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Maritime competitiveness clusters

Of the 71 clusters of competitiveness given the seal of approval by the French government, the maritime competitiveness clusters of Brittany and Provence- Alpes-Côte-d’Azur have, since July 2005, been part of the international clusters or those orientated towards international development.

They both share the same objectives and often combine forces to stimulate growth and employment in regions with a stake in maritime activities and to boost French maritime excellence at an international level. They have begun an original process to create dynamic projects in each region through partnerships and cooperation.



Les Pôles de compétitivité Mer Bretagne et PACA

Effective collaboration for a shared maritime ambition

The aim of the Maritime Clusters is to develop facilities and services offering real technological breakthroughs in world markets in response to the emerging needs of security and sustainable development.

More than six years of experience lie behind the choice of the two main planks in the strategy defined by the Maritime Clusters on their creation: "safety, security" and "sustainable development".

Real drivers of innovation for the maritime economy, these two clusters focus on 5 fields of activity:

  • maritime safety and security,
  • shipbuilding and water sports,
  • marine energy resources,
  • marine biological resources,
  • the environment and coastal management.

The Brittany and Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur Maritime Clusters: Two hubs of economic development and competitiveness, linked by aims, modus operandi and coordinated systems of governance. Initially recognised by the French government in 2005, their status was fully approved in 2008.

Their aims:

  • To encourage the emergence of innovative collaborative projects and support them in the search for funding.
  • To act as an agency of sustainable economic growth implementing an integrated maritime policy.
  • To provide a platform for a consistently expanding, dynamic network of over 670 members, 60% of them SMEs, bringing together key elements of French Marine Science and Technology research and representing 100,000 jobs.
  • To provide two clusters with strong local bases and with complementary spheres of activity covering both maritime coastlines of mainland France, as well as with links with overseas territories and a developing network at an international level.

Over 336 collaborative, officially recognised projects "Pôle Mer" totalling over € 850 M in R&D.

Maritime Cluster flagship projects:

Voilier du Futur Project overseen by the Brittany Maritime Cluster

Theme: ‘Shipbuilding and leisure boatbuilding‘.

Voilier du Futur which will bring together 22 collaborative projects, will be a demonstrator boat for innovative eco-technologies. A showcase for French expertise at major international exhibitions, it will also play the role of laboratory for new technologies and will contribute to the boatbuilding industry’s strategic discussions.

Lastly, it will help promote eco-navigation and will use learning to sail as a means of learning about life and of sensitively exploring the marine environment.

CEEMP Project overseen by the Provence- Alpes-Côte d’Azur Maritime Cluster

Theme: ‘Ocean energy resources’.

The development of scientific observatories submarines and offshore fields in deep and ultra deep and the development of marine renewable energy, require the design, implementation and testing of underwater equipment and many innovative and complex systems, where French industrialists are heavily involved, particularly in the PACA region.

The test center and know deep (CEEMP) will allow all developers of systems, equipment and subsea equipment for the PACA region but also national and international, to conduct tests and demonstrations in scale, at marginal cost (no support ship) and unconstrained forecast.

MCGS Project jointly recognised and overseen by the Brittany and Provence- Alpes-Côte d’Azur Maritime Clusters

Theme: ‘Marine energy resources’.

Directed by CLS company, the aim of the MCGS project, which falls within the context of the European Space Agency’s (ESA) deployment of Sentinel mission satellites, is to define and establish a protot ype centre of exper tise producing information on the maritime sector. The collaborative maritime centre will be developed around three platforms: ocean colour, ocean topography and wind/wave and current products. Research on these different topics will make it possible to set up operational services targeting a wide community of private and institutional users.

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