Located in the heart of Southern France, Occitanie stands out as a dynamic and forward-thinking region, renowned for its economic vitality and strategic investments. As a regional funder, Occitanie is deeply committed to fostering innovation, supporting businesses, and driving sustainable development across its territory. With a robust ecosystem of public and private partners, the region plays a pivotal role in promoting regional economic growth and global competitiveness.
One of Occitanie’s flagship areas of expertise is the aerospace sector, where it has established itself as a global leader. Home to Toulouse, the European capital of aeronautics and space, the region hosts a unique concentration of industry giants, innovative SMEs, research centers, and academic institutions. Companies such as Airbus, Thales, and ATR, along with cutting-edge startups, have made Occitanie a hub for technological excellence.
The SRI/RIS (Regional Innovation Strategy) and Green Plane Plan are the two main source documents that the Occitanie region use for its positioning today in direct relation to the ECARE taxonomy.
Currently, the Region mainly supports SMEs, while the large and Intermediate-sized companies mainly seek national funding which are more important.
The Occitanie SRI/RIS (Regional Innovation Strategy) is consistent with regional, national and European policies and focus on the timeframe period of 2021-2027. The RIS is linked to the transformation and development plan of the Occitanie region, baptized “Green New Deal”; the regional ambition is to place the economy and the territory on a sustainable trajectory. The RIS is consistent with the SRDEII, the SRESRI and the SRADDET.
The RIS of Occitanie have been subdivided in 8 Strategic Innovation Areas (DSI/SIA), five of which have a specific sector of application:
• healthy, sustainable and territorialized food;
• water: savings and controlled management, uses and risks;
• coastal and sea economy;
• health, well-being & aging well;
• smart and sustainable mobility;
and three DSI/SIA with transversal application targets:
• smart and sustainable materials and processes associates;
• energy transition of territories and the regional economy;
• big data, AI and cybersecurity: Occitanie territory ethical and sovereign digital.
The analysis performed by the Occitanie region, for the ECARE taxonomy is mainly based on the SIA identified in bold above.
On June 30, 2022, the Occitanie Region voted for a Green Plane plan to support the sector to meet the challenge of decarbonization.
This plan, endowed with €100 million, will make it possible to support and accelerate the dynamics of research and innovation around electricity, hydrogen, SAF, optimization of flight paths, recycling, etc.
First part: The largest test center in Europe
A test centre focused on the development of new hydrogen technologies and sustainable fuels will be created in Francazal.
A unique concentration of skills in France, it will be the largest in Europe and will extend over 10,000 m² to accommodate scientific equipment platforms, areas reserved for industrial partners and tertiary spaces.
Second part: The development of sustainable aviation fuels, the renewal of skills and the innovation efforts of regional companies focused on green aviation.
At the same time, the Region will support the development of sustainable aviation fuels through Calls for Expressions of Interest and it will increase its support for the development of sustainable light aviation. On this point, 17 projects, involving more than 20 regional companies, have already been selected, relating, among other things, to the production of hydrogen drones and the development of fully electric landing gear.
Emphasis will also be placed on the renewal of skills, new professions and the attractiveness of the sector.
Finally, the innovation efforts of regional companies, centred on green aviation, will be supported.
Links to documents:
- SRI/RIS: https://www.agence-adocc.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/SRI-2021-2027.p…
- Green plane plan: https://www.laregion.fr/L-Occitanie-piste-de-decollage-des-futurs-avion…