The plastics processing sector is among the four premier industrial sectors of FRANCHE-COMTÉ. The added value from this activity is above the national average. Networking and partnership creation are “habits”. The label given to the plastics processing cluster, Plastipolis, is a reinforcement of synergies in the pursuit of excellence.

Plastipolis ?
Plastics synergy, the heart of French plastics processing
FRANCHE-COMTÉ professionals have joined together with those of the Rhône-Alpes region to create the European plastics processing cluster: Plastipolis.

The cluster’s scope:

Industrial base	1,000 companies 33,000 employees €8 billion turnover  30% of national plastic processing
Research base	2,400 people in R&D teams  32 R&D centres
Training base	260 plastics processing students 150,000 hours of continuous training and 4,000 trainees  6 Training centres

Strategic objectives:
To enable French plastics processing to find new applications by technological innovation.
To establish long-term and facilitate the penetration of companies in new markets Acquire competitive advantages
Ensure the expansion of the plastics processing competitive cluster

3 themes for projects:
Plastipolis R&D projects hinge on:
3 major focuses of « High tech » research: materials, production processes and composite materials
with an eye on new markets in « breakthrough technologies »: micro and nanostructure of polymers 

Spring 2008 report:
146 industrialists
25 laboratories and organisations
58 certified projects
23 projects funded to the tune of € 45.5 million
8 patents filed
2 trademarks registered

www.plastipolis.fr