Specialization computers, electronics, telecommunications: Computerization and services, jokers in the sector
The technological and cultural revolution is under way. But only a few insiders know. In the near future, pending the coffers of supermarkets will be part of history. No need to leave his shopping cart before paying. The Parisians will have a membership card allowing them to enter the subway without stopping. The refrigerator will order your shopping for you. Your pen will ... From science fiction? Not because the chip RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) has already begun to integrate into our lives. As proof, the tolls on motorways, bracelets equipping children, animal identification, management of library books are all new areas of application. Some transport companies now employ this principle of collecting information from a distance. This is the case with Navigo card of the RATP.
But beyond applications known to the general public, the first use of RFID technology have already appeared in the logistics chain. It authorizes a fine traceability of goods, lowers the cost of inventories and helps luter against theft and counterfeiting. It can also alert on the shelves of goods to replenish and avoid stockouts.
The innovation engine of success
Internet and electronics are central to this transformation. Internet has become a universal access and transmission of information. Electronics always more efficient and integrated can make a product sponsor and equip new functions such as remote maintenance, updating distance or exchange of information if it is equipped with a smart label (RFID ). The last big as a tablet, sometimes flat as a label, is able to exchange information with its environment via a transmitter / receiver miniature. This technology should ultimately complement barcodes and become widespread because it improves the identification, traceability and integrity of a product.
And these developments are accessible to SMEs and SMIs traditional. The electronics and the Internet can improve the performance of a product even if the company does not control all technologies. Examples of new products or services based on the exchange of information are beginning to be legion.
Thus, Thierry Le Quezourec Jessica France in a few illustrations presented at a recent half-day forum devoted to communicating solutions today. The company is remote Lavomatic its laundries with the intervention of voice and video for surveillance. The company Adepa (UK) due to the remote, remote maintenance and remote micro-hydroelectric power. The company Kéosys (St Herblain) has developed the pen communicating that has a connection via Internet and telephone. These innovations are carrying great expectations for the sector.
A supportive environment at the international level
Business investment in information technology and communication to the USA are almost twice those of the European Union. This pipeline is strategic for fundamental reasons: it is an evolving market and sustained innovation bearer, vector competitiveness and create jobs. Made up of European and world champions, it will generate growth for other industries that use these technologies. These giants have created around them industrial and technological proximity, allowing the creation of companies and many jobs in their wake. By region, the industry is dominated by large groups or small SMEs.
Moving the economy Quaternary
1975 is the year of failure. Until then, the share of industry in employment has risen sharply. Since then, it decreases in a linear fashion.
Computerization has taken the baton of industrialization. The microelectronics and software technologies have become flagships. The production function is changing, initiating other phenomena such as the creation of new jobs. The products themselves are transformed into an alliance of goods and services. According to economist Michael Volle, we are entering the Quaternary economy, industry is no longer the main driver of our society. Computerization and associated services take over. At the end of 2004, 74% of companies in the Pays de la Loire were computerized. The equipment Internet continues to grow, including in TPE.
The consequences are already evident in terms of finding jobs. Pierre-Yves Easter, director of business relations of the ESEO, explains: "For three years, we are witnessing a movement recent and concrete in terms of recruitment. 50% of our graduates are hired directly by service companies and consultants who then detached from industrial companies. The remaining 50% are directly recruited by industry. "
* association founded by the CEA and OSEO, which brings the program CAP'TRONIC the Ministry of Industry to facilitate innovation and competitiveness of SMEs through the mail.
Assets at the national level
The sector, despite its strengths, remains subject to strong international competition. The electronic industries have solutions: among others, professional markets, very demanding in terms of reliability and robustness. SMEs and SMIs, often dependent on large industrial groups, have sought to refocus their business on small and medium series with high added value on the design of its own products or niches. They are grouped around dynamic branches or poles of competitiveness to increase their synergies and develop their collective expertise.
Another advantage is access to digital highways with high-speed Internet widespread, thanks largely to the departmental programme "Mélis @" with 600 km of optical fibres, connecting 57 city sites and 80 areas of activities .
The place of "Pays de la Loire"
The region has a unique place in Europe. The professionals call EMS (Electronic Manufacturing Services) leaders these industries of electronics that can be found in the automotive, oil exploration, aeronautics, military, railway and many other sectors. Eolane (1 100 employees), soon located near NEC Computers in Angers, Tronico (530 employees, Vendée), Cofidur EMS (450 employees, Mayenne) and Thales Communications (600 employees at Cholet). But even electronic Lacroix (St Pierre Montlimart) or Creative Eurécom (St Barthelemy d'Anjou). All have their decision-making centres in the region with an area of research and development strong vehicle for innovation and high value added.
