October 2011

Newsletter n° 4



« Innate Pharma, Pioneering Innate Immunity »
Jules Hoffmann was recently awarded the Nobel Prize in Medicine for his research into innate immunity, the first step in the body’s immune response. The Nobel Laureate has been working in the field alongside a pioneering company based in Marseilles, Innate Pharma. “This emerging field is the hot topic in the industry today. There’s a huge amount of interest in it,” says Hervé Brailly, the board’s chairman.
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« France Singapore Innovation Days: Thinking Tomorrow’s City Together »
Sustainable construction has taken off in Singapore, with the government aiming for 80% of green buildings by 2030. Within this context, the multi-sector “France Singapore Innovation Days” business forum taking place on November 2-3 will provide an opportunity to brainstorm on the city of tomorrow. This is particularly true since, despite the distance separating the two territories, strong similarities exist between them.
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« Sodexo Dominates World’s Canteens from Marseilles »
The world’s leading institutional foodservices group is based in Marseilles. Even though it has just won a huge contract with the US Army, it still remains attentive to the public’s demands and to the concerns of its local partners.

On August 8 last, Sodexo succeeded in doing what the Imperial Japanese Army could only dream of in 1941, establishing a beachhead in California! That day, the institutional foodservices group peacefully took over the mess halls of 20 Marine bases in the Western US.
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« Home Sweet Home to Woo California Clean Techs »
A charm offensive is being mounted for this Christmas aimed at Silicon Valley’s French entrepreneurs. The aim is to create a rapprochement between high-tech companies based either side of the Atlantic while enticing potential job creators back to France.
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« Marseilles WebFest: Take One! »
Marseilles’ Belle de Mai Media Park was the venue for first-ever web series festival on October 14 and 15 last, an event that brought together industry professionals and fans of these short films broadcast over the ‘Net. We take a closer look at a sector of the audiovisual industry that seems oblivious of the economic crisis …
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TECHNOFIRST, The world leader in noise and vibration reduction technologies

Set up in 1990 and based in Aubagne, Technofirst develops innovative solutions with applications notably in the automotive and aeronautics industries. It uses a technology that cancels out a noise by producing a counter-wave. The company’s considerable expertise has allowed it to expand into international markets with, again this year, important contracts being signed with major clients such as Porsche and Austria MicroSystems. Listed on the Paris Bourse’s “Marché Libre” and with 22 worldwide patents to its name, Technofirst is a certified FCPI (Fonds Commun de Placement dans l'Innovation) stock and qualifies for research tax credits (CIR).

ESTEC Conference October 20 & 21 in Marseilles

Organized by ESTIF and ENERPLAN, with sponsorship from the French ADEME agency, the 5th edition of the European Solar Thermal Energy Conference (ESTEC) was held in Marseilles on October 20 and 21 last. This key event, which brought together more than 350 leading stakeholders from the industry, was a perfect opportunity for attendees to find out about the latest market trends and to get up to date on changes in regulations and technical innovations.
For this two-yearly event, Provence Promotion teamed up with the Regional Council, Capenergies and the WOIC (Welcome Office for International Companies) to showcase the advantages the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur Region has to offer in the field of renewable energies.
The four organizations shared a stand under the common banner, “Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur; The future is being built here”. Businesses from the region were on hand to present their expertise in solar thermal energy production. As part of the gala dinner on the Thursday evening, a “tunnel of innovation” was installed to highlight the skills and innovation Provence has to offer in the field.

"Animation Made In France" Evening October 27, 2011 in Los Angeles

Film France is organizing the 2nd French audiovisual industry promotional evening in Los Angeles. Provence Promotion will be present alongside the PACA Regional Film Commission and seven French companies, nearly half of which will be from the region: Forge Animation, Action Synthèse and The Bakery. The twin aims of the evening will be to promote the leading French companies in the sector and to present the advantages, in particular financial, offered to international productions filming in the region. The program also includes the screening of films.

Marseille Fashion Week: An exclusive opportunity to discover the region’s top designers

The first edition of the MARSEILLE FASHION WEEK, Marseilles’ first fashion show, is being held on November 4 to 6, 2011.
The show’s ambition is to give the public the chance to discover the South of France’s leading name brands while at the same time giving them access to some very special prices.
It will also give professionals from the South of France’s fashion industry the opportunity to get together and highlight the dynamic nature of the textile sector in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur Region.
Amid glamorous surroundings and upon a sophisticated set, the exhibitors will present their always-innovative designs, with the audience able to watch a fashion show including both famous brands and the young designers who will become the fashion stars of tomorrow.
Produced by ICI Mode and organized in partnership with the Chambre Syndicale de l’Habillement de Marseille, the event’s financial partners include The PACA Regional Council, the City of Marseilles, the Marseille-Provence Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCIMP), Marseille Provence Métropole and Provence Promotion. The Syndicat de l’Industrie de l’Habillement Côte d’Azur and the Maison Méditerranéenne des Métiers de la Mode are the other professional bodies supporting the show.