Invest in France Agency north-america Office

The cluster aims to become a leading European center in the sector for ingredient characterization and evaluation

Advantages

The 4 sectors of the cluster are:

Aromatics sector in the Pays de Grasse region:

• 70 companies accounting for 65% of the total aromatics raw materials industry
• 3,500 direct jobs and 13,000 indirect jobs
• 650 million euros of turnover, including 70% from exports

Aromatic and medicinal plants in the PACA and Drôme Sud regions:

• 2,250 producers accounting for 60% of the national total
• 52% of national turnover of the sector, more than 85 million euros

Flavors and aromas in the Upper Provence region:

• Agricultural production using the AOC quality label (Appellation Origine Contrôlée)
• 70 companies
• 800 jobs

Cosmetics:

• 200 companies
• More than 5,000 jobs

Research and Education in the region
Research
- 46 laboratories
- 145 teams

Education
- 6 Universities
- 14 engineering schools with more than 4,000 students
- 6 University Technology Institutes (IUT)
with more than 8,000 students
- 8 business schools

Members

More than 90 members as of June 2008
Companies:  Nearly 70 of which over 80% are small-and-medium-sized enterprises (SME)
• French companies: Air Liquide, l’Occitane en Provence, Malongo, Groupe Nactis, Véolia, Arkopharma, Groupe Robertet, V. Mane & Fils etc.
• International companies: Bayer CropScience (Germany), Cargill (United States), David Michael&Co (United States), Firmenich (Switzerland), IFF/Laboratoire Monique Rémy etc.

Research and Educational Institutions
14 centers including: Laboratoire Chimie et Environnement, Laboratoire de Chimie des Molécules Bioactives of Nice-Sophia Antipolis, University of Avignon, University of Provence, University of  Corsica, University of Nice Sophia-Antipolis, European University of Flavors and Aromas (UESS) Forcalquier, ASFO Grasse, Ecole Supérieure de Commerce (IPAG) etc.

19 other organizations are also partners in the cluster including: General Councils of Bouches-du-Rhône, Maritime-Alps, Upper Provence-Alps, Drôme, and Upper Alps; Regional Council de PACA; Office des Plantes à Parfum, Aromatiques et Médicinales (ONIPPAM); Cosmed; Communauté d’Agglomération de Nice etc.

Current R&D partnerships (refer to appendix)

10 projects were approved between 2006 and mid-2008

Public funding examples:
• Approximately 3 million euros granted by the Interministerial Single Fund (Fonds Unique Interministériel or FUI) between 2005 and 2007

International partnerships

Current
Participation in the Technological Research and Development Program (PCRDT) to encourage SME internationalization

Future
Develop technology partnerships with various countries including Brazil, Russia, India, China, Israel and North African countries                                     
      

Appendix: Selection of certified R&D projects

• More information on pôle PASS