Interview with Christophe SOLER, Director, Biotechnology Department of the Laboratoires Genévrier.

WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF YOUR CELLULAR THERAPY UNIT IN SOPHIA ANTIPOLIS?
CS: The Unit was inaugurated in 1998 and is dedicated to the development of cellular therapy products (CTP) in dermatology, reconstructive surgery (skin substitutes) and orthopedics (cartilage repair). The objective is to offer clinicians innovative treatments for pathologies in therapeutic failure, particularly where cell or tissue replacement is necessary. We have also developed a therapeutic product annex (TPA) for embryonic culture, destined to increase the chances of pregnancy in women going through embryonic transfer (after in vitro fertilization), while reducing the risk of multiple pregnancies. Other projects are being studied.

WHAT KIND OF RESEARCH IS CONDUCTED THERE?
CS: Research around the development of new cell-containing products with a therapeutic target (TPC and TPA). This concerns fields such as scarring, repair of cartilage lesions caused by trauma, embryonic culture, and others that are still confidential. Several of our products are in the clinical phase.

WHAT ARE THE RESEARCH OBJECTIVES OF THE UNIT?
CS: To introduce innovative treatment solutions when conventional treatments fail. This can involve custom-made treatments, autoplasty (cells originating from the patient), or more global treatments called allogenic (cells coming from certified banks).

WHAT MARKET SECTORS IS THE RESEARCH FOCUSED ON?
CS: Products for cellular or tissue engineering therapy.

WHY HERE? WHY NOW?
CS: Here, because our platform was deployed in Sophia, which offers a high-level scientific, academic and industrial environment and the proximity of the Nice Côte d’Azur Airport, which facilitates the visits of our collaborators. Now, because the theme of cellular therapy is just in its infancy and we can’t miss the train.

Bruno MOREAU, co-fonder of ASK, takes over as CEO upon retirement of founder Georges KAYANAKIS.

Bruno MOREAU, co-fonder of ASK, takes over as CEO upon the retirement of founder Georges KAYANAKIS. « I am proud to be at the head of this company which has so many assets, » states Moreau. « Today, contactless technology is part of our daily life in areas such as public transport and access control, and more and more sectors are opening to this technology. This predicts a great future for ASK ! »

Pioneer in the « contactless » technology at its launch 9 years ago, ASK first addressed the issues of public transport before enlarging its scope to other sectors. Today, as a leader in its field, ASK offers a wide range of contactless cards and tickets, RFID tags, inlays for electronic passports for the markets of public transport, access control, finance, electronic I.D. and logistics. Its production centre and headquarters are situated in Sophia Antipolis, with regional offices in Paris, Singapour, Peking and Culver City, USA.

The PACA East Incubator presents a Minikonf this week on Application and Presentation of a Business Plan for the National Competition of Business Creation for Innovative Technologies. January 16 at the Ecole Polytechnique in Sophia Antipolis.

The Sophia Antipolis Foundation hosts this all-day seminar on legal protection of intellectual property and innovation, led by Gérard Bonneau, expert in industrial property rights, and Christophe Valdy, a business attorney in Sophia Antipolis. January 19 at the Sophia Antipolis Foundation.

The Côte d’Azur’s association to help expatriate learn the French way of life offers the following workshops in January: “Culture Shock” (January 19); “Buying, Selling and Renting Lodging” and “Insurance” (January 22); “Buying or Selling a Car & Driving Permits” and “French Bank Services and Loans” (January 26); “Business Creation” and “Domestic Services: Electricity, Gas, Water, Phone” (January 29).

The European Union has allocated € 32 billion for collaborative, multi-partner R&D programs starting in 2007. Find about how to participate, at this seminar with Gérard Brugal and Jean François Feldman. February 16 and March 23 at the Sophia Antipolis Foundation.

The annual weekend for the Sophia Antipolis sporting community to play its winter games takes place this year February 3 and 4 at La Colmiane. Registration is open until January 29.

The German company SAP has launched a research partnership with the Eurécom Institute.

SAP Labs France has been determined since its arrival in Sophia Antipolis in 2001, to benefit from the unique high-tech environment of the technology park. This agreement consolidates relations established with the prestigious school of telecom engineers over several years. For Eurecom, the partnership further enhances its international dimension and confirms its policy of close involvement with industrial actors. The overall project illustrates the interest of major multinational groups in the high level of expertise of local research teams.

Interview with Werner Sommer, Director SAP Labs France, Sophia Antipolis

WHAT ARE THE ELEMENTS THAT LED TO THE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN SAP AND EURECOM?
Since its establishment in Sophia Antipolis in 2001, SAP Research Center has actively pursued networking opportunities to benefit from Sophia's unique high-tech environment. The first collaboration between SAP and Eurécom took place in April 2002 within the context of the European project Witness focusing on easy-to-use business applications security for mobile workers. In the course of the time, the alliance between both parties grew stronger as a result of common research topics and interests, joint projects in the European Research Framework (Mosquito, eJustice, R4eGov...) and shared interests in the area Security and Trust. Discussions about a bilateral collaboration agreement started 2004 and led to the successfully established partnership.

IS THIS THE FIRST TIME THAT SAP HAS BECOME PARTNERS WITH AN ACADEMIC INSTITUTE?
The SAP group continuously establishes university alliances with outstanding academic institutes worldwide. At SAP, we understand how important it is to cooperate with a variety of partners in order to drive emerging IT trends and identify breakthrough innovation. Collaborations with local research partners and educational organizations exist with Eurécom, INRIA and the University of Nice Sophia Antipolis that provide a strong benefit to the research activities. The long term and successful collaboration with Eurécom has now led to the establishment of an official partnership, which is the first of this kind with a French academic partner.

Interview with Ulrich Finger, Director of the Eurécom Institute:
IN WHAT WAY IS THIS PARTNERSHIP PARTICULARLY STRATEGIC FOR EURÉCOM?
This partnership fits into our strategy to increase ties with Germany and helps us with our projects such a integrating the Technical University of Munich in our GIE (Industrial Group). It also allows us to develop our know how in the field of secured applications, with three thesis underway which will enrich both our academic and research activities.

WHAT WILL BE THE FIRST ACTIONS TAKEN WITHIN THIS AGREEMENT?
Thanks to SAP’s contribution, we will be able to enrich our curriculum by hiring a specialist in software security. Furthermore, since SAP is a close neighbor within Sophia Antipolis, our students will be able to integrate their teams – either part time or full time, depending on the year – and focus on the reality of industrial issues.

The Eurécom Institute – whose research work is focused on communication systems, from chips to applications – specializes in networks and security, mobility (wireless networks, multimodal, etc.) and multimedia content. Its researchers are also working on “systems on chips” for the Telecom Paris laboratory, established within the Institute. SAP Research Center Sophia Antipolis focuses on two application domains – eGovernment and Public Security – as well as technology research programs, primarily in Security and Trust and Business Process Management and Semantic Interoperability.

INRIA Sophia Antipolis teams are involved in joint research center recently inaugurated near Paris.

Research at the new lab will focus on two objectives. The first is to improve software and systems security through applied mathematics, with ongoing collaboration on proving theorems and creating new programming languages. The second is to accelerate scientific advancement by developing new software tools for management and analysis of highly complex scientific data.

Before taking over as director of INRIA Sophia Antipolis, Gérard Giraudon has been in charge of the partnership negotiation. "The inauguration of the joint lab is a success for INRIA and the ICST French research community because it proves that the ICST French research community is well known as top level in the world."

Scientists will have the freedom to conduct research in an open, collaborative environment relying on software tools and prototypes for the community diffused under open source license. The public will have access to their research results through scientific publications and any commercial exploitation of the results will be jointly agreed to by INRIA and Microsoft.

The official magazine of Professional Photographers of America has named Stitcher® Unlimited as the recipient of the 2007 Award in the Image Editing category. The Professional Photographer Hot One Awards honor the photography industry's best new products for professional application.

REALVIZ Stitcher Unlimited was among the winners spotlighted at Imaging USA in San Antonio Texas, January 14-17. REALVIZ is a leader in image processing software development based in Sophia Antipolis.

For Mr. Pruniaux, Director of Atmel Rousset, “In 2006 we laid the foundations, 2007 will be the year of deployment. Today we must act together and catalyze all our differences for a true convergence of expertise. The Region possesses all the ingredients of a rich soil. We must learn to cultivate it in order to reap the best harvest.” The new president who has played a key role in the growth of the Rousset microelectronics pole, has been at the head of Atmel Rousset since 1995.

In this 10-year period, the site has expanded from 250 to 1500 employees and now hosts the world center for Atmel’s R&D representing 1 billion dollars in investments. Pruniaux is also VP in charge of Atmel’s ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuits) products representing a quarter of the company’s worldwide sales.

Since its launch one year ago, the SCS pole has grown to include 157 members and some 31 projects have been labeled. Five key themes have been defined–mobility, traceability, identity, connectivity and convergence -, within four fields of expertise –microelectronics, telecommunications, software and multimedia-, involving three sectors –health, tourism and logistics.

The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) is expanding its work on speech synthesis of the world’s languages. W3C is the international organization standardizing web protocols based in Sophia Antipolis. The organization has held workshops in Beijing, Heraklion Greece, and Hyderabad India, gaining worldwide input for its Speech Synthesis Markup Language (SSML) 1.1, which will help build seamless voice applications for the Web. By 2010, the numbers of Chinese and Indian web users will increase dramatically. Improved SSML will make it easier for people in these and many other countries to listen to synthesized speech through their mobile phones, desktop computers and other devices.

