Page 54 - Biorefinery 2030 Future Prospects for the Bioeconomy (2015)

3 First Steps in the Development of the Bazancourt-Pomacle Site 21

Fig. 1.11 The development of research at the Bazancourt-Pomacle site

ARD was thus founded on a solid base made up of three structures devoted to
plant-based research: SRD, ERD and CRD (Cf. Fig. 1.11).

3.2 From ISTV to the Involvement of Academic Research

In 1989, Henri Nallet, who was at that time Minister for Agriculture, envisages the
creation of the Institute of Life Science and technology (Institut des Sciences et des
Technologies du Vivant—ISTV), an excellence cluster bringing together major
schools specialising in agronomics. Albert Vecten, the President of the Marne
De ´partement Council, offered to host the ISTV in the Marne, as the area presented
excellent possibilities for academic study and experimentation. To support the
project, the Paris-Reims Foundation was set up in 1990, one of the aims of which
was to encourage researchers to settle in the region. Despite the mobilisation of
considerable resources, the project failed. However, with hindsight, the failure was in
fact a victory, since it made the region’s players aware of the need to develop and
adapt fundamental and applied research in the region. This positive context
encouraged players at the time to continue their efforts and in 1991 to create
“Agropole Europe ´en,” 14 to develop innovative uses for agro-resources. It brought
together the University of Reims Chemical Physics and Biotechnology Research
Centre, ARD and the INRA Chalk-soil Agronomics Research Centre (Cf. Fig. 1.12).
In 2004, The French President, Jacques Chirac, launched the competitiveness
cluster project. Its aim was to combine scientific and industrial competences to
revitalise the economic tissue of France’s regions. In this context, the Champagne-
Ardenne region decided, on the strength of its existing partnerships between
academic research, applied research and industry, to join up with the Picardy region

14
Renamed Europol’Agro in 1994.