A high-quality university structure
Open to the world, with its 66,000 strong student body, Rennes is the top centre for higher education in the Grand-Ouest region of France. This ecosystem nourishes high-quality research and innovation work by more than 6,000 researchers in close collaboration with the commercial sector.
Rennes is home to two universities: Rennes 1 (sciences and technologies/health/law, economics, management, philosophy) and Rennes 2 (art, literature, communication/sport and sport sciences/languages/human sciences/social sciences). In addition, there are about 15 “grandes écoles” universities in the Rennes area.
La Cité internationale Paul-Ricoeur, a major project right in the city centre, was finalised in 2016. It is home to the Bretagne-Loire University, the centre for international mobility and a halls of residence for young researchers.
Attractiveness for businesses
Higher education and research are important factors in attracting the establishment and development of innovative companies, especially in disciplines well known in the area, such as digital technology and food-processing.
In fact, the presence of agricultural (around the Agrocampus-Villejean university) and digital (around the Beaulieu campus) hubs has had a positive effect on the setting up of research and development centres, such as Diana Naturals or even the research centres of Technicolor, Canon and Orange.
Research + business – a winning combination
Strong links between research and business have given rise to the creation of competitiveness clusters (Images et Réseaux, Valorial, iD4CAR, Mer Bretagne Atlantique) across the region, which is an important factor in attracting innovative companies and R&D centres.
These links also enable innovative companies to emerge from research works directly linked to work being carried out in laboratories. Chief among these are Biotrial, Enensys, Dynamixyz etc…
The Rennes Atalante technology park works to encourage start-up companies by using the local research network as support. With 300 members ranging from public and private actors, large international groups, innovative SMEs and start-ups, it is also the organiser of the Emergys incubator, an essential tool in promoting the research by the company founded.
(Photos : ©CETA – The Land)