B.I.G. Talents celebrates innovation in biotech, IT and greentech

The current climate is more conducive than ever to the development of innovative projects. European and national policies backing R&D, the ‘grand emprunt’ (a €35 billion national loan launched by President Sarkozy), and funds created by competitive clusters, have all contributed to a growth in the number of innovative schemes.

B.I.G Talents allows for the acceleration of innovative projects through its unique business centre. This business centre gives companies involved in innovative projects, along with future entrepreneurs, the opportunity to meet potential clients or partners such as schools, investors and banks, in complete confidentiality. These pre-scheduled meetings come in the form of 40-minute appointments.

Project developers can also request a ‘BIG Meeting’, where they have the opportunity to take part in round-table discussions with potential partners. This helps to speed up project development.

The trade event is divided into two areas: a scientific and technological resources village, and a funding and backing resources village. These two zones bring together the resources, professionals and technology partners of tomorrow, in one place.

The scientific and technological resources village brings together businesses, R&D laboratories and training organisations, while the funding and backing resources village gives attendees the chance to discover incubation, workspace, financial and local government assembly structures.

In addition to the trade fair, and in order to experience technologies at first hand, B.I.G. Talents offers four virtual visits. These virtual visits enable participants to speak with laboratory researchers, view their equipment, and to exchange contact details online without having to leave the B.I.G. Talents trade show.

PRIMACEN, the Regional Platform for Cellular Imagery Research in Haute-Normandie, and CORIA, the Interprofessional Research Centre for Aerothermochemistry, are among the companies taking part in these virtual visits. The Rouen Institute for Materials Research, and the Fine Organic Chemistry Research Institute will also be on the programme.

B.I.G. Talents plays host to eight conferences covering three main sectors: health and biotechnology, I-Technology, and green technology.

Attendees can also take part in a round-table meeting on funding innovation and equity capital investment. This meeting offers advice and allows for exchanges between company directors on the funding of innovations. This round-table meeting will take place on Thursday 18 November from 10.00am to 11.00am.

About Rouen and Haute-Normandie

Rouen is the economic capital of Haute-Normandie, which is the eastern part of the broader region of Normandy, in north-western France.

For more information on the region, please go to: www.hautenormandie.fr

About B.I.G. Talents

B.I.G. Talents will take place on Wednesday 17 November 2010 from 9.00am to 7.00pm, and on Thursday 18 November from 9.00am to 5.30pm in the Rouen exhibition centre (Parc Expo de Rouen).

For more information on the event and to register, please go to: www.big-talents.eu