UBIFRANCE BLOG http://www.ubifrance.com/ List of Posts en-us 1 Copyright 2010 - 2012http://www.ubifrance.com, All Rights Reserved. Tue, 27 Mar 2012 10:33:10 GMT Viiniexpo 2012 Viiniexpo 2012 järjestettiin jälleen maaliskuussa Helsingin Messukeskuksessa.

UBIFRANCE oli mukana menossa “RANSKA” –yhteisosastolla, jossa kymmenkunta ranskalaista tuottajaa samppanjasta konjakkiin esittelivät tuotteitaan.

Suurin osa tuottajista oli Suomessa ensimmäistä kertaa ja kaikki ihastelivat suomalaisten alan ammattilaisten ammattitaitoa, tehokkuutta ja lähestyttävyyttä. Kaikki “Ranska”-osaston osallistujat löysivät vähintään yhden neuvottelukumppanin, ja nyt vain odottelemme yhteistyön tuloksia. Tuottajat olivat todella iloisia osallistumisestaan ja ilmoittivat haluavansa tulla pian takaisin Suomeen ja osallistua kenties vuoden 2014 VIINIEXPOON.
 
Valitettavasi näytteilleasettaja määrä oli pieni, mutta se ei näyttänyt häiritsevän messuvierailijoita, jotka nauttivat eri osastojen tarjonnasta. Messuilla sekä osastollamme vallitsi mukavan leppoisa ja optimistinen ilmapiiri. Vierailijoita oli riittävästi, eikä kenenkään tarvinnut seisoskella ja odotella, että joku kiinnostuisi.
 
]]> Leena Aradj Tue, 27 Mar 2012 10:33:10 GMT SITL Europe’s logistics expertise transported to Paris in March 2012 The event will host over 100 conferences and workshops run by PricewaterhouseCoopers, among others; the occupancy rate is over 95% already, with 900 exhibitors registered.

The varied programme for SITL Europe 2012 has been finalised and, one month before its opening date, SITL Europe 2012 is fully booked. "The occupancy rate is 96% with 900 exhibitors, up by over 10% [year on year]. Within that figure, the number of new exhibitors has risen even faster, with an increase of 20%," says Laurent Noël, SITL Europe Manager.

SITL stands for Semaine Internationale du Transport et de la Logistique (i.e. the International Week for Transport and Logistics). The trade show, taking place at the end of March in Hall 6 of the Paris Nord Villepinte centre, north of the French capital, will offer many new features and some 100 conferences, thus confirming SITL Europe’s place as a leading event in the field.

Aspects of the trade fair not to be missed include The European Rail Freight event; the Eco Transport & Logistics Exhibition; the participation of the RFID University; and, also, the Prix de l’Innovation, together with a range of exclusive surveys whose results are due to be presented at the trade fair.

Two studies will be unveiled exclusively at SITL Europe. The first, presented by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) at the inaugural conference — entitled Global Supply Chain: Shippers’ New Expectations — will report on the main trends in the supply-chain sector.

PwC is one of the Knowledge Partners of the 2012 trade show. Its transport and logistics experts, with the support of a new focus group, have developed the International Transport and Logistics Forum. The members of this focus group are industry federations and trade associations, together with supply-chain and logistics managers from the main players involved in industry, distribution and services.

The International Transport and Logistics Forum is a new feature of SITL Europe. The forum will be run as eight conference programmes, each with at least one plenary session, a number of debates, and a range of theme-based workshops. Five of these workshops are inspired by key areas of the exhibition. Established players from the logistics/real-estate sector will organise a conference, in partnership with the Marché International des Professionnels d’Immobilier (or MIPIM, a trade show devoted to the international property market).

Additionally, there will be three programmes dedicated to e-business, international supply-chain management and human resources, as well as recruitment-themed workshops in the afternoon of Friday 30 March.

The second study to be unveiled at SITL Europe has been conducted by EUROGROUP CONSULTING. The unveiling of the study’s results will launch the third European Rail Freight event at SITL Europe, which will be built around the theme: Rail Freight, a Competitive Mode of Transport for the Future in Europe — Viewpoints from Shippers, Operators and Public-sector Bodies on Expectations and Developments in Rail Transport. This exclusive presentation will be followed by a two-day programme of conferences conducted by a steering committee of senior experts.