The Côte d’Azur club of the ETHICUM organization founded here hosts its second meeting on the theme: “You Said Business Ethics? History, Semantics and Origins.” January 23 at Theme 06, Cap Var in Saint-Laurent-du-Var - Tel: 33 (0)4 93 19 38 60.

The Côte d’Azur chapter of Femmes 3000 hosts its third meeting on January 23. The new chapter of the French women’s “incubator” welcomes Alice Guilhon, Deputy Director of CERAM Sophia Antipolis, Michel Ferrary, Professor of Human Resources Management, and Frédérique Chvel, Founder and President of Paris Pioneers. At Agora Einstein in Sophia Antipolis.

The Côte d’Azur’s association to help expatriate learn the French way of life offers the following workshops in January: “Buying or Selling a Car & Driving Permits” and “French Bank Services and Loans” (January 26); “Business Creation” and “Domestic Services: Electricity, Gas, Water, Phone” (January 29).

The European Union has allocated € 32 billion for collaborative, multi-partner R&D programs starting in 2007. Find about how to participate, at this seminar with Gérard Brugal and Jean François Feldman. February 16 and March 23 at the Sophia Antipolis Foundation.

Sophia based Doremi Technologies (Doremi Labs Group) has been selected to participate in two major steps for digital cinema in the UK, paving the way for European deployment.

The Sophipolitan company Doremi Technologies (Doremi Labs Group), has been selected to participate in two major steps for digital cinema in England: testing a digital multiplex for Odeon/UCI, and a major roll-out of digital cinema in England directed by Arts Alliance Media. The leading supplier to the United States of JPEG2000 severs for digital cinema, Doremi numbers 60 people between its headquarters in Burbank (Los Angeles) and its site in Sophia Antipolis, where 75% of the company’s research in digital cinema is conducted.
These UK actions pave the way for further European deployment.

Interview with François Helt, Doremi Technologies, Technical and Applications Director for Digital Cinema

TELL US, FIRST OF ALL, WHERE IS DIGITAL CINEMA IN EUROPE?
In the United States, digital is already deployed in numerous theaters (close to 2,000) and the market is developing rapidly. In France and in Europe at the same time, there are still very few theaters equipped (about 400).

HOW WILL THIS PARTNERSHIP WITH ODEON/UCI ROLL OUT?
On February 2, a 100% digital commercial launch will begin with a nine-theater Odeon/UCI multiplex in London. This is an important step because it is the first time an entire multiplex is equipped with digital. By the end of the next 18 months, about 450 additional theaters will be equipped.

WHAT DOES THE UKFC DEPLOYMENT IN ENGLAND REPRESENT?
One can say that we are at the starting gate of a long-awaited rollout. For UKFC (the equivalent of CNC), it means a network of 240 theaters, all equipped with Doremi servers. This is the first action of a European scope; and it is just the start… at the moment, there are merely 100 theaters in Europe equipped with JPEG200/DCI digital.

WHAT IS YOUR POSITION IN TERMS OF COMPETITION?
Our competitors are very large players like Dolby and Kodak. However, we are in a vantage position despite level despite our small size, because our solutions are the only ones to conform to the DCI recommendation published in July 2005 which focuses for 60% on distribution security issues. In the US, Doremi has equipped 90% of the commercial theaters established at this standard, representing some 2,000 theaters!

Amadeus Sophia Antipolis boosts innovation with the launch an Operations Research & Innovation division geared at helping new ideas emerge.

The world leader in travel distribution is currently diversifying its activities to become a leading IT provider. Thanks to extensive investments and a high level of expertise, its teams are now delivering a wide range of solutions tailored to specific customer needs across the industry: airlines, travel agencies, corporations, hotels, railways, tour operators… Amadeus Sophia Antipolis, the company’s high-tech powerhouse, is the largest employer in the park with some 1,800 people from 50 nationalities employed on its 13 hectare site. Its teams have recently been reinforced, bringing on board highly skilled engineers in order to enhance the company’s distribution offer and broaden its IT expertise. In line with the diversification strategy, a new Operations Research &Innovation division has been put in place to help optimize the Amadeus portfolio of solutions and target new ideas and areas to be developed.

Interview with François Laburthe, Amadeus ORI Director

WHAT IS OPERATIONS RESEARCH AND HOW DOES IT APPLY TO AMADEUS?
Operations Research is a family of techniques which include applied mathematics, data mining and other advanced computer science techniques and which target the improvement of processes and operations. Major airlines have been long time users of Operations Research techniques for managing their schedule, their fleet and their crew, as well as for segmenting their market through revenue management systems. Within Amadeus, we will be using these scientific methods to enhance innovation both within our products.


WHAT PART WILL THE ORI DIVISION PLAY IN THE DIVERSIFICATION PROCESS?
We will focus on developing optimisation techniques within our portfolio of solutions and exploring existing market solutions and targeting new areas to be developed. The Operations Research & Innovation division will nurture our diversification strategy by designing high precision decision engines for our products that will reinforce the leadership of the Amadeus portfolio.

WHAT WILL BE YOUR ROLE IN THE INNOVATION PROCESS?
Our role is to generate the dynamics that will encourage Amadeus employees to propose innovative ideas, This is done by putting in place a process that helps new ideas emerge and allows them to be tested and improved so that they can grow into projects. Our goal is to ensure that the wealth of expertise and creativity within the company is optimized and turned into a competitive advantage.

Amadeus Development and Product Management and Marketing are situated in Sophia Antipolis, with headquarters in Madrid, Spain, Operations near Munich, Germany, and regional offices in Bangkok, Miami and Buenos Aires.

Bruno MOREAU, CEO of ASK, commented on the occasion: “We were most happy to welcome Christine LAGARDE whose visit confirmed the government’s commitment to support high-tech SMEs. With exports representing 70% of turnover at ASK, these exchanges are important to talk about the means which are required to enhance exports despite fierce worldwide competition.”

ETSI was represented by Dr. Walter WEIGEL, General Manager, and Margot DOR, Director of Business Development who reflected: “It was extremely interesting to meet with a government official who is so dedicated to promoting French and European know-how. It gave us the opportunity to speak about some of our concerns, such as the importance of standards in a competitive environment.” Denis AUDOLY, Director of Wipro NewLogic in Sophia Antipolis, underscored the need to promote France’s image abroad. “As a subsidiary of a large group, we are continually in competition with other sites in other countries, and it is important to reinforce the message that France is a country with excellent workmanship, and an excellent place to invest.” “For Michel BEGHIN, head of Insight SiP, a recent start-up specialized in electronic components, “For us, the important question is regarding financing of innovative start-ups in France. Although we’ve been contacted by Chinese and American investors, we’ve maintained our location in France because thanks to the strong policies of both government and local bodies, a company such as ours can obtain support for launching.”

Also participating in the meeting were Jean-Pierre DOLAIT, Sales Director of TEMEX, and Eric BAISSUS, CEO of Open Plug. Among the representatives of local authorities were Claude Serra, Underprefect of Grasse, Jean LEONETTI, Deputy Mayor of Antibes, and Senator Pierre LAFFITTE of the Sophia Antipolis Foundation.

The Investor’s Game is a Business Strategy profiling tool. By answering four questions, business investors can identify their investment priorities, linked to the strongest business assets of the Côte d’Azur.

The game is available in four versions: one targeted to Sophia Antipolis and one for the region in general, each in French and English.

MobileGov’s security subsidiary ASKARIS has signed agreements with IT Professional Services, RMT and the ONYX Group, enriching the Sophia Antipolis company with a network of more than 65 distributors throughout the UK.

With underwriting from the economic development agency of Northeast England, One Northeast, MobileGov positions itself for a stronger presence in England in 2007.

"Europe Midi", the popular lunch time radio show hosted by Luc EVRARD and Valérie DURIEUX, will be broadcast live from Sophia Antipolis, from 12 PM to 2 PM on 6 Februrary 2007. Guests will include: Philippe CHEREQUE, Amadeus SVP, Corporate Stratégie; Philippe STEFANINI, Director of Team Côte d'Azur; Albert MAROUANI of the University of Nice Sophia Antipolis; Ulrich FINGER of Eurécom Institute, as well as representatives of two high-tech companies WIPRO and ICERA, the INRIA research institute and the Fondation Sophia Antipolis.

The Côte d’Azur’s association to help expatriate learn the French way of life offers these upcoming workshops: “Labor Law” and “Social Security” (February 2); “Day Care & Nursery” and “Education” (February 5); “Job Hunting” (February 9); “Inheritance Taxes” and “Legal Taxes” (February 12); “Concept of Time” and “Friendly Relations” (February 16).

Olivier Faugeras (INRIA Sophia Antipolis) will present the next Morgenstern Seminar (sponsored by INRIA Sophia Antipolis and Laboratoire 13S) on “Problems with Modeling Cortical Activity” in the context of Neurosciences and ICT. February 1 at EPU in Sophia Antipolis.

The annual weekend for the Sophia Antipolis sporting community to play its winter games takes place this year February 3 and 4 at La Colmiane. Registration is open until January 29.

The European Union has allocated € 32 billion for collaborative, multi-partner R&D programs starting in 2007. Find about how to participate, at this seminar with Gérard Brugal and Jean François FELDMAN. February 16 and March 23 at the Sophia Antipolis Foundation.

Visit the world’s museums thanks to your 3G phone… sample a guided tour of the Nice MAMAC museum, a joint project UNSA, Robosoft, Radvision.

