Feedback on the first Conference of CDIF LPSs Presidents (France)
The CDIF, Club des Districts industriels Français, has organised a conference gathering all LPSs and partners, on 30 January 2004. Around fifty people attended it, representing more than 20 LPSs. The event attracted around ten company’s directors, giving a concrete and operational tone to the themes developed during the discussions. Christian Blanc, Deputy of the Yvelines, joined the meeting and expressed his concerns on France being behind in terms of economic development on the international scene. He has mentioned the LPSs as a “hope” and remedy to this situation. “LPSs allow us to go from individual initiatives to a more synergy approach”. It is the answer to enterprises which can’t develop on their own, from production to external markets”. Christian Blanc has been assigned by the “Prime Minister” (see LPS Info 13) to make proposals on initiatives and measures which should be taken by the Government to support their development. Mr Blanc has confirmed his support to LPSs initiatives. “Within the LPSs, enterprises have joined forces to gather their purchasing departments, head hunting, …Secondly, LPSs should change, in substance, their relationships with universities and research centres. I will make proposals in that direction to the government.”
Several LPSs have showed the success of their dynamic networks through successful or on-going projects.
The shipbuilding cluster Pôle Industriel et Naval de Normandie (Le Havre) and the Metallurgy Metaladour (Pau) have presented their actions on bulk purchasing. Lyon Game presented its inter-enterprise collective training project called GAMAGORA. The Cosmetic Valley and Meca Loire have mentioned their partnership projects with other LPSs. More information on CDIF website.
To read : Les Echos Newspapers has published an article on LPSs and about this event in its issue of 18 February 2004. The article is called "PME-PMI : de la compétition à la coopération" (SME-SMI : from cimpetition to cooperation).
Top

Regional Structure for an open and e-learning Training Offer for LPSs
In the article, "De l'apport des OPCA au dynamisme du marché de la formation : la difficile approche des petites entreprises", Elyes Bentabet (Cereq) underlines that « the biggest advantage of enterprises networks is to encourage Training Organisations to modify their offer by developing new services, new learning methods and new organisation types”.
In already 16 regions, « Distant / e-learning access points » have been created (see more information) where the Training actors & decision makers gather to answer to the specific needs of the very small and medium size enterprises. The links between LPSs wishing to set up common Training/HR projects and groups of training partnerships are appropriate. These initiatives could help LPSs develop their inter-enterprises training strategy. For more information on «Distant / e-learning Access Points » contact Arnaud Coulon (Algora), arnaud.coulon@algora.org
Top

Regional mobilization: Industrial Districts in Western Europe from 17th to 20th Century
On 5 and 6 February, a seminar on the History of Industrial Districts in Western Europe was organised at Paris-Bercy (Convention centre). This event, under the patronage of the Université de Nanterre and the Committee for Economic & Financial History of France, had an international and high-level scale. Academics from the USA, Switzerland, Belgium, Italy and the UK have compared their own experience and assessed the drive of the industrial districts. Several French LPSs have been used as examples and have been presented by French experts such as M Courlet (Arve Valley District), Messrs Courault and Lescure (Cholet District) and Mr Saglio (Oyonnax district).
For more information see comite-histoire@dircom.finances.gouv.fr or contact + 33 1 58 28 98 18
Top

Metal Alloys Valley LPSs : Creation of a common company (Lower Normandy, France)
The Metal Alloys Valley federates 12 companies (1200 employees) from sheet metal craft to metal work for the agro-business industry. Six companies, worried by the decrease of the clients’ orders and overseas cheap labour markets, have decided to take action in creating their own common brand and products. They founded a limited liability company (French SARL) called CDAlliage, in January 2004. This company will design, manufacture and commercialise new outdoor furniture and tableware products.
This new company will probably hire a commercial manager to promote the joint products catalogue and contact new clients.
Contact : Alain Leneveu, CEBANOR, contact@cebanor.asso.fr
Top

A new LPS: store design and fit-out in Romorantin (Loir-et-Cher, France)
The Loir et Cher département (near the city of Blois, in the Loire Valley) gathers a large number of activities linked to design, manufacture and installation of retail stores. It counts around 40 companies employing 3000 people with a turnover of 363 million euros. The ADELEC (Economic Development Agency of the Loir-et-Cher) and the CCI (The Chamber of Commerce and Industry) have initiated this project of creating a LPS gathering the main companies of the area around common actions and services. Since last November, seven companies are the “core” of the club which has already thought of a programme covering training, commercial approach (communication, professional fairs …) including business intelligence and partnerships with design companies. This programme, financed by the local authorities after the closedown of Matra, will start next spring. The local enterprises ‘objectives are clear: “if you want to design your retail store, think Loir et Cher!”
Contacts : Emmanuel Lionnais (ADELEC), e.lionnais@adelec.com, Didier Chaudron(CCI), dchaudron@loir-et-cher.cci.fr
Top

