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Discover a territory of Innovation

public labs, science and technology platforms and private laboratories

300

lecturers-researchers

The 1st

CO₂ and H₂ hub in France for decarbonisation

288

million euros committed to projects over 5 years in the territory

It was in 2019 that Dunkirk applied for the “Innovative Territory” call for expressions of interest launched by the French Government. The objectives set were clear and ambitious:

To embody an industry of the future, competitive and sustainable
To improve the quality of life of its inhabitants and protect the environment

Profoundly transforming the industrial and port territory, this project was named “Dunkirk, Creative Energy”. Selected and financially supported by the French State, it helps tackle the economic, energy, ecology and social transitions tackled by Dunkirk.

DISCOVER HOW DUNKIRK WILL BECOME A SUSTAINABLE INDUSTRY MODEL

Euraénergie

Euraénergie is a tool for promoting Dunkirk’s innovation ecosystem. It steers the roll-out of the territory’s “Dunkirk, Creative Energy” project and supports leaders of innovative projects in two major areas of expertise: the energy transition and circular economy.

Euraénergie is a Public Interest Group comprising the Greater Dunkirk Urban Council, Dunkerque Promotion, Pôlénergie and Ecopal.

VISIT THE EURAENERGIE WEBSITE

The Euraénergie Innovation Park

Euraénergie will be built beside a 5-hectare innovation park located near Dunkirk city centre.

Dedicated to transition and circular economy activities, it will give entrepreneurs and start-ups a place to test their innovations and make full scale prototypes thanks to its technology spaces and nearby laboratories. The first 4,000 m² building (under construction) will also have an incubator and will be home to two schools of engineering.

personne avec casque VR digital lab arcelor

A TERRITORY CONDUCIVE TO INNOVATION

The region of Dunkirk has extensive facilities and research labs: 14 public labs and scientific tech platforms (Irene) complemented by a network of private labs.
There are 300 lecturers-researchers who are renowned in their specialised fields based in the local area. Public/private partnership arrangements allow companies to access scientific tech platforms and to benefit from innovation support (research and development tax credits, European funding, ANR (National Research Agency), Bpifrance investment bank, etc.).
The territory is developing initiatives promoting innovation and encouraging industrial pilot schemes to set up here (Grhyd, BioTfuel, ArcelorMittal’s 3D and Igar projects). It is also motivating entrepreneurs to test their new processes in Dunkirk (for example, Terraotherm).
The Dunkirk region supports major projects such as Northern Lights or Reuze. Plus, it’s the starting place for various circular economy loop initiatives: the heat superhighway, methods for recovering steam or different co-products thanks to the industrial- and energy-decision making tools rolled out by AGUR (Agency for Urban Planning and Development).
The economic basin is particularly well known in these three fields of expertise: energy, energy efficiency and industrial ecology
The region of Dunkirk lies at the heart of a regional network of competitive clusters of excellence involved in various areas (materials, textiles, nutrition/health, marine products, energy, transport and logistics…). See them below:

ECOPAL

Ecopal is an association founded in Dunkirk in 1980 working in Industrial and Territorial Ecology (EIT). A pioneer in this field, it brings together almost 100 members and is considered a national Industrial and Territorial Ecology reference point. Ecopal fosters synergies and the pooling of flows such as co-products, water, energy, etc. in order to optimise the use of resources.

EURAÉNERGIE

Euraénergie and its innovation park promote and support innovative projects, particularly those related to the energy transition and circular economy. With a range of services bringing together public and private stakeholders, it has an incubator, schools of engineering, labs, technological spaces for prototyping and demos.

PÔLÉNERGIE

Pôlénergie leads the energy sector across the Hauts-de-France region. It has around one hundred members representing the whole energy sector (production, transport, distribution, providers, electro-intensive industries and even parts suppliers). Aside from promoting the sector, Pôlénergie encourages the innovation and development of new know-how.

AND MANY OTHERS

Aquimer specialises in the recovery of products from the aquatics sector.

TEAM2 is a national competitive cluster involving recycling and industrial ecology, particularly strategic metal recycling.

Cap Numeric brings together company directors, decision-makers and stakeholders from the Opal Coast interested in innovation, best practices and digital matters.

Agroé is the regional centre of excellence for agri-food companies.

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DISCOVER LABS, CLUSTERS AND CENTRES OF EXCELLENCE WHO COULD SOON BE YOUR PARTNERS

These partners will help you get the most out of the remarkable skills and technical equipment available here. With their assistance, you can develop and test the innovations of the tomorrow at your very own company.