The Maine-et-Loire also NEC Computers International, a global leader in PC manufacturing, Bull in Angers which includes a European unit, Thomson Angers which diversifies with electronic boxes for the Internet. Valeo, the second European automotive, Angers, Bodet, Trémentines, software developer time management and leader of electronic display and many others. The sector relies on the region more than 2200 companies that employ about 30 000 people.
Let "Google"
Like other activities, the sector which includes businesses of computing and telecommunications is experiencing a profound change. Several of these regional companies as very dynamic Afone, Evolis, OpenPortal Software or Creative Eurécom anticipate in positioning itself on niches in both varied and highly specialized. They develop products with higher added value and address new markets.
Little publicized, the company Illico, created in 1995 to around Angers technology of the Internet, has become successfully OpenPortal Software solution for enterprise portal allowing an environment of teamwork and management training. The platform OpenPortal ® today represents an investment in research and development equivalent to 20% of annual turnover. Again, innovation is at the heart of the strategy of this company headed by Gilles Guerrin. Another example of success, the company Witbox launched in 2005 by Mesland Tomen. The computer company is specialized in the study and implementation of digital video surveillance systems over IP (Internet Protocol) viewable from his computer and anywhere in the world via the Internet secure. ILTR (Traceability Software Engineering) for its part, offers solutions nomads with a flagship software product Pl @ cier who helps manage the rights of fair market place via PDA. Specializing in the development WebService, the company also designed the site of the French Federation of Bétails Loud who can enter quotations and follow the news of the cattle markets. She is also the site of Pizza Tempo to choose the menu distance to the command with the management of secure payment.
Staying in the race
In response to changing markets and to meet the needs of giving orders, companies are moving toward embedded electronics and mechatronics, the integration process of mechanics, electronics and informatics, allowing organs mécatronisés "communicate with each other. They have assimilated new skills and are now able to offer a deal that includes all the capabilities of the design chain. This is true of society Angevin Actech, services company in mechatronics expert who is currently working on a draft electricity meter communicating, to make intrusion detection and noted consumer distance.
The future of this industry, driven by sectors and military aerospace, automotive and professional electronics, passes through innovation and design of communicating objects incorporating new technologies. Today, customers want a service or product that requires global integration upstream of various trades such as electronics, computers, plastics, optics, mechanics. "To stay in the race, should be permanently decrypt technologies that will emerge and be open to multi-skill jobs," says Michel Houdou, president of Creative Eurécom. "The trend nowadays is to products nomads increasingly small, consume little, always more efficient and more secure. There's nothing like that cross trades to generate creativity and innovation. " The sector can rely on a rich network of laboratories, training institutes, groups of enterprises.
To boost the sector, Paul Raguin, CEO of the group Eolane, launched in the company of other entrepreneurs formalizing a regional network meetings networks and animation collective. There are companies des Pays de la Loire as Afone or Creative Eurécom, but also institutions of higher education and research, as ESEO (School of Electronics, the West) and ISTIA (Institut des Sciences et Techniques de l'Ingénieur Angers).
The commercial development projects
This new initiative adopted by the State and the Region Loire is led by Sebastian Balch, responsible for developing the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Angers. It shows the track approach: "Our mission is to accompany collectively and individually regional leader in technology in their commercial development projects, innovation and performance. It is also to create the network and to develop this connivance between entrepreneurs, innovators and financiers. " Patrick Plainchault, director of research at the ESEO full: "In the future, we must know what to make usable technologies and put them not only to service companies in the sector, but also other sectors like health and plant. "
The axis commercial development is primarily aimed at assisting businesses to export and to relocate abroad. The ITC Angers held on January 31 a day last country on the theme "Business / export to the USA." A success with twenty-nine companies from knowing the keys to the success of SMEs in USA: electronics and computers there are markets which are also the most competitive in the world. Some individual actions can be implemented with the support and assistance to address the USA. Thus, Sebastian Balch confides that "Cofluent Design, a company Nantes software publisher, has just taken off to Silicon Valley, San Jose direction."
The future of the industry spends more than ever on innovation. It is essential for the profession to concentrate its efforts on research and development to maintain a technological edge over its competitors. Designing products is the engine of wealth creation tomorrow. That is why the exhibition designers of products and materials incorporating electronics Créatronic opens its doors again from 12 to 14 June. Go national offices of studies that intelligent design products, it must be the place of convergence of know-how and ideas by bringing together all the skills necessary to the success of innovative projects. To create a synergy between electronics and plastics (between content and container), the salon plastics Go Plast runs from June 12 to 15 in the same Parc des Expositions of Angers. It should accommodate more than 5 000 visitors and about 300 exhibitors.
Finally last pivot of this axis linked to commercial development, the need to work together, to consider cooperation between enterprises to explore international markets or to send a commercial abroad for several establishments. Some companies have already encountered on the forum USA and now work in a concerted manner.