EUROGROUP CONSULTING will be supported in this programme of conferences by members of Association des Utilisateurs de Transport de Fret (AUTF, the association of freight-transport users), Réseau Ferroviaire Français (RFF, the entity in charge of the French railway infrastructure), Association Française du Rail (AFRA, the French association for the rail industry), International Union of Railways (UIC), Société Nationale des Chemins de fer Français Consulting (the consulting arm of SNCF, the French national railways operator), and Executive Interim Management (EIM).

As already mentioned, the number of exhibitors expected at SITL Europe 2012 is up by over 10%, as compared to 2011. This growth is across the five key areas of the exhibition, i.e. Transport and Logistics Services; Regions and Infrastructures; Logistics Real Estate; Handling and Warehouse Equipment; and, finally, Information Technologies, Systems and RFID. This growth is also apparent across the theme-based pavilions focused on E-business; Waterways; and, finally, School, Training and Recruitment. Also proving very popular are the new features for SITL Europe 2012: Scheduling-Forecasting; Safety & Security; and, also, the SME Club.

As well as the world’s leading names in the industry, many SMEs will be showcasing their expertise in services and transport. These companies are exhibiting either on their own stands or through groups such as Astre, Evolutrans, France Benne, France Lots and Tred Union. Others are represented through regional pavilions and trade federations, for example.

On 27 March, the RFID University will conclude, after a series of conferences and workshops prioritising feedback, with the presentation of the RFID Awards by ESCP-EAP, the Paris business school.

In the same hall, and also accessible with the SITL pass, the second Eco Transport & Logistics Exhibition will bring together leading figures from a wide range of disciplines. These experts will come from trade organisations, along with specialists in materials and equipment for transport, ecological handling and storage, vehicle hire, sustainable building materials, logistics-building, carriers and logistics, urban distribution, carbon-assessment, and environmental management.

Logistical innovation remains one of the priorities of SITL Europe 2012, as demonstrated by the 12th Prix de l’Innovation awards. Nine companies will receive awards at the ceremony, which will take place at the end of the inaugural conference,  including, for the first time, the Best Warehouse Handling and Equipment Innovation award.

The other three trophies will be awarded for innovations in the Eco Transport & Logistics Exhibition. An Innovation Gallery at the heart of the exhibition will feature the entries of all the participants.

About SITL

SITL stands for Semaine Internationale du Transport et de la Logistique and translates as the International Week for Transport and Logistics.

SITL Europe 2012 will take place in Hall 6 of the Paris Nord Villepinte exhibition centre, north of Paris (France), from 27 to 30 March 2012.

For further information, please go to: http://www.sitl.eu/ 

]]> Victor Jarny Fri, 24 Feb 2012 08:35:42 GMT Burgundy Wine Tour hotelli Kämpissä  Burgundin alueen kauppakamari toteutti UBIFRANCE’n Helsingin toimiston avustuksella Burgundin viinien maistajaistilaisuuden 8. helmikuuta 2012 hotelli Kämpissä. Reilut 20 Burgundin viinien tuottajaa maistatti viinejään yli 100 alan ammattilaiselle. Tuottajat olivat iloisia runsaasta osallistujamäärästä ja ihailivat erityisesti suomalaisten ammattitaitoa.

“Burgundy Wine Board’n” (BIVB) järjestämä luento aamupäivällä sai myös erittäin myönteisen vastaanoton ja hotelli Kämpin upeat tilat antoivat tilaisuudelle mitä mahtavimmat puitteet.

Lehdistön edustajia osallistui tapahtumaan ja esim. www.copatinto.com kirjoittaa tapahtumasta sivuillaan.

]]> ARADJ, Leena Tue, 21 Feb 2012 16:23:04 GMT PNA shows resilience in 2011 and looks forward to 2012 Execution of a number of projects in 2012 — including Alstom and EDF’s use of PNA facilities as a construction site and hub for assembling wind turbines — is set to strengthen PNA’s place in cross-Channel trade. 

Jean-Michel SÉVIN, CEO of PNA, states, "2012 looks very promising. The revitalisation of the two port locations [Caen-Ouistreham and Cherbourg] is taking shape. Their development outlook appears encouraging, and the ports should be able to consolidate, or even increase their economic impact."

PNA has published its full results for the year 2011 and its forecast for the year 2012.


Passenger-traffic numbers are encouraging

PNA ports experienced a slight increase in passenger traffic in 2011 as a result of sustained traffic flow between France and Ireland; a significant recovery in traffic between Cherbourg and England, especially during the summer season; and, finally, a very good year for cruise activity.

