Christelle Morançais, President of the Pays de la Loire region, visits campus

Christelle Morançais - alongside Béatrice Annereau, Vice President of the Region in charge of disability, Magali Bricaud, Director of Higher Education and Research and François-Xavier Richard, advisor - visited several of the school's major research platforms and discussed several research-innovation topics, in particular research related to the development of the hydrogen sector supported by the region (learn more - in French).

The 2021-2027 CPER (French state/regional infrastructure planning and investment programme) provides for the funding of several school projects related to new energies, including:
 

• €2.8M for the GENIUS project on the production, storage and use of green hydrogen
• €12 M for the NEMO project, a test centre for Naval Systems, Marine Renewable Marine Energies and Ocean Engineering
• €2.5M to renovate the B building on campus

In addition, the Region is providing extensive support on Hydrogen, with a budget of more than €3 million agreed last October for the development of a hydrogen industry in the Pays de la Loire. The research projects are, for the most part, carried out by Centrale Nantes.

Christelle Morançais:

Our region has outstanding research and innovation talent. The Region maintains a proactive policy in the field of higher education and research and supports the key players, which include Centrale Nantes. This is why we wanted a strong Higher Education and Research section in the 2021-2027 CPER, with a massive support in excess of €301M. Today's visit illustrates the value of the work carried out by Centrale Nantes' students and alumni, and the excellence of the region in terms of applied research.

The visit took in a tour of the:
 

• Ocean test facilities with David le Touzé, Director of the LHEEA Laboratory
• Engine and vehicle test benches with Alain Maiboom, faculty member at Centrale Nantes
• Rapid manufacturing platform with Luciano Vidal, faculty member at Centrale Nantes

 

The Centrale Audencia Ensa incubator, showcasing the dynamism of our innovation and research ecosystem

Pierre Durand, Director of the Centrale Audencia Ensa Incubator presented the incubator, a support programme for innovative start-ups in the Pays de la Loire region. The incubated companies benefit from the support and expertise of the three schools of the Centrale-Audencia-Ensa Alliance thanks to a package of training, coaching and accommodation. Two startups were able to present their activity:
 

• Génération Zebrée, founded by Juliette Roubaud, develops digital tools (web application and multimedia content) to help the generation Z in their choices of orientation towards higher education. The startup, which employs 6 people, aims to promote equal opportunities by inspiring and accompanying high school students towards higher education.
• Farwind Energy, founded by Arnaud Poitou, which is developing a solution for the production of renewable energy by means of energy ships that convert the energy of the oceans into propulsive force. This project is supported by the Region with an interest-free loan granted in 2021 and subsidies granted in 2022 (€528K in total).

photos © Région Pays de la Loire – Ouest Médias