Within our broader mission of supporting businesses to start up, innovate and grow, the Savoie Technolac strategy has several main components, including:

Catalysing and facilitating local business growth

Savoie Technolac is one of the best known science and technology parks in south eastern France. We enjoy an excellent reputation as a place where technological excellence and entrepreneurial spirit have helped build a strong local economy. Underpinning all our activities is the principle of synergy between the businesses, research organizations and higher education institutions located at the site. Our role is therefore to act as a catalyst, to facilitate interaction between all the resident communities and to help them achieve their shared goals.

Providing a comprehensive business support package

On top of excellent physical infrastructures and a quality working environment we have put in place at Savoie Technolac a comprehensive business support service. In particular, our CleanTech Business Incubator provides the essential support any new solar or eco-technology business or research spin-out project needs. But we also know that a successful business is not just about what happens between 9 am and 6 pm. For each new resident, our team acts as a one-stop shop providing a tailor-made support package covering both business and everyday needs.

Supporting the Savoie solar energy cluster

Savoie is one of the French leaders for solar energy use and also home to leading players in the French solar energy sector. Local stakeholders are determined to position Savoie as a European reference in the solar thermal and photovoltaic sector through the development of the science and technology park dedicated to solar energy. The National Institute for Solar Energy (INES), set up on the park in 2006 as a collaborative centre of excellence, reflects this local ambition. With such a strong research base but also with the presence of leading companies such as IBC Solar AG, Cervin or Novasic, Savoie Technolac can already boast a powerful knowledge based cluster, and can therefore provide a stimulating environment for any new solar energy venture interested in the French market. Moreover, as an integral part of TENNERDIS, the French national government backed competitiveness cluster specializing in renewable energies, Savoie Technolac is in a position to benefit from the backing and resources of France’s ambitious national cluster development strategy.

Expanding our sustainable development community

From its inception in 1985 to the present day, our park has been developed in a spirit of harmony with the surrounding Alpine environment. Today, this spirit is integral to our corporate strategy. Beyond a clear industrial focus on solar energy, we are also supporting the development of an environmentally sound technologies sector. On top of this, Savoie Technolac has put in place an environmental management system (EMS) for the site’s activities and since 2001 we have been certified ISO 14001.

Moreover, the companies sharing our park collaborate on environmental actions within an ambitious voluntary partnership called ECOLAC. These collective actions include in particular waste recycling, reducing water consumption and energy use, and reducing the amount of dangerous waste produced.

Building worldwide connections

At Savoie Technolac we understand the importance of being connected to the world and its emerging opportunities and we are already home to a large number of foreign-owned international companies. It is therefore our aim to build on our historical links with the business support communities in other regions which have similar development aspirations, such as California, Quebec, or our Alpine neighbours. This is one way in which we help connect Savoie based companies with organizations operating in the fields of renewable energies and cleantech sectors around the world, and thereby with new technological developments, new markets, and new business opportunities.