TEAM Henri-Fabre

Technologies & Expertise in Advanced Manufacturing

TEAM Henri-Fabre supports companies of all sizes, enabling them to share their resources, capabilities, skills and expertise. With expertise spanning the energy, medical, aeronautical, naval and transport sectors, this unique private-public initiative plays an important role in the economy of the South Provence-Alps-Côte d'Azur region.

The project in brief

At the 4th Regional Industry Conference in October 2011, the participants were of one opinion: it is vitally important for companies working at the heart of the industrial ecosystem to have access to the latest structures and resources so that they can perfect their skills and grow towards the projects of the future. An examination of the concept of the “Extended Enterprise” led to a joint, collaborative initiative to create a pool of the resources and experience of various economic and regional players (industrial companies, research institutes, training institutions, associations, local government, etc.)

Project goals

The TEAM Henri-Fabre initiative supports a variety of actions and operates at several levels.

• Introduce a new industrial model: more collective and collaborative, driven by innovation and technological opportunities. This will enable teams meeting in shared centers to develop innovative solutions and create a new quality-driven relationship focused on the collaboration between clients, subcontractors, economic development agents and employment/training agents.
• Boost the performance of this new industrial network: Give all partners the opportunity to become more competitive. Encourage SMEs and start-ups to develop new ways of working and support the growth of major clients.
• By joining TEAM Henri-Fabre, SMEs gain access to the latest expertise and R&D tools. They can also be put in contact with key players in the region, obtain training and share their knowledge.

The Henri-Fabre Technocenter

This center is of great strategic value to the initiative, enabling the creation of synergies and the sharing of innovative resources. It has received investment worth €14m in cutting-edge equipment. The Technocenter houses several shared platforms: intelligent, multifunctional coatings, metal manufacturing technologies and assembly procedures, materials characterization laboratory, and a digital technology platform.

This center of experimentation and knowledge transfer acts as a key hub for the mechanical technologies, materials and processes of the future, and for the digital engineering skills that will build the Industry of the Future in the region, growing the skills in this sector.

Offering for SMEs

To make member companies more competitive and give them access to new markets, TEAM Henri-Fabre co-ordinates and implements initiatives to raise awareness among SMEs, promoting new technologies capable of disrupting existing design and production methods.

TEAM Henri-Fabre offers:

• Innovative collaborative projects within specific work groups.
• Services to promote cross-pollination between active sectors in the local region. These take the form of group or individual themed days targeting a specific sector.
• Bespoke consultancy services to help SMEs to diversify.

The jobs and training offering

The training offering focuses on key topics for the industry of the future: (virtual reality, additive manufacturing, the Internet of Things in industry, Big Data, new materials, etc.).

In summer 2017, TEAM Henri-Fabre co-ordinated the creation of a Future Investments Program worth €8.7 million over 5 years with the following main funding partners: the South Provence-Alps-Côte d'Azur region, the French government’s Caisse des Dépôts financial institution, and the UIMM Alpes-Méditerranée organization, whose mission is to create thirty new training programs by 2023 and to train 1,500 people through its "HR and Training Employment Platform” (PERF Henri-Fabre).

Project partners

To carry out its mission, TEAM Henri-Fabre is reaching out to key players with an involvement in the development of the project. Dozens of institutions, industrial operators and academic establishments are now lending their support.

• Institutional partners: the French government, the South Provence-Alps-Côte d'Azur region, the Aix-Marseille-Provence metropolitan area, the Marseille-Provence Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Bouches-du-Rhône local government, etc.
• Industrial operators: EDF, Thales, Airbus Helicopters, Naval Group, SNCF, CEA, etc.
• Academic establishments: Arts et Métiers, Aix Marseille Université, Centrale Marseille, Rectorat Aix-Marseille-Nice, etc.