*** Number of establishments in Pays de la Loire: 2230:
-- Electronics sector: 291
-- The information technology sector: 1801
-- Telecommunications sector: 138
Imagine the products of tomorrow
Riches of many know-how regional companies, laboratories and colleges, communication technologies offer new values added. That is why the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Angers and Angers Technopole have proposed a two half-days on 20 March and 17 April last devoted to the integration of communicating solutions for products "traditional" all channels confused: clothes, clothes, boats… Whatever sectors of activity, communication technologies leave the conquest of products. From the manufacturer of pallets designer of industrial machinery, sources of innovation and value added to the scope of businesses that incorporate these technologies: less human intervention, process optimization, increased responsiveness, personalization services, mobility applications…
If today's Internet users are connected to the network through computers, those of tomorrow will be through all kinds of objects, books, clothes… equipped with RFID chips equipped with a system allowing futures store on the Internet all information relating to the lives of these objects (place of manufacture, dates of checks…). This move towards an Internet of Things will be essential for reasons of economy, logistics and traceability.
Contrary to popular belief, the region Pays de la Loire provides a full range of services and solutions from communicating research departments, SSII (Societies Service Engineering Science), laboratories and colleges. Some examples of products developed suggest new perspectives. Thus A3IP designed to Anjou Automation an oversight system remotely via the Internet regulators climate and irrigation for horticultural greenhouses. The system makes remote, modifies the instructions, consult the historical and alerts via SMS. Keosys invented positoscope, visualization tool, processing and exchanging images between medical practitioners. Keosys team thirty Hospital France. Atelog 2I developed for Thomson traceability through the RFID chip. On an assembly line of televisions, it allows the monitoring of tests and final adjustments and automation of the packing stage. INES has developed a simulator to put in fire scenarios limelight trainees. Creative Eurécom has created (for the direction of Civil Aviation) for the company Mavic a support system security aiguilleurs decision of the sky and reducing the cycle landing / take-off. Mixing technology, hardware, software and communication equipment are being set up at Roissy and Orly and will deploy on all major airports french (+ Dom Tom and St Pierre and Michelon) transmission control for cycling competition with derail electronics, computer LCD, commands and sensory speed sensor.
The "brainstorming" by the use
Le Carrefour des Possibles, led by FING, offers precisely highlight of sponsors in terms of innovative uses. All objectives are accepted: economic, social, cultural and scientific. Thus among the last uses presented at the Carrefour des Possibles in Ile-de-France, a site provides health services to enable vulnerable people to live more safely and autonomy. A site for a generous principle of nine families gather to help a tenth in distress.
The importance given to uses puts an end to the period in which technology, engine and driver of inventions, was the limiting factor of innovation. Just look at the complexity of the first VCRs! The technology offers a world of possibilities in which we must invent the services and sense the new uses in line with expectations of user communities. Anticipating uses is crucial to the success of an innovation. The issue is important because it determines major investments. Sometimes users refuse technology: see setbacks WAP, for example. The rise to power, initially unnoticed, short messages to the mode of SMS / text youth shows strong ownership of a new use with new possible fields of technology. The creation of an abstract language, friendly and typed, strengthened community use.
Valuing internal performance
In response to market developments, efforts are permanent adaptation necessary for the survival of the company. Diversification into new customers, new opportunities, creating new products, professional teams, cost reduction, increased turnover or competitiveness… so many strengths to manage.
A new device is being launched to develop the competitiveness of SMEs PMI des Pays de la Loire working in industry or services to industry and subject to international competition. His name? "Dinamic enterprises" which offers a personalized coaching and nine months, focused on one of the fundamental levers of development: internal performance, development and process innovation.
These nine months are based on an individual and innovative, a transfer methodology, selected interlocutors and networking in the territory ligérien to help ensure enterprise development.
This device is the subject of a genuine mobilization with regional organizations on the territory recognized as guarantees of its effectiveness. The State, the Region des Pays de la Loire and the European Union have joined forces to finance almost 80% of the total cost of the program.
The solutions being developed
How to help traditional businesses looking for innovation? How aware of the technological innovations? How to identify local skills?
These issues are likely to find their answers through a draft collaborative platform. It would offer all sorts of services to enterprises in order to reduce costs. This platform would propose a pooling of expertise of SMEs, public research and major groups at the local level.
Jessica France, ITC and SEM (Mixed Economy Corporation) in the Region have imagined an overview of regional powers in the form of cards. The latter would highlight the areas of expertise, would know the high technological skills available in the region and centraliseraient information to all sectors and all sectors. This pooling of expertise could be accessible through a regional portal extranet used by all companies that propose a directory of skills, presentation of innovative products and management services.
The pipeline and the products of tomorrow are built today. Our society she measured the issues?
Redactor : Isabelle Gaudino
FIGURES IN THE PATH
Number of establishments in Angers: 302
Number of jobs involved in Pays de la Loire: 30351
Number of jobs involved in Angers: 4315
Source: SIRE: Regional Resource Centre "Economic Information"
