In front of the downturn which is hitting the worldwide Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) industry with its stream of restructuring and layoffs, what are the assets of the Sophia Antipolis area to better resist than other technology parks?
The Riviera ICT cluster has indeed strong specific features which will limit
DATE 09 – Nice Acropolis the effects of the recession, and notably the presence in the same place, and within the same economic community, of all the links of the value chain, from components design to usage.
As an example, while Texas Instruments was disengaging from some of its mobile phone activities, INTEL announced the opening of a new design center in Wireless technologies, reporting into its Ultra Mobility Group which is developing very low-consumption components for mobile PCs (UMPCs and MIDs). The new unit’s mission will be to design RF subsystems for communicating mobile objects.
The Sophia Antipolis MicroElectronics (SAME) association, which brings together the major players of the microelectronics industry in the Sophia Antipolis area around various projects such as SAME forum, « Promotion of Engineer careers » or the dedicated support to local start-ups, is a major contributor to the dynamism of this sector in the region.
The public institutions, in close cooperation with education and research organisations and with corporations, are supporting the development of the microelectronics industry in the area through several actions such as the creation of the ARCSIS CIM PACA Design platform, a very efficient tool for designing innovative components and supporting small and medium companies as well as start-ups. The platform is also currently working with the local economic development agency, Team Côte d’Azur, to create a state-of-the-art business incubator.
During this session, various actors of the Sophia Antipolis success story, including the competitiveness cluster « Secured Communicating Solutions », will explain how they are involved in the development of the ITCs in the science park and how they can support the establishment of new companies in the business park whether they are start-ups or local antennas of existing companies. Also the representative of a recently created start-up which benefited from this support will give a testimony.
After the various presentations and the answers to the questions from the audience a cocktail will be offered to the participants by Team Côte d’Azur, the Riviera’s development agency.
Program:
Welcome introduction:
Jean-Pierre Mascarelli – Team Côte d’Azur President, Vice-President, in charge of economic development of the Alpes-Maritimes General Council
Introduction and discussion leadership:
Jacques-Olivier Piednoir – Cadence, President of SAME Association
Speakers:
Marc Vodovar – Insight SiP co-founder
Pierre Bricaud – Synopsys Director – ARCSIS Design Platform CEO
Georges Falessi – General Manager – Secured Communicating Solutions (SCS) cluster
Gilles Jacquemod – Polytech’Nice-Sophia – ARCSIS Design Platform President
