30 years of innovation for RETIS

RETIS brings together around one hundred organisations dedicated to the creation of innovative businesses, growth and the management of French innovation areas. Since 2015, the “Technopole Côte Basque” ecosystem developed by the Basque Country Urban Authority has benefited from the “Technopole” label awarded by RETIS.

Created in 1987, in the France Technopole association became RETIS (National network for innovation territories and ecosystems) in 2006. The association gradually brought together technology parks, EBICs (European business and innovation centres), public research incubators, higher education incubators and competitiveness clusters (now incorporated within the French Association for competitiveness clusters).

The aim of RETIS is to lead and mobilise all its members to develop innovation and support innovative projects on French territory. Today RETIS has 80 members and its label has been awarded to 44 technology parks, 27 business and innovation centres and 16 public incubators. Every year, 4,500 to 5,000 businesses are supported by the members of RETIS.

Until 2015, only the Izarbel technology site in Bidart held the “Technopole” label awarded by RETIS. Following an audit to guarantee high standards in the support of technology businesses, this “Technopole” label has been awarded to a wider area of projects and activities incorporating the technology sites of Izarbel in Bidart, Technocité in Bayonne, Arkinova in Anglet and the future Ocean Start site in Biarritz.

The Basque Country Urban Authority participated in the last summer conference of RETIS and the EBN (European Business network) partner network on the 5^th, 6^th and 7^th of July in Enghien-les-Bains (Val d’Oise). Organised on the theme of “Open Ecosystems for Innovation”, this conference brought together more than 600 participants for plenary sessions and themed workshops. It was also an opportunity to share the “technopolitan” dynamics engaged in by metropolitan and overseas regions and to discuss good practice in terms of support for innovation.

Find out more at:  http://www.retis-innovation.fr/