Midi-Pyrenees Expansion - Strategic Involvement in the Dynamics of the Competitiveness Cluster

Our agency's missions include structuring and supporting the comprehensive agricultural and agribusiness sectors, building relationships with industry, training and research.

This involvement, naturally led Midi-Pyrenees Expansion to join Alain Chatillon, project leader, in supporting the creation of a third competitiveness cluster in Midi-Pyrenees -- Agrimip Innovation.

From proposal….

From October 2005 to July 2006, our teams and those of Toulouse AgriCampus devoted their actions to elaborating, drafting, and fine-tuning the proposal for competitiveness cluster status, before transmitting it to the RegionalPrefecture, with a three-way goal:

- involving all of the territories of Midi-Pyrenees,
- integrating SMEs into this dynamic,
- mobilizing technical institutes, technology transfer centers, and training organizations

       … to seal of approval, on July 5, 2007, and the implementation of the Agrimip Innovation competitiveness cluster .

Agrimip Innovation finally received its seal of approval after several months of waiting.  During this time, and now with the establishment of the cluster, Midi-Pyrenees Expansion has provided its expertise to serve Agrimip Innovation, aiding it to define its organization and missions, pursue the mobilization of regional resources focused on R&D projects to favor the integration of different links (from upstream -- production of agri-resources -- to downstream -- food and non-food processing), to ensure the promotion of this cluster at the international level.

"We started nearly a year ago.  The President of the Regional Council showed immediate interest in this project initiated by CESR, which perfectly corresponds to the region's orientations, particularly in terms of innovation and coverage.  The agricultural and agribusiness sector is in fact the only industry present in every corner of Midi-Pyrenees.  Martin Malvy, President of the Region, therefore asked MPE to take responsibility for this project, which the agency did, with a great deal of skill.  Midi-Pyrenees Expansion played a role, both in terms of initiation and support, and this project was clearly developed in an atmosphere of consensus.  Today, work continues, with the ongoing strong commitment of Midi-Pyrenees Expansion."

Alain Chatillon, President of Nutrition & Santé, President of Agrimip Innovation