Cruise activity was particularly high in 2011. This was true, specifically, of Cherbourg, which recorded 40 calls by cruise liners and a 50.85% increase in the number of passengers. At close to 100,000, a record-high number of cruise passengers (95,840) passed through the port of Cherbourg. 

Moreover, cross-Channel activity between Ireland as well as England and the port of Cherbourg was up by 7.60%. This compensated for the drop in traffic between Caen and the South of England, with a decrease in the use of the Caen-Ouistreham-to-Portsmouth line, which stemmed from a combination of stagnant demand and high-capacity supply in the English Channel and in the North Sea. 

After the Dover Strait, however, Caen-Ouistreham remains by far the most important cross-Channel line, with nearly one million passengers passing through the ferry port annually. 


Goods traffic shows resilience against a difficult background 

Goods traffic, for its part, decreased by 4.80% in 2011 (year on year), which was mainly due to a difficult business environment in terms of cross-Channel relations with the UK. 

In 2011, PNA experienced a drop of close to 6.15% in cross-Channel trade volumes: undoubtedly, it has been a difficult period for cross-Channel activity due to the continued weakness of the pound sterling against the euro, made worse by vigorous competition among operators. This fierce competition is reflected in over-supply and particularly low prices, while the recession continues to affect much of Europe.

Within this difficult context, PNA ports — and, in particular, Caen-Ouistreham — have successfully maintained their overall position, with changes in activity closely mirroring those of the entire cross-Channel region. 

In 2012, an extension of the cross-Channel terminal at Ouistreham will be completed: this will optimise the port’s logistical organisation and, as a result, make it more attractive to operators.

Regarding conventional goods, traffic at PNA ports actually rose by 2.35% in 2011, with variations between individual ports and the types of traffic flows.

In Caen, an overall decrease in volume of 11.50% can be traced to lower cereals exports, down by approximately 150,000 tonnes (as compared to 2010, which had been an exceptional year). Some types of ’miscellaneous’ traffic, such as molasses (47,560 tonnes of which were trans-shipped via PNA ports in 2011), have become sustainable and can be considered mainstays of the port’s activity. 

In Cherbourg, traffic has more than doubled thanks to the bulk terminal, where over 140,000 tonnes of salt and coal transited in 2011, in total.



Looking forward to 2012

A range of factors point towards a positive trend characterizing levels of activity at PNA ports in the year 2012.

Firstly, the all-time records achieved in 2011 by Cherbourg for bulk-, cruise- and Ireland-related activities and traffic highlight the relevance of Cherbourg’s position within these niches.

Second, the stabilised cross-Channel market should also enable all the operators, and the cross-Channel lines that are in place, to regain healthier operating conditions.

Third, PNA, together with its six partners, is opening up new capacity that should benefit the port of Caen, thanks to the Caen-to-Le Havre inter-port container shuttle project.

Finally, the result of the call to tender for the offshore-energy project expected for the spring of 2012 will be a decisive factor for PNA ports. International engineering group Alstom has chosen Cherbourg as its key site for implementing its industrial development programme for offshore wind power, provided that the consortium wins 50% of the call to tender. In all, 500 jobs are at stake, as far as the port is concerned.

Confirming further the potential of the port in the field of renewable marine-based energy, energy group EDF has also chosen Cherbourg as its construction hub for assembling wind turbines ahead of their offshore installation. Additionally, Caen-Ouistreham will provide residential and maintenance facilities for the Courseulles-sur-Mer site.

PNA is set to pursue its development policy by furthering co-operation opportunities with the ports in the river Seine area and with those located in the South of both Ireland and England.

PNA also intends to continue with its ambitious investment programme, which includes a €40m investment in the launch of works for the extension and development of Cherbourg’s 380-metre-long Quai des Flamands. The completion of the modernisation of PNA’s port works will cost €1.7m. PNA will also invest €500,000 in the opening of new access points to the Mielles platform at Cherbourg.

PNA ports represent about 4,000 jobs — of which about 2,000 are direct jobs, 1,800 are indirect jobs, and 200 are jobs that will be generated — and about €180m of added value across the region of Basse-Normandie.

About PNA

The ports of Caen-Ouistreham and Cherbourg are owned and run by Ports Normands Associés, known in English as the Ports of Normandy Authority (PNA). PNA’s head office is in Caen.

The historic region of Normandy is currently made up of two separate regions: Lower Normandy (Basse-Normandie, in French) and Upper Normandy (Haute-Normandie). The ports of Caen-Ouistreham and Cherbourg are located on the north-west coast of France and face southern England, on the other side of the English Channel. They belong to the western, maritime part of Basse-Normandie.

