Pole SAFE

Pole SAFE is a competitiveness cluster in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of France. It focuses on aeronautics, space, security and safety, and defence. It brings together more than 450 industrial and academic members. It helps them with innovation, growth and change. Its aim is to make companies more competitive and to support responsible economic growth in the region.

The cluster leads or supports several large projects. These include the regional drone resource centre, called C2RD, which is set up for drone tests. It works with Thales Alenia Space on the Fabrique du Spatial, which looks at space uses. It supports Stratobus, an autonomous stratospheric platform, and a decarbonisation programme for the Fos-Berre area aimed at sustainable aviation.

It also backs the Sud Avenir Hélico pact with Airbus Helicopters. It supports the Jean-Sarrail aeronautics hub in Istres, which covers maintenance and flight testing. Another project is an aeronautics and space innovation platform with the Ecole de l'air et de l'espace.

Pole SAFE offers six groups of services. Funding and investment includes help with public grants from regional, national and European sources, plus loans and repayable advances. Advice and support covers go-to-market strategy, business structuring, and industrial design and manufacturing processes. Hosting and infrastructure includes coworking, flexible offices and event space.

Business partnership help includes sales development, networking with partners, customers, trade shows and events, and support with export and international growth. Legal and administrative support covers patent filing, protection of intellectual property and human resources help such as hiring, training and employment law. Research and development support includes links to research labs, access to equipment and technology platforms, technology maturation and transfer, and testing in real settings through living labs and demonstrators.

Pole SAFE names three fields of excellence. These are mechanics and aeronautics, digital and creative economy, and energy and environment. The cluster is based in Aix-en-Provence.

Services

• Funding and investment support
• Advice and support
• Hosting and infrastructure
• Business partnerships
• Legal and administrative support
• Research and development support
• Export support
• Technology transfer
• Living lab testing
• Coworking and event space