Towards a Europe with a future: ¡Que viva partnerships!

01/12/2011

“Connecting initiatives; that excites me,” asserts Raouti Chehih, director of EuraTechnologies, a pôle d'excellence économique working in information and communication technologies, which has just signed a co-operation agreement with the City of Barcelona’s development agency, Barcelona Activa. Following successful partnerships in the USA, the Middle East and China, EuraTechnologies is now banking on partnership agreements in Europe. “We want to work with players who share our values and who do the same job as we do: supporting innovation,” he continues. Only two hours away by plane from Lille, Barcelona Activa has so much in common with the metropolis’ pôle d'excellence: supporting emerging companies, wanting to build the success stories of tomorrow… all that and an urban redevelopment project in a former textile area. Like EuraTechnologies!

Banking on symmetry

The two organisations have been inspired by the fact they have so much in common and therefore intend to create a perfectly symmetrical partnership. The Catalans help start-ups set themselves up on a long-term basis on the other side of the Pyrenees (the “Do it in Barcelona” programme) and in 2012 Lille will offer Iberian entrepreneurs a warm welcome to the region as part of an “immersion and incubation” programme for international projects. In the same way, sharing experiences will also be encouraged: in 2012, there will be a Barcelona Activa pavilion at the VAD Multichannel Trade Show.

Stronger together

Raouti Chehih is overjoyed by this new partnership: “Our two regions are alike. And to build a unified Europe, you have to put your faith in convergence. Like our region, Barcelona has suffered from de-industrialisation. Today, we are rebuilding based on the technologies of the future. By facing up to challenges, we can be competitive again.”

Click here to find out more :

http://www.euratechnologies.fr