For further information, please go to: www.pna-ports.fr 

]]> Victor Jarny Fri, 17 Feb 2012 15:25:28 GMT UBIFRANCE takes 20 French innovators to CeBIT 2012  

The trade show is the digital industry’s biggest event and will take place in Hanover (Germany), from 6 to 10 March 2012.

UBIFRANCE will group together the French companies in two areas during the CeBIT trade show in March. Companies focused on new technology and research will be in Hall 9, and hardware specialists will be in Hall 14.

A wide range of products will be exhibited, including those relating to business IT, business communications and networks, ICT infrastructure, IT and telecoms accessories, Future Internet, and 3D technologies. This year, CeBIT takes place in Hanover (in northern Germany) from 6 to 10 March.

According to the European Information Technology Observatory (EITO), worldwide IT expenditure is experiencing substantial growth rates in emerging countries and should have risen by 4.3% in 2011, reaching €963.4 billion. In Europe, Germany stands out, as it exceeded the European average and experienced a significant increase in expenditure, up by 4.3% in 2011, while France enjoyed a 3.4% increase.

The EITO highlights the substantial upsurge — by 4.2% — in the French infrastructure software segment in 2011. This trend is expected to continue in 2012, with a forecasted 4.8% rise. The growth in this segment is primarily the result of rising sales in storage-and-security applications, boosted by the proliferation of Cloud Computing offers.

Also according to the EITO, the worldwide IT market in 2012 will grow by 5.4%, exceeding €1,000 billion in sales for the first time.

A list of the companies that will be on the French pavilion is supplied below; a detailed catalogue is available on request.

Bidulandco

Bidulandco develops applications for USB sticks, SD cards and hard drives.

www.bidulandco.com

CAREX-France

CAREX-France specialises in the wholesale distribution of telecommunications and multimedia products.

www.carexfrance.com

COP sas 

COP sas is the creator of Nexboo: "The first digital democracy where ideas are exchanged between friends, or the world," explains the company.

www.nexboo.com

ELYCTIS

ELYCTIS develops hardware devices and software applications dedicated to Secure Identity, including e-ID and e-passport.

www.elyctis.com

GEOCOM

GEOCOM provides e-marketing tools that use mobile phones.

www.geocom.fr

H5 Audits

H5 Audits is made up of independent experts who specialise in measurement technology for businesses’ IP networks.

www.h5audits.com

HDW

HDW is a distributor of high-technology goods.

www.hdwfrance.fr

HOME TECHNOLOGY

HOME TECHNOLOGY allows its clients to manage their homes via the internet, controlling temperature in the home remotely, for example.

www.home-technology.eu

INFOSEC Communication

INFOSEC Communication designs, manufactures and sells a comprehensive range of UPS and surge protectors that are adapted to market needs.

www.infosec-ups.com

Jamespot.Pro

Jamespot.Pro is an online solution that allows businesses to communicate and work collaboratively, both internally and externally.

www.jamespot.com

Moselle Développement

Moselle Développement is an economic-development agency set up by the General Council of the Moselle département, in Eastern France.

www.moselle-developpement.com

Ordissimo

Ordissimo has created a personal, simplified computer that is suitable for beginners.

www.ordissimo.com

PackshotCreator

A world leader in digital product photography, PackshotCreator offers unique solutions for the automated production of packshots.

www.packshot-creator.com

PNY Technologies

PNY Technologies delivers a full spectrum of high-quality products for everything in (and around) the computer.

www.pny.eu

Runware

Runware designs, produces and markets communications accessories with high added value for mobile phones.

www.runware.com

Sage

Sage produces software designed to manage a range of functions within a client organisation, such as finance and accounting, sales, pay, HR, enterprise resource planning (ERP), customer relationship management (CRM), and e-commerce.

www.sage.fr

SR21

SR21 is the regional development and innovation agency for the island of La Réunion, an overseas département of France in the Indian Ocean, near Mauritius.

www.wereunion.re

VIOTECH

VIOTECH designs, develops and markets high-added-value services and applications.

www.viotech.net

]]> Victor Jarny Fri, 10 Feb 2012 09:43:57 GMT VEGEPOLYS takes Fleuron d’Anjou’s Melkior to Fruit Logistica 2012 Open to all breeders of fruit and vegetables in Europe, the 2012 competition has rewarded Fleuron d’Anjou with the Gold Prize for its Melkior organically certified shallot seedlings. Melkior shallots will be exhibited on the VEGEPOLYS stand at Fruit Logistica in Berlin, between 8 and 10 February 2012.