Update of the LPSs directory selected by the DATAR
The DATAR just released on their web site the directory of LPSs projects which have been selected in 1998 and 1999 and those selected by the FNADT within their national policy on LPSs. The directory includes a description of each LPS, with their today’s and planned activities as well as their first results. A summary and analysis of their evolution over the past 6 years will be soon on line. To download the directory, click here
Top

LPS approach in Morocco
The DAT (The Moroccan Agency for territorial development and planning) has done an analysis of ten experimental cases, with the objective to develop LPSs in Morocco.
This work has been done by Claude Courlet (President of the Pierre Mendez France University of Grenoble) and Michel Hollard (Economic & Development Research Lab at the Mohammed V University, Agdal, Rabat).
The next step will be to elaborate a LPS public policy with inter-LPS partnerships with France.
Top

Supporting the LPSs in the wood industry
Mr Jean-Paul MALLARD, Main engineer of the GREF (Water and Forest rural agency) has been nominated to support and help LPSs which need advices in that field. Mr Pierre BONNAIRE, who was holding the position before, has taken other responsibilities.
For more information, contact the CDIF (xavierroy@wanadoo.fr) or the DATAR (paulette.pommier@datar.gouv.fr)
Top

26-27 February 2004, "Clustering as a driver of innovation at regional level" (Italy)
The Innovating Regions in Europe (IRE) Center is organising a seminar on « Clustering as a driver of innovation at regional level », in Pescara, Italy. The IRE is the joint platform for collaboration and exchange of experience in the development of regional innovation policies and scheme, open to all European regions. It has the support of the European Commission (DG Research and DG Enterprise) to promote exchanges between innovating regions and technology transfers. For more information on the seminar. More information.
Top

10 March 2004, 3rd Industrial Forum of Mecatronic Seine Amont (France)
For the 3rd year, the LPS Mecatronic Seine Amont (Vitry-sur-Seine) is organising a professional convention in partnership with Aventis. This open day event will promote small sub-contracting and technology enterprises linked to the health industry.
For more information, contact Hélène Rambert, contact@mecatronic-sa.com
The CDIF will take this opportunity to organise a meeting with its “metal working” group, which gathers around ten LPSs specialised in metallurgy, micro engineering, mechanical industry, electronics, shipbuilding …
For more information on the SPL "Travail des métaux"group
Top

25-26 March 2004, Science Po Training "Regional Project" (France)
“How to improve the competitivity of a region in creating favourable factors to support the development of enterprises in a share competencies environment”. This is the title of a new training session organised by Sciences Po, designed in partnership with the ADCF and the CDIF. LPSs will be presented by Jean-Marie Rouillier, President of the CDIF) as an economic development leverage for the regions.
Contact and information :François Fiquemont (Sciences Po), françois.fiquemont@sciences-po.fr
Top

19-30 April 2004, International Training ONUDI-ILO on Clusters (Turino, Italy)
This training called « Developing clusters: principles and practice – How to help developing country clusters to measure their potential in a global economy”. This training aims to enable managers specialised in developing SME and local economic development programmes, including organisations supplying financial or business services, to access new Management tools and best practice, as well as monitoring and evaluation of clusters programmes.
More information
(Source : Cluster e-news, ONUDI
Top

Silicon Sentier, new web site (Paris, France)
Silicon Sentier, the Paris LPS, has launched its new web site www.silicon-sentier.com.
The association, which gathers 62 companies (880 jobs) is an “exchange accelerator” between the different actors (developers, software publishers, final users). Among on-going actions, Silicon Sentier is launching free training curriculum open to the employees working in the internet technology network.
For more information, contact: Marie-Vorgan Le Barzic marie@silicon-sentier.com
Top

A practical guide for developing clusters (UK)
Published by the UK Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), this guide (in English) is a UK-wide assessment of local clusters, and provide a snapshot of existing clusters across the UK and inform the development of clusters policy. The second part presents examples of successful clusters.
To download the guide
Top

Innovation in the East (Usine Nouvelle Magazine, January 2004)
In itsJanuary 2004 issue, the Usine Nouvelle Magazine has prepared a well-documented article on LPSs located in the East region of France (Alsace, Franche-comté, Lorraine). Called “Industry and Region”: best practices and performances”, the article describes the inter-regional car manufacturing cluster (Alsace/Vosges/Franche-Comté), metrological cluster (Alsace) and special machinery cluster (Nord Franche-Comté).
Top

>> To subscribe
>> To stop your subscription
>> To subscribe a partner
>> To send us your observations or suggest us a theme to develop in the next letter
>> To read the previous numbers of LPS Info
>> Pour recevoir SPL INFO en français