In an era of rapid technological and economic change, international corporate competitivity depends on the ability to innovate. Strasbourg is blessed with a efficient infrastructure devoted to the transfer of technology. Research scientists and engineers working within these structures (university or independent) make their skills available to business by organising conferences, exchanges of information and other service provisions.

• The CRITT Matériaux (Centre d'Innovation et de Transfert de Technologie (Centre of Innovation and Transfer of Technology)) specialises in various sectors such as asbestos and crystalline silica, inorganic materials (stone, cement, ceramic, powder), glass, polymers, and organic synthesis.
• The CRT Aérial (Centre de Ressource Technologique (Technological Resource Centre)) possesses a twofold skill in the multi-sector applications of ionisation techniques and technical studies for the food processing industry.
• The CRT Irepa-Laser (Centre de Ressource Technologique (Technological Resource Centre)) works in the field of laser processes, as well as in the processing and machining of materials. It works in particular on behalf of SMEs and large companies in the aeronautics and automobile sectors.

The creation of a new CRITT is planned in the field of multimédia.

The Université Louis Pasteur makes the excellence of its research available to the world of economics. In 1987, it created a joint department,  ULP Industrie, charged with advising and assisting those responsible for research units in their development methodology. This cell takes care of identifying your scientific contact in order to access the technologies most suited to responding to your needs in the 74 research units at the ULP. More than 200 research contracts were thus agreed in 2003, which represents a sum of 7.2 million euros.

At the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), the partnership and development service at the regional delegation will be happy to assist you in finding your way through the 55 research units at the Alsace delegation and overseeing the elaboration of any contracts.
(denis.fix@alsace.cnrs.fr)

In the fields of the biotechnologies, pharmacy, medical and health sciences, the expertise available from the ULP and the CNRS is complemented by that of the 12 laboratories of the Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (National Institue of Health and Medical Research) (INSERM). The INSERM development cell is charged with the transfer of technology
(henri.dreyfus@inserm.u-strasbg.fr)

More generally, since 1981, industrial training agreements (CIFRE) have been making young doctoral candidates available to business. The same kind of relationship is possible with more experienced technicians (CORTECHS).

OSEO Innovation assists project sponsors in developing new processes, creating innovative companies, recruiting qualified personnel, successfully transferring technology and mounting international partnerships (funding, guarantee or constitution of equity capital).

Through its consulting business Alsace Technologie (an Association for the Technological Development of Business) is more specifically involved in the inception of the process of technological transfer. This association also concentrates on facilitating your access to the human resources and skills required to concretise a technological transfer project.

The CEEI (European Centre for Enterprise and Innovation in Alsace) offers assistance and advice in the creation of companies, innovative businesses and the transfer of technology. Its prime objective is to meet the needs of project sponsors and entrepreneurs in Alsace who want to create an innovative business.

Companies in Strasbourg may also take advantage of the presence and international influence of the ADIT (Agence de Diffusion de l'Information Technologique) (Agency for the Distribution of Technological Information). This national organisation facilitates access to technological supervision by the scientific consultants at French embassies.

The CEIPI (Centre d'Etudes Internationales de la Propriété Industrielle) (Centre of International Studies into Industrial Property), a component of the Université Robert Schuman, has the job of training specialists in corporate industrial property law and the "law of trademarks, drawings and models and other distinctive signs". People qualified in these fields focus on both the public and private sectors, where they can act as the authorised agent to industrial property offices (INPI, OMPI). The CEIPI is also undertaking considerable research in its fields of excellence.

Following a national call for projects, the Ministry of Industry and the INPI have chosen Strasbourg, the capital of Europe, as the home for a new training tool called : The European Institute of “Business and Intellectual Property” (IEEPI)

IEEPI is charged with implementing training programmes on the subject of intellectual property aimed at economic decision-makers. The objective of the creation and development of a training institute intended for non-specialists in industrial property is to foster the “patent” reflex, both within European and French companies, particularly small and medium-sized companies, and in the training structure for future managers (Grandes Ecoles and Universities). The IEEPI is characterised particularly by the high level of competence and openness to Europe of its lecturers and instructors and intends to offer high level service provisions in phase with the growing importance of innovation in Europe’s competitivity.

A number of engineering schools, whether independent or part of the ULP, are involved in the function of techological transfer through their junior enterprises and the organisation of extended postings of their students in business. Engineering students at the ENSPS (Ecole Nationale Supérieure de Physique de Strasbourg (Strasbourg Higher National School of Physics)), the ESBS (Ecole Supérieure de biotechnologie de Strasbourg), de l'ECPM (Ecole Supérieure de biotechnologie de Strasbourg (Strasbourg Higher School of Biotechnology)), the ECPM (Ecole Européenne de Chimie, Polymères et Matériaux (European School of Chemistry, Polylmers and Materials) ), the EOST (Ecole et Observation des Sciences de la Terre (Earth Sciences School and Observatory)), the ENGEES (Ecole Nationale du Génie de l'Eau et de l'Environnement de Strasbourg (Strasbourg National School of Water Engineering and the Environment)) and the INSA (Institut National des Sciences Appliquées (National Institute of Applied Sciences)) are sources of precious skills for regional business.