Côte d'Azur
Innovative cluster in Aerospace and Defense in France

The regional aeronautics and space cluster pools together major world-class contractors as well as a dynamic network of over 200 subcontractors, working in close partnership with the research and education institutes present in the region to set the pace for new developments and innovative projects.

Ambitious developments for tomorrow?s mission aircrafts

The Côte d'Azur region presents a large spectrum of industrial and innovative capabilities to invent, design and create tomorrow's mission aircrafts: drones, dirigeables, aeropters, helicopters, green aviation, ultra light aircraft?

The innovative objectives are also set to develop new applications, new materials and innovative tools, using sophisticated embedded intelligent systems to simplify tomorrow?s usages. The region is home to major innovative projects such as:

  • Sophisticated 3D data systems to design new aircrafts or new materials,
  • Intelligent "see and avoid" advanced technologies on-board drones for either civilian or military applications,
  • Technologies applied for advanced protection on more-electric/more composite aircrafts
  • Green technologies for a green aviation : APACHE project developing a hybrid "fuel-cell/batteries" engine

The conquest of the space universe is also part of the regional adventure, thanks to the presence of Thales Alenia Space in Cannes and its many specialized companies. On May 14th, Herschel and Planck satellite observatories, designed and built by Thales Alenia Space, were successfully launched to conquer the coldest parts of the universe.

Major companies in upstream markets

Infoterra
A division of EADS Astrium Services, and a recognized leader in image processing applied to mapping and geographical information systems for environmental and risk management applications
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Orolia
A European high-technology company, ranked Nber 3 worldwide in high-precision time-frequency systems
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Thales Alenia Space
World leader in satellite systems dedicated to telecommunications, observation, navigation, security and defence solutions
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Temex
The global expert in frequency components and subsystems for the aeronautics, space and defence industries
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PEGASE: the competitiveness cluster dedicated to aeronautics
The PEGASE cluster was labelled in 2007 as the regional cluster in France dedicated to new applications in the aeronautics and space industries. It works in close collaboration with Astech and Aerospace Valley, the other 2 clusters in France in the aerospace industry.
Pegase competitiveness cluster

Key figures

100 membership companies
8 world-class contractors


Companies:

Acri, Akka, Altran, Ausy, Benomad, Cobra Automotive Technologies, Dassault Systems, Elg, EPCOS, Geoimage, Geosat, GFI, Grooviz, Infoterra, EADS, Kuantic, One Too, Orolia, RASI, ,ScaiTech, SeaSatCom, Simplysim, Sita Equant, Sopra Group, Soditech, SpaceEyes, Studiel Ingemeca, Systems' ViP, Temex, Thales Alenia Space, Thales Underwater Systems, UDCast, Visteon

They chose the Côte d'Azur

"Sophia-Antipolis is a very attractive region for any semiconductor company, for several reasons. The first one is that in the technology park of Sophia-Antipolis there is a solid tradition of analog and digital design, which is due to the presence of other big companies working in the same or similar markets, like Texas Instruments, Intel, STM and others. The second reason is linked to presence in the technology park of the Polytech'Nice-Sophia and other important schools.

That will guarantee our future growth since the region will always offer both experienced design engineers and you talents to hire."

Interview with Paolo Cusinato, Design Director of MAXIM Sophia-Antipolis design center

Talents

"For me, Sophia Antipolis is unique in Europe because of its multicultural nature which is evident daily, but also the concentration of a multitude of companies from the computing world in a single location."

Interview with Davide NOARO, Computer Engineer, Ausy, Sophia Antipolis

Our Experts

Jean-François CHAPPERON

•Inward Investments Manager

chapperon
+ 33 (0)4 92 17 51 58 ↵

Jean-François CHAPPERON was appointed in 2008 as Inward Investment Manager within the Business Unit in charge of  Information Technologies. Jean-François' direct responsibility covers Microelectronics & StatNav /ITS sectors.
Previously, Jean-François was responsible of Asian & Middle East markets for TEAM COTE D'AZUR. His major tasks included supervision of Asia Representative Office & Definition, Execution & Budgeting of Strategic Marketing Policies of Côte d'Azur area and Sophia-Antipolis International Science Park in Asia (Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Taïwan, China, India, Singapore , Malaysia, Middle East region).
He holds a Master Degree in Economics with a specialization in Marketing Management from the Institute for Business Administration of The Nice Sophia Antipolis University.

Key fact & figures

 

100 membership companies
8 world-class contractors
Pegase Competitiveness cluster

 

Companies:
Acri, Akka, Altran, Ausy, Benomad, Cobra Automotive Technologies, Dassault Systems, Elg, EPCOS, Geoimage, Geosat, GFI, Grooviz, Infoterra, EADS, Kuantic, One Too, Orolia, RASI, ,ScaiTech, SeaSatCom, Simplysim, Sita Equant, Sopra Group, Soditech, SpaceEyes, Studiel Ingemeca, Systems' ViP, Temex, Thales Alenia Space, Thales Underwater Systems, UDCast, Visteon

 

Usefull Links :

EGNOS Newsletter

Who’s Who on the Côte d'Azur : The Satnav Cluster

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