On March 3rd 2010, Solaref was awarded the «Actine Strategies Innovact» Prize, aiming to reward innovative young companies.
Solaref designs refregerated cabinets working on thermic solar energy, independantly from electric or electronic systems. These products are well suited for emerging hot countries such as Burkina Faso, Togo or Senegal. Their distribution there is a source of local employment: it is «cooperative trade», as manager Olivier Dervaux puts it.
This Prize, endowed with 200 000 € in services, is meant to develop and raise the company’s profile. Solaref will then be able to set up a communication strategy to make itself known to the big European private firms acting as patrons in Southern countries.
Established in the company breeding ground of Savoie Technolac, Solaref has benefitted from its support ever since it was created. And it is thanks to its encouragement that the company went in for the contest.
More info

On Friday February 26th, Savoie Technolac received 12 members of the Bolzano Italian delegation, counting among them elected officials and decision-makers, and representatives of the TIS Innovation Park project.
Initiating deep thinking over the future of their region, this delegation watches European good practices attentively. The technopole was thus pointed out as a model for the quality of its development.
Possible partnerships on sustainable energies and the energetic efficiency of buildings were talked of.
As for Savoie Technolac, this visit is a good opportunity to bond with close European actors.

Since 1992, Maq 2 has specialized in creating scale models and prototypes on various scales.
Museography, city planning, industry, design and architecture rank among its areas of expertise. Thus, it can set up exhibition sites and museums over several sqm. 
In the industrial field, Maq 2 is an all-rounder: electrical goods industry, automotive sector, health…
Maq 2 also works on the conception of mechanical, electronic, and light animations.
To be remembered in 2009, the creation of scale models, settings and manipulations for the Musée Michelin (Clermont-Ferrand). In the spring 2010, it will carry out water works and manipulations for Terra Botanica (an amusement park in Angers).
Learn more about the activities of Maq 2

Origine, a company created in 2004, has specialized in the marketing of ‘eko-logic shop to shop’ lines of products. Those products are designed for all retail outlets, going from small corner shops to hypermarket distribution.
Their distinctive feature? The plastic made of PET (polyethylene terephtalate) composing them, comes from recyclable and recycled products like, for instance, water bottles. This is the way shopping trolleys and baskets – among others – offering thoroughly-studied ergonomics, elegant design and a guarantee of total ecology, are created.
To date, Origine distributes its products on an international scale and provides equipment for over 1000 retail outlets.
Note in 2010, the launching of ‘Eko84’: a wheeled basket with telescopic handles.
To learn more

Since November 2009, TechSet Innovation, an engineering, structural, and design office specialized in composite materials, has reinforced the composite pole of Savoie Technolac, moving closer to COMPOSITEC, Poytech Savoie and other engineering offices.
Its vocation: to develop forward-looking projects, from scratch up to the prototype’s validation, and to follow them up until starting a production run.
TechSet Innovation operates in many different areas such as the medical sector for the Institut Curie, aeronautics, sport and leisure, and port installations, among others.
Their bonus: their workshop has a 5-axis machine for the cutting of polystyrene. So that they can make models used for the building of composite casts, some point-of-sale promotion, decoration elements used in theater settings, some model-making…
Note: Action Composite, a subsidiary of TechSet Innovation, offers a la carte formations in the field of composite materials.
Find out more about TechSet Innovation

During the last Environmental Ministers' G8 in April 09, France launched the idea of an energy independence program for Africa, based on the exploitation of clean, accessible energy sources, funded with 400 billion euros over 20 years. In this context, a new field of cooperation is opening up between Europe and Africa, via a partnership that Savoie Technolac is setting up with the International Water and Environmental Engineering Institute of Ouagadougou in Burkina Faso. This international establishment for higher education and research created 40 years ago by 14 French-speaking countries trains students of over 30 nationalities today. Recognized by the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA), la Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD), this Institute intends to become the first center for excellence in renewable energies for sub-Saharan Africa.
A partnership agreement has just been signed, focused on the following objectives:
- the development of the solar sector, in partnership with the CEA/INES,
- support for the development of energy control, in partnership with the University of Savoie,
- support for the creation and development of start-ups, in partnership with Savoie Technolac and its Business Incubator.
Contact for further info: international@savoie-technolac.com

La Base (The base) is the companies’ incubator in Savoie Technolac. It supports the young innovative enterprises since their creation, in particular in the solar and renewable energies’ field.
In the core of this skills hub, companies can enjoy a diversified support along with humans and logistics means that are made available to them. The « Base Académie » offers personalized training programs which are useful for young entrepreneurs. It also offers access to the connections of experts and partners of the Technopole network.Want to innovate?

