5 per year it is expected to reach EUR 39 billion by 2015

With 800 member companies of the technological platform Thésame and the installation of the technical Centre of mechanical industries, the city wants to become a European centre of Mechatronics integration.

"Our ambition is to become the reference at European level, and strong signs indicate that we are already the head race." In support of this optimism of André Montaud, Director General of the Thésame technology platform created by the authorities and industry, is the decision of the Japanese Government to choose the Haute Savoie for a program "local to local", which was translated by the signing of a cooperation agreement between Thésame and the Kagawa Keizai Doyukai. The decision of the technical Centre of mechanical industries (Cetim) create a detachment in Annecy will further enhance the attractiveness of the pole.

With 7,000 members, 650 employees and a budget of EUR 50 million devoted to R & D and some 30 million in revenue for studies and service, the Cetim wants to make its "core business" Mechatronics and account well take advantage of the skills of the annecien pole. Mechatronics, which can be defined as the simultaneous use of the techniques of mechanical engineering, electronics, automatism, the personal computing and analysis system for the design and optimization of products, equipment and processes, is now 32 billion euros on the European market, according to Thierry Dujardin, Cabinet decision. With a growth of 3.5 per year, it is expected to reach EUR 39 billion by 2015. "We intend to increase our circle of partners, and especially access to new scientific collaborations, notably with CEA-Leti," adds Philippe Choderlos de Laclos, Executive Director of the centre. In October, its Board of directors should validate the installation in the Haute-Savoie. "We are a true cluster: integrating European Mechatronics Centre is the culmination of the approach since the beginning of the 1990s by the Haute-Savoie, joined in 2000 by the Rhône-Alpes region to consolidate a pole of expertise on Mechatronics", said André Montaud. "If companies have experienced the deserved success in the use of this technology, if the dynamics of the Alpine furrow (Geneva-Annecy-Grenoble)-".

(Valencia) has to tighten links with large organizations of Grenoble research, if the University restructured its formations on a strong strategy based on Mechatronics, the critical European size is not yet fully met.

The approach has led to the creation of an industrial club of Mechatronics, C4I (Centre of competence in the design of integrated circuits) and then of Acmi (sensor-measurement Association) -

(instrumentation). The pole coordinates from Thésame has 800 member companies and generated 20 million euros of investment. The head stresses the importance of the organization in network, Minatec Grenoble model. Part of the pole of competitiveness Arve-industry, this pole Mechatronics is developing two projects: "Captaucom 3" (abandoned sensor), example of a program "endorsement" that can mobilize large companies (SNR, Somfy, Tefal) and research laboratories; and two other supported by technical centres, machining (CTDEC) and mechanics (Cetim), an autoadaptative screw cutting machine and a Mechatronics for mobile gear.

"Mechatronics is more than a transfer for enterprises, it is a true revolution", says René Nantua, responsible for the program of SNR. For twenty years, mechatronics, including bearing wheel ASB, allowed this company to take market share, partnerships with the Léti scientific or industrial with Continental Theves for the integration of the sensor in the wheel and expand its offer to measure electronics. Mechatronics represents today a quarter of its turnover and the half end of the Decade.