All the museums of the world at your fingertips, on your 3G phone… The ROBOMUSEO demonstration offering a guided tour of the Museum of Contemporary Art in Nice is making its world premiere at 3GSM in Barcelona on the TEAM CÔTE D’AZUR stand. One call from your cell phone, and the doors of the museum open… a few clicks on the keypad and you can guide a camera equipped robot through the museum. Does a particular work speak to you? A full description (photo, sound, video) is sent to your mobile. Want to express yourself? Record your thoughts on video… and send them by MMS to be shared on the museum’s “Golden Blog.”… So that art can be appreciated and shared, anywhere, at any moment, with the greatest number… but more importantly, ROBOMUSEO paves the way to unlimited opportunities involving robots and wireless technologies.

ROBOMUSEO is a project created and realized by the MBDS Masters program and the University of Nice Sophia Antipolis in the context of the Imagine Institute (the Institute for Innovation of Services of the Future). It is developed in partnership with:

ROBOSOFT… the European leader in service robotics, based in Bidart, France; RADVISION… a multinational Israeli company specializing in video network infrastructures; MAMAC… the Museum of Contemporary Art in Nice.

The partners on this project speak to TEAM about this world premiere.

“There is a very strong convergence between robotics and computing that started last year: the PC has become the smart mobile in 2006…And a mobile PC offers a great opportunity for solutions for people with reduced mobility such as remote surveillance, remote assistance ….” Serge MIRANDA, Professor, University of Nice-Sophia Antipolis.

“Innovation on the technological plane is the use of the 3G telephone. Until now, solutions have been deployed through the Internet from a PC. The telephone introduces a new utilization philosophy based on mobility and the freedom to act where and when you wish.” Vincent DUPOURQUÉ, Chairman of the Board, Robosoft.

“The experience of remotely controlling the robot from a 3G phone is a technological first, but what makes it even more appealing is the fact that you can see what the robot sees, and the remote site can see you as well. The virtual museum tour becomes a true interactive multimedia happening. This visit of the Nice museum opens a wide array of potential applications that can serve the industry.” Alon BARNEA, General Manager, RADVISION Mobility and Service Provider Business Unit.

“What is interesting in this ROBOMUSEO project, which links the MAMAC museum to new technologies is that the museum of contemporary art is par excellence a place of experimentation, innovation for artists and a convergence point between different disciplines: art and dance, art and music, art and sciences, etc. As such, this project is fully consistent with the museum’s approach and the work that we propose to artists.” Gilbert PERLEIN, Curator, MAMAC Museum in Nice.

The Côte d’Azur is center stage in network convergence (GSM / 3G / WIFI / WIMAX).

For the main actors across the high-tech industry -computing, telecoms, networks, Internet service providers and mobile terminal manufacturers- and the message is clear… the future of telecommunications will come through the convergence of networks and infrastructures. And the Côte d’Azur, a region of experimentation for telecom infrastructures and networks, is in a vantage position for this new era.

With its wealth of telecom and network research centers, and the presence of world leaders in IT technology as well as standardization organizations, the Côte d’Azur has set the stage for what could be a convergence explosion. The first commitments to WIMAX coverage in the PACA region, as early as June 2007, will solidify this position.

Key points favoring convergence on the Côte d’Azur:
- Research and innovation: one of the strongest concentrations in Europe of researchers and engineers in telecoms, computing and microelectronics;
- Cutting edge: the strongest rate of WIFI coverage in France after Paris (close to 400 hotspots) and a strong rate of development in mobile terminals;
- Experimentation: the first WIMAX coverage available in June 2007 and a laboratory in utilization where the sky’s the limit;
- Decision center: the base for standards organizations for telecommunications (ETSI) and the Internet (W3C);
- Key players: global pole of excellence in Telecoms and the presence of numerous players in Voice over IP.

Created in November 1998 by Alain GEORGE and Jean-Philippe CHEVREAU, two music-loving engineers weary of large structures, MadWaves quickly oriented itself toward the technologies of sound and music, and now multimedia in general. Today, MadWaves, located in Sophia Antipolis, includes 25 people, and develops applications and technologies for Web 2.0 as well as for the mobile world.

Interview with Alain GEORGES, Manager of MadWaves

WHAT ARE MADWAVES’ KEY ACTIVITIES?
We focus our efforts on two main activities: solutions for digital interactive music and the development of Audio engineers, MIDI synthesizers and sound banks. We have created a solution (MadTechnology) that adds a new dimension to User Generated Content, allowing each person to interactively create and remix his or her own music.

HOW DOES MADTECHNOLOGY WORK?
MadTechnology transforms remixing into somegthing everyone can experience. Even with no musical training, users can create music of an excellent quality in a number of styles: Rap, Hip-Hop, R&B, Rock, Pop, Trance, Techno, etc., or again partially or completely remix the instrumental tracks from contemporary hits.
MadTechnology can be implemented easily and at low cost on mobile interfaces (game boys, mobile phones…) or on web/PC (portals, games…).

WHAT IS YOUR VISION FOR THE FUTURE?
In the face of the rapid evolution of telecoms and networks, MadTechnology is creating new sectors of markets, offering the user a unique experience, allowing each person to customize his or her preferred music.

IN WHAT WAYS HAS BEING BASED IN SOPHIA ANTIPOLIS FACILITATED YOUR GROWTH?
The Sophia Antipolis technopole allows its actors to be in relationship with experts at every level and in all sectors, which facilitates technological and commercial exchanges.

Kuantic moved into the M2M market in France by becoming a distributor for specific Orange subscriptions, and developed into the leader in M2M subscriptions. Today, Kuantic, located in Sophia Antipolis, manages over 6,000 new subscriptions for Orange France and will soon serve other European operators as well.

Interview with Jean Bernard GIUGIA, Director of Communications and Marketing.

WHAT ARE KUANTIC’S PRINCIPAL ACTIVITIES?
Kuantic is a distributor of Orange Business Services, specialized in M2M (machine-to-machine) technology. Our added value lies in our capacity to manage SIM card software and to simplify the subscription process. Our knowledge of these processes has allowed us to develop our own range of GSM products for industry and GSM/GPS for managing fleets of vehicles that integrate SIM cards at the factory.

WHAT IS YOUR VISION FOR THE FUTURE OF YOUR COMPANY?
The M2M market will double in the next three years. Kuantic is positioned as a leader and its R&D department is working especially hard to maintain this lead. Based on our successful business strategy in France, we are currently planning our expansion in Europe where we will propose our innovative solutions for the mass market.

DOES YOUR LOCATION IN SOPHIA ANTIPOLIS FACILITATE YOUR EXPANSION?
As I said, our plan is to go international and the geographic position of the Côte d’Azur is ideal to conquer new European markets, offering easy access to most EU countries. The proximity here between companies is also an asset for building partnerships, not to mention access to financial assistance for R&D (ANVAR has been especially helpful to Kuantic). And more, Sophia Antipolis attracts numerous engineers with exceptional skills.

HOW HAVE THE CÔTE D’AZUR’S TECHNOLOGICAL INFRASTRUCTURES SURPASSED YOUR EXPECTATIONS?
Sophia Antipolis has a large international population that relies on maintaining close contact with its base. And the best communications solutions in terms of ADSL, GSM and in particular the UMTS (3G) network, have been put in place here. It is a clear advantage for us to be able to rely on these technologies, and to optimize their use for our products.

WHAT DO YOU SAY TO A COMPANY THAT IS THINKING OF SETTLING HERE?
That they will find the technological, logistical and human resources for their development, while maintaining an exceptional quality of life.

- 1997: Sophia Antipolis connected to network (ATM 155);
- 2000: Arrival of high-speed data transmission (SDH-ATM-WDM-VTHD);
- 2000: Sophia Antipolis one of eight VTHD experimentation sites in France;
- 2001: Sophia Antipolis the only site in Southern France connected to VTHD ++;
- 2001: Monaco is the first 3G test site in Europe;
- 2003: Côte d’Azur total coverage with Edge and Hyper LAN (2G+);
- 2004: Nice, Sophia Antipolis among the first French sites with 3G coverage;
- 2005: Monaco one of the first European test sites for WIMAX;
- 2007: First WIMAX deployment on the Côte d’Azur.

Based in Sophia Antipolis, the European Telecommunications Standards Institute is an independent, non-profit organization, which is officially responsible for standardization of Information and Communication Technologies in Europe. In 2005, ETSI formed a partnership with the WIMAX Forum to co-develop the Wimax standard as Europe’s certifiable standard for the future. ETSI’s 655 members – manufacturers, network operators, administrations, service providers, research bodies and users – represent some 59 countries.

W3C. With one of its three offices at ERCIM in Sophia Antipolis, the Worldwide Web Consortium is an international consortium where member organizations, the staff and the public work together to develop international Web standards. Developed and directed by Tim Berners-Lee, W3C’s mission is to lead the World Wide Web to its full potential by developing protocols and guidelines that ensure long-term growth for the Web. Its operations are jointly administered with MIT and Keio University in Japan.

… in Telecommunications
Texas Instruments (Wireless Communication Division), Motorola, NXP Semiconductor, Cambridge Silicon Radio, Quescom, Trusted Logic, HP (Hewlett Packard), Siemens, Ulticom Europe, and more.

… in VoIP
Voip telecom, Udcast, U4EA Technologies LTD, Popular Telephony, Polycom, Nextiraone France, Mindspeed, Imagine Broadband, Centile Europe, and more.

No less than eight competitive clusters – including the global Secure Communicating Solutions (SCS) cluster – integrate key players in eight key industries throughout the PACA (Provence Alpes Côte d’Azur) region.
CIM-PACA microelectronics platform, heavily financed by the Regional Authority, organizes collaboration in specification, design and packaging/security.

