The Technopôle
The Technopôle is a centre of excellence which straddles the coast between Brest (on the Vernis site) and Plouzané (at the Pointe du Diable). Created and developed under the aegis of Brest Métropole, it brings together in a single location and in an extraordinary setting the very best in marine science research and development, as well as high-tech companies.
A dynamic and constantly evolving centre
From offices with an enviable view over Brest harbour to campuses offering a remarkable study environment, the Technopôle is Finistère’s showcase for cutting-edge research and innovation, particularly in the field of marine sciences. Students, researchers, teachers, doctoral candidates, scientists, engineers, administrative staff… the Technopôle hosts almost 7,000 people who travel to the Pointe du Diable every day to work or study. It is a hub of high technology and research, an incubator where innovation has pride of place. Its geographical location, on the Iroise coast, has encouraged its development. Finistère is one of the French « regions of the future » for marine, digital and life sciences and technologies. The Technopôle attracts the very best companies and researchers specialising in these fields, who know they can count on a stimulating environment conducive to research.
Companies that excel in their field
Since its beginnings at the end of the 1960s, with the installation of the Centre océanologique de Bretagne (COB), one of the CNEXO sites, the Technopôle has gradually built up an unrivalled reputation and has developed considerably. It is now part of Brittany’s network of seven technology parks. Following the arrival of Ifremer’s head office in 2019, the university institutes and companies located here continue to expand. Some are well known to the general public, others less so, but their speciality is always recognised in their field of expertise.
Some initiatives have given rise to ambitious networking partnerships, with national or even international impact. For example, the World Maritime Campus was created at the instigation of the Brest-Iroise Technopôle association, with the clear aim of making the Finistère point area a world leader in the study of oceans and seas.
Around a hundred companies are based here, including major groups such as Thalès, internationally renowned companies such as Cabasse, dozens of small and medium-sized businesses, as well as a large number of « incubator » companies.
The Technopôle is also home to some of the world’s leading research and higher education institutions. When it comes to studying the sea, Ifremer, the Polar Institute, Cerema, the Institut Universitaire Européen de la Mer (IUEM) and IRD Bretagne are key research and training centres. The area is also home to a number of renowned higher education establishments, including IMT Atlantique, ENIB, ESIAB and IUEM.
Over 50 years of history
