Grenoble Alpes:
at the heart of France’s leading region for industry
With the appearance of the glove-making industry in the late 18th century, Grenoble Alpes’ manufacturing sector began to flourish. The sector’s development grew in the second half of the 19th century, with the development of hydroelectricity. This new technology put Grenoble on the map as a leader in energy production. In fact, it was here that Aristide Bergès first discovered that it was possible to harness hydropower to run industrial sites, and in particular the famous paper factories of Lancey in the Gresivaudan Valley.
Grenoble’s industry continued to grow and change, contributing to make the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Region the #1 French region for industry, with over 500,000 jobs in the sector.
Mechanics and metallurgy, key elements of the local industrial fabric
In addition to hydraulics, paper, cement and chemicals, the mechanics/metallurgy/machining industry contributes amply to Grenoble Alpes’ industrial performance.
Today, the industry represents over 13,300 jobs in Grenoble Alpes’ Greater Metropolitan Area, spread out among several hundred companies: large multi-nationals (ARaymond, Poma, Caterpillar,,…) high-performance SMEs and innovative subcontractors.
A well-organized industrial sector
The competitive business cluster, CIMES (Creating Integrated MEchanical Systems), based just outside of Grenoble in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, is the first European hub wholly dedicated to the engineering of intelligent mechanical systems and to manufacturing.
Udimec, the Union of Electrometallurgical Engineering and Related Fields, is an organization that brings together over 600 technology and manufacturing companies from around the region in the domains of mechanical construction, electrical & electronics equipment, companies that serve the industry, and more…
The expansion of Grenoble Alpes’ mechanics/metallurgical industry has also been encouraged by the Federation of Mechanical Industries (FIM) and the CETIM (Technical Center for Mechanical Engineering).
KEY STAKEHOLDERS
Large multi-nationals:
x Allimand
x Alstom Bombardier
x ARaymond
x Caterpillar
x ECM Technologies
x Poma
x Ponticelli
x Winoa
Examples of SMEs:
x Alpes Techniques Industries
x Automatique et Industrie
x Battakarst
x Betrec ig
x Cedrat Technologies
x CIC Orio
x Ecocryo
x Faure Technologies
x Mecanic 3D
x Vulkam
etc …
x CEA Liten’s tech platform, Poudr’Innov, develops metal, ceramic, semi-conductive and magnetic powders with value-added applications in the connector, lighting, electronics, healthcare, fine chemicals, and energy markets.
x C-TEC, Constellium’s International research center, is located just outside of Grenoble in Voreppe. It is home to 200 scientists who use the inherent properties of aluminum to invent new and innovative aluminium-based solutions and alloys. This is the largest R&D center in Western Europe and open to any company who uses or transforms aluminum
Education for all levels and all types of industrial careers:
x Université Grenoble Alpes offers graduate and undergraduate degrees in mechanics, industrial product design, industrial engineering, materials engineering, electronics, electrical engineering and automation. In the 2019 Shanghai Ranking, Université Grenoble Alpes was ranked #1 in France for metallurgical engineering.
x Grenoble INP offers higher education programs for management in the fields of industry, energy, and the environment. It is strongly allied with research & industry partners, proposing several transversal programs: Workshops for Smart Industry (A2I), a technological platform called GI-NOVA, and its GreEn-ER program (Grenoble-Energy-Teaching-Research).
x The region’s Pole Formation Isère (Isère training center) offers programs specially designed to boost recruitment through the development of new professional abilities. This helps reinforce the industry’s competitiveness (examples of programs: alternating vocational studies with degree and certification programs, full-time certification programs).
x Caterpillar’s training center, open to outside companies, offers certifying programs (soldering, fitters, assembly-line workers, forklift drivers, etc).
x EDF’‘s Training center, inaugurated in 2019, hosts up to 3,500 trainees per year and is EDF’s main training center in France for careers in hydraulic energy. The training services are also open to companies outside of EDF.
x The competitive business cluster, CIMES (Creating Integrated MEchanical Systems), is the first European hub dedicated to intelligent mechanical system engineering and manufacturing. It works with an entire network of partners – companies, research centers & educational establishments – in order to design, develop and manufacture the procedures, products and services needed by future industries.
x Udimec (the Union of Electrometallurgical Engineering and Related Fields, is an organization that brings together over 600 technology and manufacturing companies from around the region, in the domains of mechanical construction, electrical & electronics equipment, companies that serve the industry, and more…
x The Fédération des Industries Mécaniques (FIM) was created to help technicians design, produce and sell their products in France, as well as their development in international markets. In France, Europe and internationally, the FIM defends and promotes this sector, which is at the heart of France’s industry.
x CETIM (Technical Center for Mechanical Engineering), is a technological Carnot institute with the goal of making mechanical companies more competitive. It encourages synergies between the scientific research sector and the private sector.
x EDF Agency une Rivière un Territoire (One River, One Region) – particularly implicated in the development of local economic appeal of Grenoble’s industrial sector, this organization works with Grenoble Alpes’ Metropolitan Area and the local competitive business cluster, CIMES, to support local companies. Its goal is to undertake or encourage activities that support the growth of the industry in the region.
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MAJOR INDUSTRIES
With over 72,000 jobs in the private sector and a high concentration of established industry leaders, Grenoble Alpes has been attracting businesses and talents from around the world for decades. The city stands out in a number of domains thanks to its dynamic startups (among the most innovative in France), its local university (ranked among the world’s top 150 universities), and its collection of cutting-edge laboratories and international research centers, which span all types of research, from fundamental to applied.
With over 75,000 jobs in the private sector and a high concentration of established industry leaders, Grenoble Alpes has been attracting businesses and talents from around the world for decades. The city stands out in a number of domains thanks to its dynamic startups (among the most innovative in France), its local university (ranked among the world’s top 150 universities), and its collection of cutting-edge laboratories and international research centers, which span all types of research, from fundamental to applied.