A wide variety of small and mid-sized companies who have chosen the region to develop will be at 3GSM next week.

3ROAM… wireless packet-based infrastructure solutions. www.3roam.com; BLEUROY.COM… interactive communications consulting. www.bleuroy.com; CELLCAST INTERACTIF… mobile marketing and communications. www.cellcast-interactif.com; DIG DASH… innovative software for mobile information delivery. www.digdash.com; DMAILER… portable backup and synchronization software solutions. www.dmailer.com; EXKEE… game development studio. www.exkee.com; INTUITIVLAB… tools for creating and publishing R.I.A. and video. www.intuitivlab.com; IMGAWARDS… the International Mobile Gaming Awards. www.imgawards.com; KUANTIC… machine-to-machine communications over GSM. www.kuantic.com; MADWAVES… interactive digital music technology & audio engines. www.madwaves.com; MIYOWA… mobile instant messaging and entertainment. www.miyowa.com; MOBILE DISTILLERY… porting and optimizing software for JAVA mobile applications. www.mobile-distillery.com; MOBIVILLAGE… white label mobile content publishing. www.mobivillage.com; NETBRICKS… portable source code software for telecommunication protocols. www.netbricks.com; PACA MOBILE CENTER… handset library and mobile knowledge database. www.pacamobilecenter.com; TRUSTED LOGIC… secure, open-technology middleware for embedded systems. www.trusted-logic.com; VOX INZEBOX… mobile audio and video content for Tourism. www.voxinzebox.com; MEDMULTIMED… regional association of digital content producers. www.medmultimed.org.

The Côte d’Azur’s association to help expatriates learn the French way of life offers upcoming workshops on “Job Hunting” (February 9); “Inheritance Taxes” and “Legal Taxes” (February 12); “Concept of Time” and “Friendly Relations” (February 16).

The PACA East Incubator presents, “Pilot your Information System project, Your Expertise from the Start” with consultants Dominique Ribouchon and Annie Grzadka. February 13 at ESINSA-UNSA.

“Guarantee Performance and the Endurance of your Applications” is the theme of the breakfast meeting organized by new partners Navlink and NeufCegetel. February 15. Contact: +33 (0)4 97 23 22 60.

The European Union has allocated € 32 billion for collaborative, multi-partner R&D programs starting in 2007. Find about how to participate, at this seminar with Gérard Brugal and Jean François Feldman. February 16 and March 23 at the Sophia Antipolis Foundation.

In response to the growth of collaborative projects in Sophia Antipolis, the Sophia Antipolis Foundation offers this training on protection of expertise. Presented by Gérard Bonneau, industrial property consultant and agent for the INP and the European Patent Office, and Christopher Valdy, business attorney specializing in business transfer, industrial partnership and taxes. February 20 at the Sophia Antipolis Foundation. Contact: 04 92 96 78 14/15.

TEAM Côte d’Azur was in Davos Switzerland January 24-28, where some 2,400 economic and political leaders gathered for the 35th World Economic Forum.

TEAM Côte d’Azur was at the forum with French promotion agency, Invest in France, demonstrating the French Riviera’s strength in two areas: partnerships with international and French companies, and collaborative R&D within competitive clusters. At two different gatherings, leaders in industry, high tech and services shared their experiences of France. The example most cited by the speakers on these two key themes was their presence in Sophia Antipolis.

WIPRO’s P.R. Chandrasekar, CEO Americas & Europe, mentioned WIPRO’s Sophia Antipolis Development Center, creation in 2006 in conjunction with its acquisition of NewLogic. Nestlé’s Luis Cantarell, Executive VP Europe, underscored the success of Galderma’s dermatology research center in Sophia Antipolis, joint venture with Nestlé and L’Oréal. HP’s Francesco Serafini, VP EMEA, explained his group’s involvement in creating the SCS Cluster. GEMALTO’s Jacques Seneca, President (formerly GEMPLUS), focused on his company’s cooperation with SMEs in Sophia Antipolis on R&D projects within the SCS Cluster. CISCO’s Chris Dedicoat, President European Markets, detailed the company’s results at its French technology center in Sophia Antipolis, including more than 80 licenses and patents. He referred to the responsiveness of the technopole’s key players, TEAM Côte d’Azur among them, as the determining element that convinced them to join the SCS Cluster.

As for Christine Lagarde, Minister of Exterior Commerce who led the French delegation to Davos, she paid tribute to Sophia Antipolis, saying the technology park contributed to reinforce France’s power of attraction in terms of partnership and research.

A Japanese delegation from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Sciences and Technologies (MEXT) visited in Sophia Antipolis to study the technopole.

A Japanese delegation from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Sciences and Technologies (MEXT) visited in Sophia Antipolis to study the technology park.
The group was in the park on February 8 and 9 to learn more about the organization, management and policy and strategy of Sophia Antipolis. The intention is to understand the reasons for the technopole’s success, and to envision possibilities for international collaboration associated with competitive clusters. The delegation was comprised of four key Japanese officials – Mr. Kazuyuki WATANABE (Head of the Management Section, Budget and Accounts Division), Mr. Noritoshi INABA (Deputy Director, Research and Development Bureau), Mr. Tadatoshi KANEKO (Deputy Director, Budget and Accounts Division), and Mr. Yoshio KAMIJI (Unit Chief, Audit Section, Budget and Accounts Division) – and an interpreter.
The two-day program, organized by Team Côte d’Azur, included presentations on the general economy of the Côte d’Azur, specific aspects of the Sophia Antipolis Science Park, and partnership research within the SCS Clusters, as well as visits to NXP and France Telecom’s R&D centre.

Frost & Sullivan, the global growth consulting market leader, opens an office in the "Terrasses de Sophia”. This move is part of the company's European development strategy, aimed at increasing its presence in key European business centers. It is geared at reinforcing the company's position on the European market and developing its Mediterranean presence. According to Jan Krisitansen, Director of Operations, "this decision was well thought out, as a strong element of Frost & Sullivan's European development strategy. Sophia Antipolis was a top-of-mind location for us, as its "raison d'être" and values are a perfect match with Frost & Sullivan's vision".
Frost & Sullivan maintains a global presence employing 1,700 people in 29 offices, including several recent office openings in key commercial and industrial centers across Europe and Asia, eg Milan, Warsaw, Dubai, Tel Aviv and Cape Town.

Ilog, a spin-off of INRIA Sophia Antipolis, is in the process of acquiring LogicTools, a Chicago-based provider of strategic supply chain planning solutions. As part of the acquisition, ILOG will gain a research and development (R&D) site in Eugene, Oregon and an office in Chicago. The acquisition, for approximately $15 million, is expected to be completed in April. “Given ILOG’s leadership position in resource optimization products and its long history of success in the supply chain market as a strategic technology provider to both corporations and software companies, including LogicTools, I can’t think of a better company for our customers and employees to join,” said LogicTools Chairman David Simchi-Levi.

The Côte d’Azur’s association to help expatriates learn the French way of life offers upcoming workshops: “Business Culture” and “Vaccination Certifications for Pets” (March 16); “The Media” and “Understanding French Jokes and Idioms” (March 23); “Home Renovation, Extension and Building” and “Religions” (March 26); “Skills Evaluation” (March 30).

In response to the growth of collaborative projects in Sophia Antipolis, the Sophia Antipolis Foundation offers this training on protection of expertise. Presented by Gérard Bonneau, industrial property consultant and agent for the INP and the European Patent Office, and Christopher Valdy, business attorney specializing in
business transfer, industrial partnership and taxes. February 20 at the Sophia Antipolis
Foundation. Contact: 04 92 96 78 14/15

The Sophia Antipolis Foundation and Team Côte d’Azur organize this breakfast meeting, conducted by Marc Moreau, of the Ministry of the Economy, Finance and Industry, on the development and experimentation of satellite tracking services. March 12 at the Sophia Antipolis Foundation. Registration is free by mandatory.

The European Union has allocated € 32 billion for collaborative, multi-partner R&D programs starting in 2007. Find about how to participate, at this seminar with Gérard Brugal and Jean François Feldman. March 23 at the Sophia Antipolis Foundation.

An INRIA Sophia Antipolis research team is studying micro-algae and its potential as a bio-fuel.

Ranging in size from two to 40 millionths of a millimeter, certain species of the tiny organisms produce 80% of their body weight in lipids, and when they are stressed, that number skyrockets. In fact, one hectare of ground with micro-algae can produce 30 times the amount of oil as with sunflowers or canola plants, which actually makes it feasible as an organic fuel, and with minimal negative impact on the environment.

The € 2.8 million program began in December 2006 and will continue for three years. The collaboration includes INRIA, CNRS, the Atomic Energy Commission, universities, CIRAD (Centre de coopération internationale en recherche agronomique pour le développement) and the PME Valcobio. With teams in Germany, China, Spain, the US, England and Japan in competition, Bernard's team hopes to be the first to develop a species capable of the highest levels of production and reproduction possible.
The project is piloted by INRIA Sophia Antipolis where Olivier Bernard’s research team is working on developing a viable production model for the project.
Interview with Olivier Bernard, INRIA Sophia Antipolis.

A word about the concept?
The 1st generation of biofuels based on plant oils are beginning to be commercialized, followed by a 2nd generation which uses the whole plant. However these 1st and 2nd generation pose basic problems:
1° It would require colza plantations covering 120% of the surface of France to satisfy our needs,
2° These cultures rely on fertilizers which in turn cause water pollution.
So research has started on a 3rd generation biofossil involving new organisms.