Here is the new process developed by the Solaref company to create refrigerators which are 100% ecological and work without consuming any energy, except from that of the sun. Designed with two main parts, a solar sensor and an ice box, this fridge doesn’t require any maintenance. The only drawback in using it is the need for a lot of sunshine.
The Solaref project is not only innovative, but also participates to the expansion of fair trade by creating jobs in developing countries, like for instance Burkina Faso or Morocco.
Local units in these countries are responsible for the building, the installation and the customer service of these fridges.
An initiative already rewarded by many prizes!
Get more about it

Since September 2009, the INES (National Institute of Solar Energy) has been welcoming 10 students from the new professional Bachelor diploma “Industrial Innovation and Development”. These students are paid by INES and follow a part-time training at the university of Savoie. This new diploma has been set up in partnership with the Institute for the Development of Industrial Projects (IPDI).
This training is also offering something to professionals : the 2010 schedule of professional development training events on Photovoltaic Solar Energy can be viewed online. Don’t forget to register !
Soon the INES internet site will also have the 2010 professional development training events on Energy Control and Thermal Solar Energy.
For more informations, please go to : http://www.ines-solaire.com/formations.htm

Focused on the theme of renewable energies, less than one month after a visit by the Minister of the Environment, Jean-Louis Borloo, is the ultimate recognition of Savoie as the leading French region in solar energy. After congratulating us on the success of the National Institute for Solar Energy (INES), Nicolas Sarkozy urged us to pursue our goals and assured us of the full backing of the French state for its further development, especially phase 2, with €200M investment. The challenge we are facing is paramount from both the economic and ecological standpoint. Solar energy offers extraordinary employment opportunities due to its rapid growth and the enormous prospects offered by its multiple applications. We must pursue our goal to make the INES one of the leading international solar energy centers, thereby consolidating Savoie’s position at the heart of the sustainable development challenges facing France, Europe and the world.

While the opening of our Business Incubator’s new premises, specifically dedicated to innovative enterprises in the new and renewable energy sources sector, expands the park’s capacity to host innovative start-ups, Savoie Technolac offers business support to companies both on and off site. By creating an incubator for very small businesses cooperating with the INES, or technological start-up projects directly linked to renewable energies and green building, the ID Lab concept encourages the entrepreneurship of students which  “enables researcher-entrepreneurs to meet with professionals specializing in this type of business support, creating strong ties between universities, research entities and start-up projects” says Hervé Laurent, director of Savoie Technolac Business Incubator.
This determination to provide “twofold support” is expressed in the Base Académie program which has enabled Savoie Technolac to provide assistance at each stage of the incubation process, providing buildings, engineering, advice, personalized and collective support, and training by a network of experts (leadership seminars, sales and financial support.

The Incubator’s new premises, specifically dedicated to innovative enterprises in the new and renewable energy sources sector, with particular focus on solar businesses, will be inaugurated this autumn. A multi-functional building, where reception/event areas, modular offices and workshops, and areas for demonstrations and project presentations are available in order to resolve the logistical problems new innovative companies sometimes face.. As well as providing premises, the incubation programme includes customized coaching, financial engineering and technical support, in cooperation with the Savoie CleanTech Business Angels and the National Institute for Solar Energy which is ideally located just across from the Incubator. So far, two companies have graduated from the programme and the Solar Business Incubator concept has just won the European Business Network (EBN) competition in the category “Small but global business”.

The Savoie Technolac Inter-company mobility plan - “Mobilac” - is a programme of action to accompany the resident organisations in changing their transport habits. The aim is to encourage people to choose alternative, cleaner modes of transport than cars for travel between home and work and work-related travel. All the actions are geared towards optimising public transport, car sharing, the setting up of a car pool, encouraging the use of bicycles and walking and the improvement of services during the lunch break.
Further info from: www.savoie-technolac.com “green is good” section.

A new inter-company crèche was inaugurated with 55 places for children between 2½ months and three years old. Some of the staff are English-speaking, to facilitate the integration of foreign residents. This is a first in France, as the service is primarily intended for very small companies located within the park.