From linen to particle physics, the Mov’eo Competitiveness Cluster’s projects involve a vast array of technologies to ensure that tomorrow’s motor vehicles are both clean and high-performance.

Throughout Normandy and Ile de France, the cluster concentrates 70% of France’s automotive research and development. Over the past four years, the Mov’eo Competitiveness Cluster has certified some 200 projects, each of them mobilising researchers and industrial partners around three priorities: mobility, environmental impact and road safety. And these projects involve technologies that are as varied as they are surprising. For example, the motor vehicle equipment manufacturer Valeo has called upon the young SME, Quertech Ingénierie’s ion bombardment technology for the production of windscreen wipers that are not only increasingly efficient, but also less expensive and e-friendly. “Our preliminary results are extremely promising,” informs Guillaume Devauchelle, Valeo’s R&D Director. “And studies are continuing.” Initiated by the Depestele group, Europe’s number 2 in linen production, the LINT project is the result of an encounter with the CNRT (National Technological Research Centre) “Matériaux” (materials) and should enable industrial firms to exploit the many valuable properties of this natural fibre in composite materials.

“The great weight race”

Based in Thury-Harcourt, the motor vehicle equipment manufacturer Arvin Meritor (with 450 employees), has in turn appealed to the Crystallography and material science laboratory (CRISMAT – CNRS-ENSICAEN-UCBN laboratory) to reduce both the size and the weight of its window regulator motors. A genuine “weight race”, within the framework of a project baptised NAM and perfectly in line with one of the fundamental challenges facing tomorrow’s motor vehicles: reducing energy consumption. It’s also one of Mov’eo’s key priorities, in which the Catalysis and Spectrochemistry Laboratory (LCS – CNRS-ENSICAEN-UCBN laboratory) is also actively involved. Development of biofuels, automobile pollution control… “Mov’eo has offered us many collaborative prospects,” highlights Jean-Pierre Gilson, the laboratory’s director. Among the cluster’s partners from the automotive industry: Valeo, Renault and Faurecia located in Orne… for which Xavier Randrestra is the personnel manager. “Our new Caligny site is the result of collective efforts that Lower Normandy can truly pride itself in,” he praises. A partnership that Faurecia is keen to continue by opening the doors of its 10,000m² technical centre and its training centre, located alongside the brand new 40,000m² plant. “The automotive industry is undergoing major change. We could well see a new hand being dealt out,” concludes Frédéric Guernalec, Managing Director of Quertech Ingénierie and Vice-President of Mov’eo. “Within the cluster, we have a genuine eco-system to enable players to develop their activities. With a key goal in mind, and almost a slogan: “producing clean cars, cleanly”.

“Optimising European funds”

Since its creation in 2006, Mov’eo has benefited from Regional Council support “within the context of a more global strategic approach,” highlights Jacques Le Vagueresse, the Council’s director for economy. Support for coordination, project funding… “the Regional Council acts as a facilitator,” he adds. And in particular thanks to European ERDF funds, of which the region is France’s 2nd ranking consumer. Funding that the region hopes to optimise.

> Mov’eo Competitiveness Clusters / El Houcine Ouarraou

> Jacques Le Vagueresse / Lower Normandy Regional Council
Tel: : 02 31 06 98 98

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