What are the advantages of micro algae?
Micro algae are developed in highly productive aquariums (photo-bioreactors) which would only necessitate 1/th of France’s surface; The fertilizers used can be recycled, resulting in zero contamination; micro algae are not only non-polluting to produce but they consume carbon dioxide and transform it into oil.

What is the nature of the research in this field carried out by INRIA Sophia Antipolis?
The real challenge is to manage micro algae like machines despite their naturally unpredictable behavior. Research is being carried out within our INRIA COMORE team based on computer and applied mathematics to optmise the use of these complexe living systems.

What is your prognosis?
It’s always difficult for a researcher to give a prognosis, especially in 10 years time… However, during the last few years, you can feel the wind has turned and important teams all over the world are working with considerable means to develop biofuels. Competition will allow us to go farther and faster in our research. The race is on and our goal is to be the first!

Livebookings Network, an online marketing and real-time booking service for restaurants and diners, has established its European Center on the Côte d'Azur.

The Livebookings Internet portal performs the same service for restaurants as the Global Distribution System (GDS) for flights, hotels, cars, etc., enabling users to check availability of restaurants in real-time. The English company covers some 3,000 restaurants in Europe and has more than 150 partners. It is solidly based in London, where bookings at some 800 restaurants represent about a million place settings a year. Livebookings is now expanding into Scandinavia and the Nordic countries, and is prospecting throughout Europe.

Its new base on the Côte d'Azur is part of the company’s 2007 strategy to extend its network into European cities. “We are forerunners in the restaurant domain, and our solution has appeal both because it's easy to use and because of the partnerships we've established with online agencies, guides, and newspapers, as well as web sites for local promotion” explains Bruno Mafflard, Business Development Manager Europe & Middle East. “At first, we're going to concentrate our efforts on France and Spain, important tourist destinations for Scandinavians, Germans, and English who have a solid buying power and use the Internet to make their reservations. We will also focus on other European countries like Holland, Germany and Belgium, where the Internet mindset is well developed.”
The European office, which will be based in Sophia Antipolis, is due to experience rapid growth throughout the year 2007, where it will develop its sales activities and partnership deals.

The Livebookings Network has been acquired by E-business specialist Profitable.net Ltd., whose objective is to grow its Global Distribution System platform beyond the Scandinavian and British markets.

The Sophia Antipolis Foundation and Team Côte d'Azur have organized a breakfast meeting on March 12 in order to best provide information about this call for projects.

With the market for satellite tracking and positioning undergoing intense worldwide growth, the Ministry of the Economy, Finance and Industry launches a call for ULISS collaborative projects again this year. The call focuses on projects that develop and experiment with new or improved services for industry and commerce, personal and public use. The budget is €3 million. The presentation will take place at the Sophia Antipolis Foundation; and presenters will include Marc Moreau (Ministry of the Economy, Finance and Industry), Marc Jeannot (CNES/FR/LN), Jean-Claude Dardelet (Galileo), and Georges Gallais (VU Log, Galileo Masters winner 2005).

More: http://www.telecom.gouv.fr/uliss

The Côte d'Azur marked an overall increase in corporate revenues of 4.5%. Every major area in the metropole – from Menton to Grasse – has seen a rise in both revenues and jobs. Carros-Plaine du Var tops the list with revenues up 8% and jobs up 5%, followed by Menton whose revenues were up 5%, and Nice, up 4%.

Four Sophia Antipolis start-ups and one Nice company were presented among the « 100 start-ups to be discovered » listed in Usine Nouvelle magazine dated 19 February in the Côte d’Azur’s thriving multimedia, telecom and health sectors. Keeneo figures among the 13 multimedia start-ups, UDcast and Preceptel are cited among the 14 telecom start-ups and Median Technologies is presented among the 11 Halthcare start-ups which also includes Kaerys in Nice.

Paul Nival of the Villefranche Oceanographi Observatory presents INRIA's next Morgenstern Seminar on "Modeling Marine Food Chains and exploiting ocean resources". March 15 at the Polytechnic School of the University of Nice SophiaAntipolis. Morgenstern seminars are part of the STIC Doctorate School.

The training, which starts on February 19 and runs for 10 days, brings together 115 participants from over 35 nationalities coming from different universities. Dedicated to flood forecasting and the development of flood-response solutions, Hydro Europe deals with the entire basin around the Var and 3,000 sq. km inland. "We live in a more and more complex world, and the environmental management solutions in place to date no longer apply. And yet today, floods and the management of extreme phenomena in the urban milieu represent major stakes" explains Philippe Gourbesville, European Coordinator of the Euro-Aquae Masters at the University of Nice Sophia Antipolis, and Director of UNSA's U.F.R. Espaces and Cultures.
A virtual European institute for water management, Hydro Europe has partnerships with six other European universities in Germany, Belgium, Switzerland, Hungary and the Netherlands. And the concept born on the Côte d’Azur is about to go global. “The interaction between politics, social matters, the economy and the environment which characterizes Europe, corresponds to the operational mode of countries throughout the world, such as Asian countries for instance” notes Mr. Gourbesville. “That’s why, after Hydro Europe, we are going to create a Hydro Asia training next summer, that should be followed by Hydro India and Hydro Russia.”

Hydro Europe is part of the HYDROPROTECH Masters of the University of Nice – Sophia Antipolis, which provides high level training hydro technical project managers since 1999. Each year, this training (BAC+5 level) graduates about 20 people, many of them working professionals who have pursued the coursework as continuing education. “The HYDROPROTECH Masters favors the development of decision-making tools that enable water management professionals to choose the best solution when faced with a given situation.”
A EuroAquae joint masters (www.euroaquae.or) has been established in the same spirit as HydroEurope, and is coordinated from Nice as the first joint masters to be delivered in Europe.

Femmes 3000 organizes its next event around a vision for sustainable development, with sessions on training and the creation of activities aligned with this goal. It will be followed by the “Soirée de la Femme” gala event and fashion show in evening. March 8 at Agora Einstein in Sophia Antipolis. Contact for details: Isabelle Denayer: +33 (0)4 92 90 73 30 / idenayer@cari.fr

Bernard Sans, President of the PACA Sea Pole will present the sea cluster and its activities during a breakfatst at the Fondation Sophia Antipolis on 19 March which will be attended by Pierre Laffitte, President of the Fondation Sophia Antipolis.
Registration: Nadège Bouget - Tel: 33 (0)4 92 96 78 17.

Less than a half hour from the Nice Côte d’Azur international airport, the Sophia Antipolis Urban District offers the world-class environment of Europe’s premier science park plus key affiliations with seven competitive clusters. In 2006, the district included some 27,000 hectares of land – 57% in a protected natural setting, the other 43% in a developed urban area. Utilizing some 1.2 million square meters of office space and services, 1,300 companies employ 30,000 people from 68 countries.
Today, there are 48,000 square meters of stock available, 49,000 square meters of new office requests, and 34,000 of transactions in progress. Development plans call for an increase across the board between now and 2020: 16,000 more jobs, 14,000 more housing units, and 23,000 more inhabitants. The four largest building operations already underway include Galderma’s 18,500 square meter R&D Center, the 20,000 square meter STIC IT campus, four office programs totaling 35,000 square meters, and the 11,000 square meter Satin Philippe services center. Another 600,000 square meters in development programs will follow.

7 competitiveness clusters
With 7 competitiveness clusters among which the worldwide SCS (Secured Communicating Solutions), the Côte d'Azur offers unique conditions for R&D investments. This disposition involving tax and social benefits was put in place by the French government to boost research and innovation by facilitating joint ventures between large corporations, smallers companies and public research teams.

With its R&D Office in Sophia Antipolis, Trustive simplifies user access a global network of hotspots with a Universal Access Method (UAM), which includes a single familiar user interface, unified charges and a single bill. Trustive’s software, the HotSpotter, automatically detects available Trustive wireless networks in Europe, Asia and America for roaming users and offers the same UAM at every hotspot.
Trustive’s growth is reflected in the number of hotspots in its network – which has increased from 8,000 to 20,000 in the past six months – and the number of access agreements with “roaming partners”, now totaling 47. Trustive has wholesale agreements with members of the Vodafone Group, KPN Mobile, the Telefonica Group and other leading telecom operators. It aslo has partnerships with Sony, Dell, Packard Bell and Hilton Hotels to bundle the Trustive services. Trustive’s R&D team of eight in Sophia Antipolis produces an annual research project on the roaming market, whose results are revealed at “The Wireless Event” held in London each May.

The deadline for submitting papers for the 8th edition of the leading smar card industry conference (September 19-21, 2007 in Sophia Antipolis) is March 9. Original papers are sought on topics from security innovations to Smart card web servers, and will be published by Springer Science.

The Sophia Antipolis Foundation and Team Côte d’Azur organize this breakfast meeting, conducted by Marc Moreau, of the Ministry of the Economy, Finance and Industry, on the development and experimentation of satellite tracking services. March 12 at the Sophia Antipolis Foundation. Registration is free by mandatory.

“When Innovation Becomes a Business Strategy!” is the opening conference of the Patent Action Bluc, organized by the Maison des Entreprise in Sophia Antipolis and INPI. March 13 at the Maison des Entreprise. Registration free but mandatory: +33 (0)4 93 95 45 12.

The Sophia Antipolis Foundation in partnership with AIST hosts its next seminar on free software, with presentations from AFNOR-Standarmedia, IEEE, INRIA and ETSI, and a roundtable of high-visibility free software users. March 16 at the Sophia Antipolis Foundation.