VEGEPOLYS is the cluster of technological excellence in the plants sector that is based in Angers, in Western France. Its role is to promote innovation among businesses, research centres and training facilities in the plant market both in France and internationally, especially in terms of varietal innovation.

The Melkior shallot will be displayed on the VEGEPOLYS stand at the Fruit Logistica trade show, the world’s leading trade fair for fresh fruit and vegetables, which will take place in Berlin (Germany) from 8 to 10 February 2012.

Melkior shallots represent a genuine innovation in the vegetable species. The variety, which has been certified as organic, was created by Agri-Obtentions, a producer of innovative plant varieties. Melkior is the first shallot to be resistant to mildew, which is the main fungal parasite to attack leafy plants. This resistance to mildew is of importance both to amateur gardeners, who are wary of using pesticides due to their harmful effects, and to professional farmers, such as organic-shallot producers, who frequently experience severe problems as a result of mildew.

Seeking to satisfy gardening enthusiasts, Fleuron d’Anjou intends to multiply the initial Melkior seedlings, while remaining within the specifications of the AB guarantee (i.e. the French organic-farming certification), therefore moving the shallot further along the path to sustainable development.

The Melkior variety’s bulb is of the round, mid-length variety. It is firm, with a fairly dark colour and a shiny appearance. In terms of cultivation, it is planted in late February or early March, for an early July harvest. Its vegetation is quite powerful, which is conducive to good ripeness. Finally, the Melkior variety has a high dry-matter content and will keep until April or May, while remaining free of any preservatives, since it is organic.

The product is available to users as of 2012 in 500g string bags, bearing a tag indicating that is was grown organically and carrying the blue label from the Groupement National Interprofessionnel des Semences et Plants (or GNIS, the French Inter-professional Seed and Plant Association), which guarantees its varietal purity and its hygiene quality.

About Fleuron d’Anjou

Fleuron d’Anjou is one of the leading French companies specialising in the production and commercialisation of fruit and vegetables, along with flowers and plants.

The company will attend the Fruit Logistica trade show in Berlin (Germany) between 8 and 10 February 2012 (Hall 22, Booth C-13).

About VEGEPOLYS

VEGEPOLYS is a cluster of excellence that regroups plant companies and leading expert organisations from Pays-de-la-Loire (in Western France), such as INRA (the French National Institute for Agricultural Research), Agrocampus Ouest INHP (the Institute for Life, Food, Horticultural Sciences and Landscaping), and Angers University. As part of VEGEPOLYS, lead agencies play an important role, including the Angers CPVO (Community Plant Variety Office), for registering varieties onto the European catalogue.

VEGEPOLYS develops projects that take into account current and expected changes in society worldwide, which means that it favours the development of environmentally friendly plant varieties that contribute towards human wellbeing. More particularly, VEGEPOLYS covers issues such as plant-variety innovation; the sanitary quality of seeds and plants; and, also, the design and development of urban and suburban landscapes.

VEGEPOLYS will be present at the Fruit Logistica trade show in Berlin (Germany) from 8 to 10 February 2012. It will showcase the Melkior shallot on its stand (Hall 22, Booth B-06) at the event.

For further information about Réussir Fruits et Légumes, please go to: http://www.reussirfl.com/

For further information about SIVAL, please go to: http://www.sival-angers.com/

For further information about Fruit Logistica, please go to: http://www.fruitlogistica.de/en/

For further information about Fleuron d’Anjou, please go to: http://www.fleurondanjou.fr/

For further information about VEGEPOLYS, please go to: www.vegepolys.eu

]]> Victor Jarny Fri, 03 Feb 2012 16:36:14 GMT Henkilökohtais- ja vanhuspalvelun tuotteiden ostajien tapaaminen Suomessa vierailee ranskalaisyritysten edustajien delegaatio tutustuakseen markkinoihin ja tarjotakseen palveluitaan. Kahden päivän vierailun aikana heidän tarkoituksenaan on järjestää tapaamisia ja keskustella niin laitosten edustajien kuin maahantuojien ja kuntien edustajien kanssa.

