In order to promote the growth of hydrogen and the microelectronics industry, the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Region and the Atomic Energy and Alternative Energies Commission (CEA) partnered. This cooperation was established in February 2019. In this situation, the Permanent Commission of the Region has made this pledge possible by releasing more than 12 million euros.
Support for the microelectronics industry and the growth of the hydrogen industry are the two primary focuses of the relationship between the Region and the CEA. These are undoubtedly the two pillars of the future, with numerous applications in industries ranging from digital technology to agriculture and health. By relying particularly on the know-how of the Grenoble ecosystem, the goal is to create Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes an area of excellence in hydrogen, and in particular in carbon-free transportation. The Region also plans to make this cutting-edge technology from the microelectronics and hydrogen industries available to local businesses through this relationship. In fact, putting money into these high-value technologies also means encouraging the creation of jobs and the migration of industrial operations to the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region.
Since 2018, the Region has raised 100 million euros as part of this collaboration to fund investment initiatives and aid in research.
The Region also supports the Nano 2022 program, which aims to boost the French microelectronics industry, in this context. Together with the CEA, it aims to fund investments made by industries in the area and promote R&D initiatives carried out by businesses in the industry. Thus, the Region will allocate more than 7.5 million euros in 2022 to help the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes microelectronics industry.
The Region is continuing to assist the hydrogen industry, which is thought to be the fuel of the future, at this time. Thus, 1.6 million euros will be made available by the Region to fund the CEA’s programs to produce this energy.
The CEA received a 3 million euro grant from the Region to continue its EasyPoc initiative. This enables businesses with less than 2,000 employees, most of whom are based outside of significant urban regions, to finance their technology development initiatives.