Shiadzu France (Société Spécialisée dans l'Instrumentation Scientifique) will present its fifth annual seminar in Grasse on March 29 at the Hotel Mercure Sophia Antipolis. Professor Luigi Mondello and Dr. Hans Ulrich Baier will present innovative analytical approaches and the latest development in idenitification o components.
Registration: http://www.shimadzu.fr/contact/ +33.1.60.95.10.10.

The SCS Competitiveness Cluster obtains one of its highest fundings for its research program dedicated to mobile multimedia Internet.

The MaxSSIMM secured solution for mobile multimedia Internet which is led by 10 members of the SCS cluster, has just been approved for funding by the French AII (Industrial Innovation Agency). Combining a SIM card, mobile phone and operator servers, the MaXSSIMM program should help developers deploy new multimedia services for phones. It will also give users the ability to personalize their terminals and better protect their personal data stored there. The large scale projetct represents an R&D budget of € 122 million over 30 months, with € 35 million provided by AII.
“The market is asking for more and more creative, innovative applications, more demanding in size and security, such as pay TV,” explains Philippe Vallée, Vice President Telecommunications and R&D at GemAlto, the global leader in digital security that leads the project. “MaXSSIMM is the alliance of technology and imagination.”
The MaXSSIMM consortium gathers companies in the PACA region, with Côte d’Azur partners including STMicroelectronics, NXP, Amadeus, Trusted Logic, Institut Eurécom, as well as SAGEM Communication in Paris. “This common task represents an excellent tool for enrichment and progress to the degree that the visions of its participants – users, clients, suppliers, researchers – could be shared and make the project coherent with market needs,” says Philippe Monteiller, Assistant Director of the SCS Cluster. “The network, established thanks to the SCS Cluster, is a fabulous accelerator of the relevance of technology and business choices. The projects are enriched, and very quickly validated thanks to the complementarities of its members.”
To date, 31 projects have been labelized by the SCS Cluster, representing a total budget of € 230 million with € 50 million in financing for 16 projects.

W3C launches collaborative workshops to revamp HTML web language.

With tremendous encouragement from the design and developer communities as well as browser vendors, W3C is re-launching its work on HTML with a new look at HTML4, which it completed 10 years ago.
"HTML started simply, with structured markup, no licensing requirements, and the ability to link to anything. More than anything, this simplicity and openness has led to its tremendous and continued success," explained Tim Berners-Lee, W3C director and inventor of HTML. "It's time to revisit the standard and see what we can do to meet the current community needs, and to do so effectively with commitments from browser manufacturers in a visible and open way."
W3C will focus on adding new features to the HTML format in a manner that is consistent with community practice and backward compatible. It will help ensure inter-operablity with robust testing and validation services available to the community for future technologies. W3C’s HTML Working Group will include active participation from browser vendors, application designers, and content developers.
It will also pick up its work on XHTML, which was launched in 2000 but slow to gain broad support because of the significant legacy of HTML-based Web content. XHTML has proved valuable in other markets – including the mobile devices, enterprise applications, servers, and an increasing number of Web applications such as blogging software – and these markets are growing. So W3C will define an XML syntax for the new HTML in addition to the classic HTML syntax, and build it independently of HTML.

Daclem Solutions, which recently joined forces with Devnet, has bought out All Investor’s, thus acquiring ownership of the All Telecom™ brand as well as the portfolio of All Telecom clients. Founded in 2000 in Belgium and established in Sophia Antipolis in 2002, All Telecom is an alternative fixed telephony operator for the hospitality market in France, and the leading hotspot operator in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region. This acquisition of the largest client portfolio in PACA allows Daclem Solutions – Devnet to maximize their growth as the provider of high-bandwidth Internet access in the Hospitality Business sector.
“Beyond the synergy created by the complementary activities of both companies, our customers will also benefit from a consolidated offer in terms of quality and functionality as well as enhanced expertise in the hospitality business,” comments Edgardo da Fonseca, President Daclem Solutions-Devnet. “This fusion allows us to provide and extended offer in integrated voice, data, video, wired and wireless solutions throughout France. According to All Investor’s Kamil El Kadiri, “This merger will give birth to a major player for Telecommunications in the Hospitality Industry.”

The recent association of Daclem with Devnet (specialists in high-speed access and applications) has led to the creation of the Softway product and services catalogue, designed for the Hospitality Business and proposing reduced-cost access to all the latest IP technologies: software for voice, data, video and collaboration.

With 25 years’ experience in Life Sciences, MXM has developed an internationally recognized expertise in implantable artificial organs. In 2006, the company restructured itself around its four main activities, creating four subsidiaries: Neurelec makes cochlear implants to restore hearing; Neuromédics creates neuro-stimulation implants for the urinary system; Synoptic produces intra-ocular implants to replace the natural crystalline lens of the eye; and Sterlab specializes in microbiology and sterilization of medical appliances.
An innovative actor in the fast evolving field of medical implants, MXS expertise relies on in-depth knowledge of bio-compatible materials, polymers, elastomers, ceramics and precious metals, and manufacturing methods. It also draws on specialized know-how in a range of fields such as neurophysiology, micro-electronics, signal processing, neuronal networks…. Large scale R&D investments and partnerships with research institutes such as CRNS and INSERM allows the company to remain in the forefront of biomedical research.
Created in 1977 by Guy Charvin in Antibes, the Laboratoire MXM located in Sophia Antipolis in 1985 on a 5 000 sq.m. site, which includes some 90 employees -mostly engineers and commercial representatives, as well as researchers. MXM which has an average annual growth of 15%, has developed a worldwide presence through a network of subsidiaries and distributors. Its customers, mostly hospitals and clinics, are based in Europe, Africa and Asia.

Accreditation for higher education institutions in management and business administration, run by the European Foundation for Management Development. With EQUIS accreditation for all its programs, CERAM joins the groups of business schools in Europe, USA, Asia and Australia recognized for excellence in higher education programs. CERAM is now the only European business school to have three key distinctions: ISO 9001 certified, European finalist in the 2005 European Foundation Grand Prize for Quality of Management (EFQM) and the EQUIS accreditation.

The SCS Cluster presents this conference to explain to SMEs the positioning, structure, and processes of the SCS cluster, and how high-tech SMEs can participate. Includes a presentation of the Cap Innovation Méditerranée Awards 2006-2007. March 22 at CERAM Sophia Antipolis. Registration is free but mandatory.

INRIA Sophia Antipolis will honor all its 2006 award-winning scientists in Information and Communication Technology Sciences, in a ceremony on March 19 at CICA (Centre International de Communication Avancée).

Conference organized by PMI France Sud Forum with presentations made by four top project management software publishers on MICROSOFT EPM, PMTalk, PLANISWARE and HLP-SMILE
March 22 at CERAM Sophia Antipolis.

This breakfast forum will address “How To Reduce your Messaging Budget by Three.” Presented by François Provost, Director Southern Europe for Mirapoint, Nicolas Serrano, Sales Director France for Computerlinks, and Jean Ghosn, Vice President of Navlink. March 22 at the Navlink Datacenter in Sophia Antipolis.
Contact: +33 (0)4 97 23 22 50.

ASK, a leader in Calypso dual interface and contactless smart cards for public transportation, has signed an agreement to provide Calypso with TanGO Operating System.

"This new strategy strengthens transport operators’ decision to implement Calypso-based fare collection systems. They are now offered multi-source smart card manufacturers,” says Patrick Sure, Transport and Banking Business Line Manager. TanGO was developed to provide a customized and optimized Operating System for a new generation of cards accommodating multiple chip providers. It was successfully implemented in Torino during the 2006 Winter Olympic Games. ASK, whose company headquarters is in Sophia Antipolis, has regional offices in Paris, Singapore and Culver City, USA.

UDcast, a leading provider of IP over broadcast and satellite media, and Ipanema Technologies, a leader in application traffic management systems for wide area networks (WANs), have signed an agreement to develop a new WAN acceleration solution. The joint solution will accelerate file-based applications over terrestrial and satellite wide area networks to optimize network use for business value by satisfying users, reducing costs, managing risks and controlling complexity. According to Frank Lyonnet, Director Product Management for Ipanema Technologies, “The integration of [UDcast’s] file-based acceleration with Ipanema’s existing feature set will deliver the single most comprehensive application traffic management solution on the market.” The solution is scheduled for launch in the 4th Quarter 2007.
Founded in June 2000 by members of the INRIA research centre, UDcast maintains its global headquarters in Sophia-Antipolis, France.

The merger this month of Novenci (formerly PCS Enterprises) and Sivea into Noeva creates the region’s largest supplier of computer equipment and services, with 85 people and € 23 million in revenues. Jacques Bresciano (CEO Novenci), Philippe Charmasson, (President Novenci) and Jean-Claude Robert (CEO and founder Sivea), who met in March 2006, decided to merge for a more competitive size in the marketplace. « Noeva is the only independant structure of this size in the PACA region, » notes Jean-Claude Robert, founder of Sivea, and vice-president of the new group. « Our immediate competitors are now situated at a national level. » Novea Group which will be presided by Jacques Bresciano will be organized into four new departments: major accounts, distribution of hardware and software, solutions for SMEs, and business computer training.

Annual meeting of this major association – over 100 members representing 12 000 jobs.
Tuesday 20 March at 5 PM at C.I.C.A. 2229, route des Crète, Sophia Antipolis.

Telecom Valley which celebrated its 15th year in 2006, confirms its role as a major actor in the Côte d’Azur high-tech sector.

