1Project supported by the European Commission

ECREIN Platform in Rhône-Alpes (RA)

Inventory of instruments and actions to support eco-innovation and eco-investment in the « Development - Exportation » stage

16th of October 2007 (morning)

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Summary

I. Key figures for Rhône-Alpes

II. Instruments to support development stage

III. Instruments to support exportation stage

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Key figures for the Rhône-Alpes Region

Area : 8% of the area of France, 2nd French Region

Population : 6 Millions of Inhab (2006), 2nd French Region

Economy : GDP total : 165 Billions€ (France : 1 700 Bil€)

GDP/Inhab : 28 131 € (France : 27 957 €)

+ 9% of companies setting up between 2003 and 2005

Traditional areas of activity : chemistry, textile, mechanical…Emerging areas in the vanguard of innovation : electronics, computer science, biotechnologies, …

365 000 companies in Rhône-Alpes (91% have less than 10 employees). The medium SMEs (50 employees) employ 45% of the working population.

RA is one of the 15 European

Regions which generate the

most of affluence

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SMEs and innovation

SMEs and innovation: OSEO survey (based on 1000 SMEs - 2005)• 56% leave 1 or many innovations pending• 8% are organized to innovate regularly

o The innovation concerns: • Product(56%)• Working organization (37%)• Selling techniques / distribution (28%)• Production process (23%)

Authorities mobilization to support SMEs innovationo Government programmes « Gazelles » (2006)o France Investment plan (2007)o Research tax rebate more flexibleo Merging of ANVAR, BDPME, SOFARIS in OSEO and doubling of the

budgeto First patent free for SMEs…

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SMEs and DEVELOPMENT Small size of french SMes

USA

Italy

Germany

France

226

132

122

107

Jobs growth in SMEs, which have been created since 7 years (Source : Pourquoi nos PME ne grandissent pas, A. Dumas, Institut Montaigne, Juillet 2006)

Déficit of french medium SMEs (from 20 to 499 salaries), but a lot of very small SMEs : diffulty to develop the SMEs after their creation

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Summary

I. Key figures for Rhône-Alpes

II. Instruments to support development stage

III. Instruments to support exportation stage

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Accompany SMEsDevelopment stage

Banks

Professional union

Regional structuresRegional agency for innovation

Clusters

ADEMEOseo INPI

Chambers ofcommerce

CCI

Financing and technical support

ENTERPRISESENTERPRISES

CdC (national bank)

CRCI

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Instruments to support development

Grants

Loans

Guarantees

Capital venture

Skills financing

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Grants

Network technological benefit (Region/Oseo)o To allow SMEs to innovate

Financial support to enhance networking of very small enterprises (Region)o Emergence of new activities

Research tax rebate mobilization (OSEO)o Funds mobilization

Research and Development assistance (Region)o feasibility, R&D project , clean technology transfer

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Loans

Bank loans

Innovative project support (OSEO)Technological innovation elaboration

Technological transfer support (OSEO)o Development of technological cooperation (cluster)

Technological partnership support (OSEO)o Involve SMEs in collaborative projects

Innovation in SMEs support(Region)o Technological innovation development

Innovation development Contract (OSEO)o Technological innovation, new markets...

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Guarantee

Innovation guarantee (OSEO)o Bank financing access

Biotech Guaranteeo Bank financing

Bail Guarantee on innovative projecto Ease bail financing on stock order market

Innovative SMEs guarantee (OSEO)o Shareholders’ equity contribution

Shareholders’ equity guaranteeo Shareholders’ equity contribution

FOGIME (ADEME)o Middle or long term loan to benefit shareholders’ equity contribution

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Venture capital fundsdevelopment capital : shareholders’ equity contributionin a company in development stage

Rhône alpes, Auvergne, Bourgogne PME2

Rhône Dauphiné Développement

Sofimac

Sofimac Croissance

Sudinnova SA

Sudinnova II

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Skills financing

Hiring support

Recruitment support for innovation (OSEO)o Recruitment of doctors

Grant to recruit a new-graduate to develop an innovative project (Region)

o Recruitment of young people (high school diploma + 5 years of study)

Consultant financing

Network technological benefit (Region - OSEO)o Include innovation in the development strategy

Diagnosis financing (Region)

Consultancy support (Region)

Regional funds for consultancy support (Region)

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Summary

I. Key figures for Rhône-Alpes

II. Instruments to support development stage

III. Instruments to support exportation stage

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National Context

SMEs and export: Ubifrance survey (2004)o 100 000 SMEs export, more than 50% export occasionallyo For the 45 000 SMEs which regularly export : 10% export more than

10% of their turnover et 30% export occasionally more than 10% of their turnover

o 90% of theses SMEs have less than 250 salaried worker and realize 45% of the French export

o 1 technologically innovative SMEs of 2 exporto 3 innovative SMEs of 10 have an international market compare to

1/10 for classical SMEs

SMEs and patento Positive impact when SMEs take out a patent = increasing of:

o 43 % of the staff, o more than 30% of the turnover,o and of the self financing.

o 10% of French SMEs take out a patent compare to 25% in USA

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Regional structures

Alsace International

Ubifrance

Economical missions

France partnership

Sopexa

CofaceOseo

INPI

Chambers ofcommerce

French Chambers of commerce abroad

Financing and technical support

EntreprisesEntreprises

Accompany SMEs in the internationalExportation stage

Ademe

Bretagne International

Erai

Professional union

Banks

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Instruments to support export

Grants

Loans

Guarantees

Skills financing

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Grants

Exportation support (Region)o Realization of the international action plan. Implemented by

chambers of commerce

Collective programme for exhibitions (Region / Chamber of commerce)o Involvement in SMEs exhibitions

Individual support for exportation steps (Ubifrance)o Finalise a development project abroad

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Loans

Investment dedicated to exportation: (guarantee and) financing (OSEO)

Investment of subsidiary abroad: (guarantee and) financing (OSEO)

International development contract (OSEO)

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Guarantees

Funds for studies and support to private sector (OSEO)o Ease the french SMEs setting up abroad (thanks to subsidiaries)

FASEP (OSEO)o Financing of studies upstream from projects, technical assistance

Prospecting insurance (COFACE)o Guarantee to prevent the failure risk

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Skills financing

Idéclic Strategy (Region)o Recruitment of an executive in charge of developing exportation

project

Support to recruit a project manager dedicated to export (Region)o For enterprises clusters

International Voluntary in enterprise (Ubifrance)o Recruitment of a junior for a mission abroad

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First conclusions

Lot of new governmental approaches for SMEs development

Small size of French SMEs

Great diversity of financing

Necessity to develop financial tools assessment at the regional scale