nantes medical faculty.

Industry - Innovation

A strategic programme for the territory, in 2nd place on a national level for agriculture, animal and human nutrition and agro-equipment (more than 26,000 jobs).

Close links with the economic sphere maintained by competitive hubs and clusters Valorial, Végépolys, Nova Child, Cluster West and many supporting structures promoting research and innovation (PRI CAP ALIMENT, INRA Transfert, Instituts Carnot Santé Animale and Qualiment®, CTCPA, TECALIMAN).

A broad, transdisciplinary programme with strong links to renewable marine energy and naval programmes, comprising ten laboratories, 3 of which enjoy a national reputation with a global workforce of 500 people in the research federation Institut Universitaire Mer et Littoral. Acknowledged skills in marine biotechnologies, microalgae and marine micro-organisms.

Powerful regional positioning in marine industries: the naval sector with a focus on developing the ships of the future, developing renewable marine energy (particularly offshore wind energy). Alongside important economic players, innovation dynamics are ongoing (IRT Jules Verne, development of DCNS, installation of the CEA).

Acknowledged skills in marine biotechnologies and microalgae and marine micro-organisms, with good structural dynamics thanks to international-level projects: Greenstars, DéfiμALG, IFREMER institute for micro-algae (IMA), AlgaeBiomic (AMI ADEME)...