The General Assembly of the Telecom Valley association, which took place March 20 in Sophia Antipolis, in the presence of all its members, was the occasion to confirm the role and importance of the association in facilitating the synergies at the heart of the STIC sector. “I have made Innovation one of the strong axes of my mandate,” said Laurent Londeix in taking the podium for the last time as outgoing president of Telecom Valley. “And to innovate, one must have scientific excellence, willing industrialists, necessary infrastructures and strong networking between actors. On the Côte d’Azur we have all these ingredients which allow us to undertake large projects.”
Jean-Pierre Henry, director of the Alcatel Alenia Space site in Cannes, was elected to the presidency of the association; and a Board was also named, composed of Jean-Bernard Titz (Dev-Help), Secretary; Antoine Perry (SeaSatCom), Deputy Secretary; Thierry Christol (Overlog), Treasurer and Thierry Audier (SII), Deputy Treasurer.
The General Assembly highlighted the strong growth of Telecom Valley over the last two years: increase in the number of members which toped the 100 mark in 2006; growing number of SMEs and innovative start-ups; increase in budget (from 200,000 € in 2005 to 450,000 € in 2006) which should reach 700,000 €n 2007 thanks to institutional funding.
2006 has seen the perpetuation and success of several collective activities such as Tourism@, Sophia Is Open for Projects, Challenge Jeunes Pousses, 3GSM, the Best Thesis Prize, KMP (Knowledge Management Platform) and its extension to the SCS Cluster, etc. and the launch of new initiatives: Innovation Prize, “Telecom Valley Business Lunch,” thematic breakfasts, creation of work groups, etc.
The year has also been marked by the empowerment of the SCS (Secured Communicating Solutions) Cluster and Telecom Valley’s strong involvement in the activities of this cluster it helped launch; 27 Telecom Valley members have participated in the 31 projects labeled by the cluster.
Among the projects in the pipeline for 2007, a centre for tourism innovation in Nice which will serve as a tourism and technology usage lab, and the launch of a regional Telecom platform for experimentation based on the model of the CIMPACA microelectronics one.

Interview with Jean-Pierre Henry, Director of Alcatel Alenia Space in Cannes and president 2007-2009 of Telecom Valley.

Your nomination as President of Telecom Valley comes shortly after Alcatel Alenia Space's decision to locate its headquarters in Cannes. Can this be seen as a proof of Alcatel's strong commitment to the Côte d'Azur territory?
Alcatel Alenia Space has always had a strong involvement and been committed to the Côte d'Azur territority.
It's a fact that the close ties developed in 2005 between Alenia Group and the Italian Finmeccanica which set up its operational center in Cannes, reinforces this comitment which is all the more strongly insribed in the long term. The support of Bernard Brochand, Députy Mayor of Cannes, in helping us expand our site, is also a determining factor that has favoured our longstanding presence in the area.

You are taking your functions at at time when the association, which just celebrated its 15th year, is coming to maturity. What will be your main focus for Telecom Valley?
Telecom Valley has known remarkable growth, especially in the last couple of years. It has greatly contributed to the launch of the SCS competitiveness cluster. One of our main goals will be to ensure that the projects that have been labeled or are in the process of being so, are successfully carried through and find the necessary development. Several actions within Telecom Valley are already focusing on these issues and it will be up to us to give them their full strength.

For Gérard Giraudon, Director of INRIA Sophia Antipolis, “To fully understand research and to ensure the transfer of technologies that ensue, R&D must be linked to the economic reality, because one nourishes the other.”
The meeting unfolded around exchanges, with round tables on three themes: “New Technologies in Service of Life Sciences,” “The Third Dimension of Multimedia,” and “Scientific Calculation, Network Optimization, Risk Prevention, and Decision Aid.” The objective of the day was to reaffirm the necessity of dialog to facilitate the chain of innovation. “The objective is to go from a Research-Industry-User structure to a network system, where the user participates in research directly through periodic discussions.” This approach is illustrated by INRIA Sophia Antipolis active policy of multiple partnerships aiming to bring to bridge the gap between research, economic stakes and final users.

Participants included: Pr. Daniel Benchimol, head of the Nice-Medical University, Dominique Pouliquen, Managing Director Realviz, Jean-Pierre Henry, Director of Alcatel Alénia Space in Cannes ; INRIA researchers Nicholas Ayache, Jean-Daniel Boissonnat, Pierre Alliez, Serge Piperno, Director CERMICS, Urtzi Ayesta, Researcher at LAAS-CNRS lab.
Political representatives present included: Jean Leonetti, Deputy Mayor of Antibes Juan les Pins and President of CASA; Marc Daunis, PACA Regional Councilor, Mayor of Valbonne, Vice President of CASA; Jean-Pierre Mascarelli, General Councilor, Mayor of Bouyon, President Team Côte d'Azur and Sophia Alpes Maritimes Syndicate, David Lisnard, Deputy Mayor and Delegate to Economic and Tourism Development in the City of Cannes, President of the Palais des Festivals in Cannes.

Nicholas Ayache, Grand Prize of the EADS Foundation, is one of the world’s top specialists in medical imagery and robotics. He currently directs one of the most important French teams specialized in the analysis and simulation of biological and medical images, based in Sophia Antipolis. For Mr. Ayache, “Medical simulation is going to become unavoidable and open the way to infinite perspectives.”
Jean-Daniel Boissonnat, Grand Prize of the EADS Foundation, is head of GEOMETRICA, the most important French team specialized in Algorithmic Geometry. This discipline, of which he is one of the founders, processes algorithmic properties as geometric objects, making it possible to represent the geometric forms on the computer, manipulate them and make calculations from them. “This is one of the most beautiful mixtures of mathematics and computing that offers new means of measurement, from microscopic to gigantic,” notes Mr. Boissonnat. Serge Piperno, Blais Pascal Prize from the Academy of Sciences, is currently Director of CERMICS (Center of Education and Research in Mathematics and Scientific Calculus). His work centers on the problem of digital simulation of multi-physic phenomena for today’s scientific calculation, in order to develop tools that take into account the complexity of reality while at the same time maintaining an affordable cost in terms of size of models and calculation time. The range of applications is very large, from calculating portable telephone radiations on the brain to determining seismic risks in a region.
Among the other prizewinners: Urtzi Aysta, Telecom Valley® Thesis Prize, for his work on the mechanisms of priority for short connections by the Internet; Pierre Alliez, Eurographics Prize young researcher for his contributions to infographics and geometric calculation. Also honored was Denis Talay, Research Director at INRIA, elected in June 2006 President of SMAI (Société de Mathématiques Appliquées et Industrielles).

This third edition of Cap Innovation Méditerranée, which took place March 22 at CERAM, focused on promoting innovative companies in two transversal sectors: ITC and Life Sciences. In all, six prizes totaling 30,000 € and two Special Mentions were awarded. The ceremony took place in the presence of Dominique Estève, President of the French Riviera Chamber of Commerce, and Jacques Pfister, President Marseille-Provence Chamber of Commerce. In the ITC sector, sponsored by the SCS Cluster, two Côte d’Azur companies were prizewinners: security software developer MobileGov (Innovative Startup Prize), and Seemage (Innovative Solution Prize) specialized in numeric models and visualisation. For Life Sciences, sponsored by the Bioméditerranée Cluster, the Innovative Solution prize went to the Biot-based company Txcell, specializing in therapeutic treatment of chronic inflammatory diseases. Visioscope, Nice startup specializing in software development for medical imagery, received one of two Special Mentions sponsored by the PACA East Incubator, Impulse, and Bell de Mai. Prizes awarded outside the Côte d’Azur: ITC – Spinroc (Business Creation Prize); Life Sciences – Heatwave Technology (Innovative Business Creation Prize); and Protomed (Innovative Startup Prize); Special Mention – Bazile Telecom.

Created in 2001 in Aix-en-Provence, Emblemsoft has been developing its activities in Sophia Antipolis since September (among the other large French technopoles – Grenoble/Crolles, Aix-en-Provence/Rousset, Paris, etc.) to offer its services to the different industrial actors of these parks: semiconductor companies, software developers, R&D centers, etc. International in its culture, Emblemsoft combines the activities of an SSII and a recruiting office, with expatriates from all over Europe (the UK, Germany, Sweden, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Portugal, Spain, etc.) for both onsite technical assistance and direct job placement. With more than 15 years of expertise and experience in its mother firm, Emblemsoft focuses on experienced consultants who are experts in their domains: mobile telephones, B2B wireless applications, finances, Information Systems, automation, aeronautics, etc.

During the past year, CERAM’s Service Management students have been working on the mission “The New CHACOK Client: Client Relations Policy, between Conquest and Winning Loyalty” for Côte d’Azur fashion creator. Upon presentation of their final projects to CHACOK corporate management (General Manager, Sales Manager and Artistic Director) on March 19, three top groups were retained by the company and awarded for the relevance and originality of their work. « This initiative is part of the Cacok philosophy to carry out educational actions that involve a range of training programs. » explains Laure Grateau, Director Communication for Chacok. « It is very enriching to work with these young students who provide a fresh outlook and multicultural scope, and it fits into founder Arlette Decock’s approach of inspiring herself from different cultures to bring a new vision to the fashion world.”

InTech’Sophia LIRMM and INRIA-Sophia present “Advances and New Applications” in robotics on probable evolutions in the sector, strategies and needs and experiences of industrialists in the sector, and the advances and problems being treated by regional robotics laboratories. April 5 at INRIA Sophia Antipolis. Registration: http://www-sop.inria.fr/intech/formulaires/inscription.shtml

The ninth edition of the Sophia Forum April 5 at Espaces Sophia Antipolis is the place for young graduates to meet potential employers in Sophia Antipolis. In addition to conferences there will be a 45-stand exhibit area, and participation by some 32 companies, and schools such as Polytech’ Nice Sophia, The School of Mines, CERAM, ESAIP and UNSA. More : +33 (0)4 93 95 44 79.

