© Région des Pays de la Loire – Ouest Médias – P. Minier
350 researchers, 17 000 sq. metres and a €50m. investment. Building began this week on the Technocampus Océan research hub, destined to be a major centre of innovation in the marine technologies. Located on the outskirts of Nantes, the hub will play a key role in the region’s marine renewable energies ecosystem.
Cast her away! Eagerly awaited by shipbuilding and marine renewable energies professionals alike, Technocampus Océan’s first foundation stone was laid this Wednesday.
Numerous teams and their equipment will assemble at the Bougenais site on the outskirts of Nantes. Public bodies and private enterprises, industry and the academy, businesses large and small ; all will intermingle in a research centre designed to encourage sharing and exchange.
The required funding of almost €40m. has come principally from the local authorities and the European Union, while the industrial and academic partners will fit it out with state-of-the-art equipment to the tune of €15m.
The research centre hopes to respond to the technological challenges of the shipbuilding and marine renewable energies sectors (alloys and metal structures designed for marine conditions, computer simulation tools, production robots, etc.) and is aiming for an international profile.
Several major industrial players will be represented: between them STX, Alstom, Dassault Systems and DCNS Research have already reserved almost 50% of the planned floor space. The building work should be completed by spring 2015.
