Invest in France Agency nordic-countries Office

• Tenerrdis boosts partnerships between companies, the research world, education and training centers, and institutions to create projects that increase skills, business and jobs.

• Tenerrdis gives priority to research projects based on public-private partnerships, support for small and medium-sized businesses and industries, creation of jobs, expansion of skills and training (part of a national program for promoting skills in the energy technology field) at home and abroad.

• Five R&D programs have been set up by the cluster: solar power and construction, network management, biomass energy, hydrogen and fuel cells and hydro power.

Advantages

- Rhone-Alps is one of the top 10 regions on the European Union for wealth creation:
•    5th for scientific and technological potential
•    7th for Gross Domestic Product (GDP)
•    9th for patents registered

No. 1 French region for energy production

- Energy Sector in the Rhone-Alps area

Companies and Talent       
More than a quarter of French businesses in the sector are located in the Rhone-Alpes area.
Potentially 15,000 skilled personnel will be added within the next 5 years.

Research
More than 1,000 researchers in the field of renewable energy and energy management
Major research centers: CEA, CNRS, CSTB, INES, IFP and several universities.   

Share of National Energy Production
22% of primary energy
25% of electricity
42% of hydroelectric
50% of solar thermal
38% of photovoltaic

- A privileged position in the Renewable Energy field:
•    Solar power: the biggest number of solar thermal and photovoltaic installations in France.
•    Biomass: 2nd biggest forestry area in France
•    Hydropower: Historical role due to the presence of alpine resources
•    Hydrogen and fuel cells: first-rate scientific potential with 300 people working in public research facilities in this sector.

Members

- 210 (of which more than half are businesses and around 60% are small- and medium sized businesses)
- Tenerrdis includes businesses all sizes (including Schneider Electric, Alstom Power Hydro, 2ES 38, Faure Ingénierie and Photowatt), centers of competence (including the CEA, Grenoble INP and the University of Savoie), local authorities (including the Rhone-Alps region, the general councils of the Rhône, Isère, Drôme and Savoie and the greater Grenoble communities (communauté d’agglomération)) plus associations and other organizations (including the CCI (Chambers of commerce and industry), economic development agencies and Points Info Energie).

Current collaborative R&D projects (refer to appendix)

- 227 projects were certified between 2005 and mid-2008, of which approx. 50% have received funding

- Public funding examples:
• 65 million euros granted by the National Research Agency (Agence Nationale de la Recherche or ANR) between 2005 and 2008
• Nearly 9 million euros allocated by the Single Interministerial Fund (Fonds Unique Interministériel or FUI) between 2005 and 2008
• Almost 5 million euros provided by local authorities in the Rhone-Alps region between 2005 and 2008

International partners

- Eurêka EUROGIA cluster
- European KIS-PIMS project (renewable energy services)
- Candidate for the European PITER project (Rhône-Alpes, Piemont, Environment Park, Tenerrdis)
- Cooperation with the Colombus network (Europe/Latin America)
- Tenerrdis is also involved in a national scheme for collaboration between renewable energy clusters launched in June 2008, upon the signing of a cooperation charter with the Capenergies (PACA), Derbi (Languedoc Roussillon) and S2E2 (Centre) competitiveness clusters relating to a joint action program, including energy missions abroad (India, Spain, USA, etc.).

Appendix: Certified R&D project examples

• More information on Tenerrdis