The PASS Competitiveness Cluster, in conjunction with the Sophia Antipolis Foundation, will present its objectives and its projects at a breakfast meeting on April 6. At the Sophia Antipolis Foundation. Contact/RSVP: Nadège Bouget, +33 (0)4 92 96 78 17.

Jean Sage will speak on “Transforming Women Slaves into Women Masters of Their Lives and Fertility and Liberators of Others,” bearing witness to 33 years of work with women in Egypt and the Sudan in the path of Sister Emmanuelle. Round tables to follow. April 10 at CERAM Sophia Antipolis.

AQSACOM – one of the leaders in telecom solutions associated with national security – arrives in Sophia Antipolis.

AQSACOM, an innovative company involved in the international fight against criminal activities and terrorism, arrives in Sophia Antipolis.
Specialized in the development of innovative computing tools for telecommunication networks relying on GSM, GPRS, VoIP technologies…. AQSACOM has developed systems for legal interception and data collection for government agencies and telecom operators. The company is thus involved in the international fight against criminal activities and terrorism. AQSACOM has also created a line of management tools (SINGLE) that permit driving and surveillance of all the equipment of a fixed or mobile telephone network. It conducts 90% of its business with major telecom operators such as France Télécom, Cegetel, Telia, Telstra, Vodaphone, Optus… and with indirect sales to Thales Communication.

Well-established as the leader on the French market the company, created 12 years ago by Gilles Blanc, realizes 92% of its turnover abroad. Its two principle headquarters are situated in France (at Ulis and Sophia Antipolis) with two subsidiaries in Asia-Pacific and North America. It maintains an intense R&D activity to stay ahead of the constantly changing telecom market.

Four questions to Gilles Blanc, founder and CEO of AQSACOM

You have based AQSACOM in Sophia Antipolis. Can you explain the reasons for this choice?
The choice of Sophia Antipolis was decided, on one hand for the international image that the site represents abroad, and for the potential of bilingual or trilingual candidates with strong telecom background that we can recruit here.

How does this decision figure in your global objectives?
In the short term, this site will be developed for projects in R&D and oriented toward the European Communities and others, but we will be recruiting very export-oriented Business Development Managers.

How do you plan to maximize the technopole’s potential (partnerships, associations, competitive clusters, etc.)?
Within the technopole we plan on offering our competencies within the competitive clusters, and we will also seek out ways to benefit from technology partnerships in order to diversify ourselves towards other emerging sectors. We plan on approaching academic teams in Sophia in order to envisage new research on our development of telecom solutions.

What will be the evolution of your site in terms of manpower and development of new markets?
We are thinking long term to recruit a team of 20 people, which will allow us to develop new activities destined to the group of worldwide markets.

W3C has announced a new Web standard that makes it easier to create internationalized XML content. Internationalization Tag Set (ITS) 1.0 helps developers create data languages that support the languages we use around the world. Content can then be localized at lower cost, that is adapted to the language, cultural and other requirements of a specific target market. Whether ITS 1.0 is used to build an internationalized XML schema from scratch, to add support to an existing schema, or to improve the internationalization of existing content, ITS 1.0 gives users the power to create XML for worldwide use.

The CARI Group, general contractors with headquarters in the PACA region, will organize ENR Agora, the first international trade show dedicated to renewable energy July 5 and 6 in Sophia Antipolis. The exclusively professional event will be organized around eight thematic villages – Energy Awareness, Renewable Energies, Energy Savings, Construction and Dwellings, Transportation, Competitiveness Clusters, Territorial Collectives, and Ethics and the Environment. Within each village, a group of exhibitors will focus on one problem throughout the two days of the event.

International experts from science, the economy and institutions will hold a grand debate, followed by plenary sessions on educating citizens, New Renewable Energies (ENR) and profits, and measurement of ecologic challenges. CARI Group President Georges Dao explains: “To date, there is no trade show at an international level dedicated to the economy of energy and to practical solutions in sustainable development. We have the chance on the first European technopole of Sophia Antipolis to assemble an international community unique for its pool of expertise in key sectors, notably those linked to the environmental problem.” There will also be an exhibit area with close to 60 stands, where universities and industrials will demonstrate innovative solutions in the domain.
Contact: Tanguy SAUZADE at +33(0)4 92 90 74 17

Sophia Antipolis IP company UDcast is one of the 100 "Most Promising" Companies Driving the Future of Technology, according to the Red Herring 100 Europe 2007, announced in Cannes on March 21. The Red Herring gives the award to the top 100 private technology companies based in the EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) region each year.
“We are honored to have been selected by Red Herring for this prestigious award,” said Didier Tymen, senior vice president and co-founder, UDcast. “We have built a strong leadership position in the world of IP and Broadcast convergence by delivering high level network products at the edge of the technology, in particular in the new Mobile TV arena.”
Red Herring invited UDcast to present at its Venture Market Europe (VME) 2007 event March 25-27 at the Intercontinental Carlton. The intimate, three-day event (“The Pursuit of Disruption”) explored how European firms are leading the charge in many technology sectors, gaining the competitive advantage, and driving entrepreneurial success in ways that create business opportunities for challengers and incumbents alike.

At INRIA’s next Jacques Morgenstern Seminar, Professor Denis Noble (University of Oxford) will illustrate Principles of Systems Biology with modeling of the heart: “I define systems biology as a theory of biological relativity in which the first principle is that there is no privileged level of causality. … Genes, and proteins, do nothing on their own.” April 12 at EPU in Sophia Antipolis.
Contact: Magali Djian.

The Tourism Management Expertise Center at CERAM Sophia Antipolis and the Travel and Tourism Research Association Europe organize the international meeting, “Tourism, Mobility, and Technology” in Nice. April 23-25 at the Hotel Meridien.

This Côte d’Azur organization, which helps Nordic companies settle in Sohpia Antipolis, presents its First International Professional Forum. Thursday’s Forum focuses on “Challenges and Opportunities for Business and Investment in France.” Friday’s Seminar covers “Importance of Understanding Cultural Differences in International Business.” April 26 & 27 at Agora Einstein Conference Center in Sophia Antipolis.

The “Sophia Antipolis region” will again this year be France’s only gateway for the fourth edition of the Galileo Masters idea competition. Organized in the context of Galileo, whose objective is the creation of a European system of GPS satellite navigation, this competition leads Europe in future commercial applications for satellite navigation. It seeks to sensitize European SMEs and project leaders to the stakes of the program, operational in part in 2008. It is open to graduate students, individuals, very small, small and mid-sized companies, and scientific institutions based within the European community.
Team Côte d’Azur and the Sophia Antipolis Foundation are co-organizing the “Nice-Sophia Antipolis region”– the only national gateway to the competition.
Galileo is, after Airbus and Ariane, the European Union’s largest and most ambitious technology program for the coming years. Investments, totalling about €3.5 billion, should create more than 100,000 jobs in Europe.
Please confirm your presence at the April 20 meeting with Caroline Chambon.

You are the French winner of the Galileo Masters 2006 European Innovation Competition. What does this title mean to you?
The Galileo competition was above all an opportunity to validate our project. The scientific committee is comprised of highly qualified experts and it was therefore very encouraging to be selected in the first place. Receiving the prize for France further convinced us of the potential of Solar Indice and gave us incentive to finalise the project’s technical development. Finally, the Galileo Masters is a highly regarded competition, synonymous to high tech and innovation, and our winning has boosted our credibility with our partners, our investors and above all, with our customers.

Why this project?
This project, conceived by Alain Alexandre Netter, centers on our daily sun exposure –from morning sunrise to evening sunset. Until now, there has been no easy way to evaluate sun exposure, ie to have access to the astronomical calculations of the sun known since Copernicus and Galileo in 1610. It is for this purpose that the SOLAR-INDICE project was born.

What is a solar index?
The Solar-Indice sunshine calculation site makes it possible to answer three fundamental questions concerning the position of the sun: Where will its course cross our bit of the sky? How much time each year will it heat a building facade? And where will it be on a certain day and hour? Thanks to its system of geo-positioning by satellite, Solar Indice answers these questions precisely and without error.

Who is it designed for?
The site allows property owners, buyers and sellers to measure sunshine exposure when evaluating a property. It can be used by all professions linked to real estate (experts, diagnosticians, monitors, engineers, contractors, architects, landscapers, material merchants, real estate agents, or notaries). The index can also be used by all professions linked to sun: photovoltaic energy (solar heating, solar water-heating, etc.); solar protection (blinds, shutters, window glazing and protective films, insulation, windows, drapes, verandas, etc.).

The Sophia Antipolis Foundation will hold an information meeting on the Galileo Masters Competition – the European competition for satellite navigation. April 20 at the Sophia Antipolis Foundation.
Registration is mandatory.

The event, which is supported by Team Côte d’Azur, will take place at the Agora Einstein Conference Centre in Sophia Antipolis on 26 & 27 April, bringing together some 100 French and Nordic people involved in a range of activities on the Côte d’Azur.
Petteri Heng, club member in charge of the event, explains the importance of interacting and understanding cultural differences in order to build North-South business relations.

First a word about Club Sophia Nordic Link (CSNL)…
CSNL is a non-profit association which was created to strengthen commercial and cultural links between the South of France, Monaco and the Nordic countries of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden. Over the years, tens of thousands of people from the North have adopted the Côte d’Azur for leisure or retirement. More recently, strong interest to the region from Nordic businesses has de