From watchmaking to microtechnology, FRANCHE-COMTÉ has developed its expertise around the « small and precise ».

With 150 years of industrial tradition behind it and recognised expertise in micromechanics, the region is not only the densest centre of microtechnical competence, but also the oldest.

Metal-processing professionals working to a unique standard of excellence. These unequalled complementary resources of expertise are an asset much sought-after by companies.


Microtechnology cluster ?
Franc-comtois industrial firms and laboratories associated at the centre of the microtechnical cluster cooperate to obtain ever more power from ever-smaller systems.
The convergence of microtechnological and microelectronic expertise is essential in combining objects, imagining new uses, increasing performance, reducing space and weight, conserving energy and materials.

The bases of the cluster:

Industrial base	350 companies 12,000 employees €1.36 billion turnover
Research base	550 researchers in private research 450 researchers in public research
Training base	1,100 qualifications per year from vocational training certificate to engineer University of FRANCHE-COMTÉ Technological University of Belfort Montbéliard Ecole Nationale Supérieure de Mécanique et des Microtechniques (Higher national college of mechanics and microtechnology) Institut Supérieur d’Ingénieurs de FRANCHE-COMTÉ (Higher Engineering institute of Franche-Comté) 3 technical secondary schools Centre de Formation des Apprentis à l’Industrie (Centre for training of industrial apprentices)

Strategic objectives:
Increase activity: double the turnover of companies between now and 2012 and increase the rate of employment
Develop competences and the strategic value of products and services
Develop R&D projects in partnership with others
Develop the cluster on a national and international level

3 themes for the projects:
The commercial projects are aimed at improving dialogue with markets
The aim of the technological projects is to intensify R&D efforts in response to the requirements of industry
Sector projects consist in pooling resources to meet challenges 

Results:
67 projects certified by the cluster

www.polemicrotechniques.fr