Technocampus Alimentation TCA
About this good practice
The Food Technocampus aims to receive all regional compagnies (or other economic stakeholders) and respond to their expectations in terms of support for innovation (search for partners, funding, etc.).
Moreover, this Technocampus is part of a broader network composed of other Technocampuses (specialized in VR or composite material for example). That inter-site collaboration will also enable to achieve bigger projects, promoting the digitalization or the robotization of the agrifood sector.
• Problem addressed: to consolidate a regional innovation ecosystem and promote exchanges between research and business.
• How does the practice reach its objectives: Accommodation in one place of different types of structures; animation of these structures; promotion of the building (events, visits, provision of rooms ...).
• How is it implemented: The Regional Council is the owner of the building and delegates its management to the Regional Agency.
Technocampus is not an incubator.
The Technocampus is both a building and an offer of support (Promotion, knowledge sharing, conviviality moments… ). Its services will be updated in early 2021 with a new set proposed to the hosts of the building, thanks to a new road map.
Expert opinion
Technocampus Alimentation (TCA) is an innovation centre in the agri-food sector located in Nantes, Pays de Loire, in France. The innovation centre works as an anchor building space to house organisations and actors in the agri-food sector such as Food Development Group, WEENAT, Capsulae, IFRIA, Ligeria... The innovation infrastructure is located at the centre of an agri-food innovation ecosystem with INRA (National Institute for Agronomic Research), ONIRIS (National Veterinary, Agrifood and Food School) and the Loire-Atlantique Chamber of Agriculture. The innovation centre provides supports for the development of technical solutions, training services, fund-searching assistance, events, and collaborative spaces, including a laboratory for prototyping and testing. The innovation infrastructure was inaugurated in 2018 and was financed through public funds (ERDF, Nantes Metropole, the Regional Council).
Insights from the good practice:
- The good practice illustrates the role of innovation infrastructures to anchor the innovation process, in this case in the agri-food sector. It highlights the importance to provide support services with top-notch demonstrators in addition to innovation infrastructures.
Resources needed
5 M€ of initial investment (building). Then, around 200 000 € each year for dynamisation of the site.
Public funding (ERDF, Nantes metropolis, Regional Council…) ; skill of management ; willingness to exchange
Evidence of success
• 100% occupied building
• Exchanges between tenants: all companies, start-ups and organizations hosted share spaces (lunch room, meeting room, labs). These daily exchanges facilitate collaboration and emulation among them.
• Different structures are hosted on the site. In addition, spaces are available to host other companies.
Example of a project taken place because two SMEs are located in the same building: Food 4 Sight was created thanks to the proximity and desire to create this event
Potential for learning or transfer
Potential for learning through feedback from the Regional Council, and local tenants => study visits to the TCA.
High replication potential. The purpose of the structure is to bring together actors of agrifood, innovation and digitalization sectors.
Further information
Website
Good practice owner
You can contact the good practice owner below for more detailed information.
Conseil Régional Pays de Loire