Provence Industry'Nov: economic opportunities for industrial growth

Call for Expressions of Interest issued, for a period of 6 months in Provence

On Monday, April 16th, 2018, the official Call for Expressions of Interest (CEI) was issued for “Provence Industry'Nov”, the aim of which is to encourage a revival of the industrial sector in Provence. The initiative's public and private partners mobilized to make available roughly 205 acres (83 hectares) of land and to offer specific support for businesses to select this location for their operations in key sectors like bioindustry, new energies and the circular economy. The energy transition is upon us, and Provence Industry'Nov's partners are committed to participating in this effort and examining all projects capable of contributing to the achievement of the COP21 climate objectives. The signing of the partnership charter was presided over by Jean-Claude Gaudin and took place before more than 180 guests, who were invited to learn about the opportunities created by this CEI.

Provence Industry’Nov is based on the joint desire of manufacturers and institutions to witness a resurgence of the productive economy in a region whose history was shaped by industry. A working group formed to address bioindustry challenges constituted the initial basis for this unique collaborative effort.

The metropolitan district of Aix-Marseille-Provence issued the CEI at the Palais du Pharo in Marseille. Its intended audience is companies with a focus on the circular economy and new systems of production.

Provence Industry'Nov's* partners believe that in the near future, industry will be able to use new technologies to combine economic and environmental performance. The partners have identified high-potential markets that are positioned to drive this transformation (biomass, biorefining, biofuel, biopolymers, etc.)

With a view towards shifting research and curricula in this new direction, an invitation to participate in this initiative has been extended to the local academic community of researchers and students from Grandes Écoles and from Aix-Marseille-Université.

This CEI is open to French and foreign companies seeking to tackle the challenge of sustainable development in industry, in a region ripe for innovation; it will remain so until October 31st.

Concrete and structured offerings for businesses

Provence Industry-Nov is making available an extensive land offering structured around 3 industrial platforms: Piicto, La Mède and the Petrochemical center in Berre.

Specifically, this includes roughly 205 acres (83 hectares) of land located roughly 19 miles west of Marseille in the Port of Marseille Fos area. It is an area characterized by the presence of manufacturing and port activity, with more than 350 businesses operating locally.

This mechanism encourages sharing energy and logistical flows. Its sites were chosen for their Plug, Start & Share program, which makes it easy for businesses to choose to locate in the area and launch their operations, joining the existing industrial ecosystem.

In Aix-Marseille-Provence, large corporations, small and medium-sized businesses, and start-ups are already working together to develop the solutions of the future in different sectors (Henri-Fabre in metallurgy, The Camp in energy and the environmental, etc.) Several innovative projects like Jupiter 1000 and Vasco 2 are currently under way at the Piicto site.  The Call for Expressions of Interest from Provence Industry'Nov should help to further pursue new synergies.

*The partners of the Provence Industry'Nov CEI are the Region of Provence-Alpes-Côtes d’Azur, the Région Préfecture, the metropolitan area of Aix-Marseille, the Port of Marseille Fos, Kem One, Total, LyondellBasell, Piicto, Novachim, the CCI Marseille Provence and Provence Promotion.