ALPHA-RLH members forum 2019: Europe celebrated around the new “Pôle de compétitivité” label

Submitted by Audrey Durand on 19 April 2019

The ALPHA-RLH members forum took place on March 21st 2019 in Latresnes, near Bordeaux (France). The event gathered cluster members, partners and funders of the ALPHA-RLH cluster. They celebrated together the start of the Phase IV of the French competitiveness cluster policy (2019-2022).

During that day, Europe was celebrated with the presentation of the European Cluster Collaboration Platform and several European projects in which the ALPHA-RLH cluster and its members are involved. Among those projects, PIMAP was presented to the audience. PIMAP (ESCP-4i label) is led by the ALPHA-RLH cluster and is supporting the adoption of photonics and microwave technologies for the development of advanced manufacturing and related industrial applications. This cross-sectoral cooperation aims to drive the industrial modernisation process in Europe and to provide a springboard for cluster SMEs as well as promoting European growth and innovation objectives through internationalisation. Two other projects carried out by cluster members, ALC (Aircraft Light Communications) on LiFi technology funded under the Horizon 2020 Clean Sky 2 programme.

The forum was labelled "EU Cluster Weeks". With a video speech, Ulla Engellmann, Head of Unit for Advanced technologies, Clusters and Social Economy, European Commission reminded the strategic role of clusters at the European level to support innovation. She congratulated Hervé Floch, CEO of the ALPHA-RLH for its European engagement through the “Association Française des Pôles de Compétitivité” (AFPC).

The action of ALPHA-RLH is structured around three pillars:

  • Innovation, through the support to R&D projects
  • Internationalisation of companies
  • Training

The ALPHA-RLH cluster emphasised the importance of European projects for the competitiveness and business development of companies and SMEs in peculiar. The cluster will further support its members to submit EU proposals along with European partners.

The event also allowed fruitful exchanges and networking among the participants. The attendees discovered the technologies and products developed by the cluster members and took part to the presentation of the strategic vision of the large companies of the cluster: Nexeya, Nehs, Thales Six GTS, Legrand and CILAS |ArianeGroup.

With the launch of the Phase IV of the Competitiveness cluster, a new chapter is open with great European and international perspectives for the ALPHA-RLH cluster and its members.

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