Kyseessä olevat tuotteet ja palvelut:

. omatoimisuutta ja kotona asumista helpottavat tuotteet, teknologiset sovellukset ja palvelut

. kognitiivista rappeutumista hidastavat teknologiset sovellukset ja palvelut

. vanhusten palvelutaloihin suunnatut tuotteet ja palvelut

. sosiaalisten suhteiden ylläpitoon tarkoitetut tuotteet ja palvelut

. hyvinvoinnin parantamiseen tarkoitetut tuotteet ja palvelut

. vanhusten turvallisuuteen liittyvät tuotteet ja palvelut (kaatumisen ennaltaehkäisy ja havaitseminen)

. asumisen laadun parantamiseen tähtäävät tuotteet ja palvelut (kodin automaatio, muutoskorjaukset onnettomuuksien välttämiseksi)

 

]]> Redon, Nicolas Thu, 19 Jan 2012 07:58:30 GMT The growing market for cloud computing in France  

 

 

January 2012 – The boom in data transmission and storage capacity has given rise to cloud computing, where calculations and data are scattered in a universe that is no longer directly accessible to customers, who instead buy processing activities in the same way that one might buy electricity. Three levels of offerings are available: Externally hosted IT infrastructure (IaaS = Infrastructure as a Service); Ready-to-use environments (PaaS = Platform as a Service); and Standardized shared applications sold as services (SaaS = Software as a Service).
 
Revenue from the global market for cloud computing services totaled US$68.3 billion in 2010, while in Europe, the cloud computing market surged 20% and may account for almost 15% of the European software and services market by 2015. The French market was worth €1.85 billion in 2010, of which €672 million were generated by SMEs, and continues to grow strongly. It is set to exceed €2 billion in 2011 and may account for more than 6% of the French software and services market by 2012 (estimate by Nexima).
 
Alongside international operators such as Microsoft, Google, HP, AT&T and IBM, France is home to numerous companies, including ATOS, Cap Gemini, Steria, Orange and SFR. ATOS has recently established Yunano, a joint venture with Chinese company Ufida, to market cloud-based management software and associated services. French software publisher Systancia, with bases in the Alsace and Ile-de-France regions, is a market leader in Europe for application/workstation user environment virtualization.
 
France provides new entrants with a growth-friendly environment. French legislation affords a high level of protection for data and data processing; in particular, regulations governing encryption (Act 2004-575 of June 21, 2004 and Decree 2007-663 of May 2, 2007) cover concerns relating to the sensitivity of data entrusted to cloud computing centers. New entrants include US company Joyent, established in Ile-de-France (Paris region) in 2010, which provides IaaS to LinkedIn, Disney, CNN, Facebook, Yahoo and vente-privee.com, and open-source PaaS to publishers, hosting companies and specialist computer services companies such as Dell and First Service. This pioneering cloud computing start-up is now competing with cloud-based offerings from companies such as Amazon EC2 and Microsoft Azur. In 2010, Dell entered into an OEM (original equipment manufacturer) agreement with Joyent to use its "smart technologies" to offer "turnkey" clouds hosted on its servers.
 
France has eight innovation clusters involved in cloud computing: Cap Digital and System@tic (Ile-de-France), Elopsys (Limousin), Images et réseaux (Brittany/Pays de la Loire), Imaginove and Minalogic (Rhône-Alpes), Secure Communication Solutions (Provence-Alpes-Côte-d’Azur) and the e-secure transaction cluster TES (Basse-Normandie).
 
In 2011, the French Government issued an initial call for projects dedicated to cloud computing R&D as part of its "National Investment Program". Five projects will receive state aid (€19 million): a software engineering platform (CloudForce project, Orange Labs), an application porting scheme (CloudPort project, Prologue, an SME), a high-performance software infrastructure (Magellan project, Bull), a community cloud (Nu@age project, Non Stop Systems, an SME), and a higher education establishment cloud (UnivCloud project, INEO). The French Federation of Software Publishers (Association Française des Editeurs de Logiciels – AFDEL) has set up a website (www.investirdanslenumerique.fr) to simply the procedure for project owners when submitting project for "National Investment Program" funding.
 
According to David Appia, Chairman & CEO of the Invest in France Agency, "France is a growth market for high-tech and innovative companies, particularly in the cloud computing sector, where the leading players are already here doing business. The French government’s "National Investment Program" is providing a boost to a dynamic network of partnerships created by France’s innovation clusters through its funding offers for projects involving IT system designers, telecoms operators, software publishers, technology integrators, research laboratories and innovative SMEs."

 

The Invest in France Agency (IFA) is the national agency responsible for promoting and facilitating international investment in France. It also coordinates initiatives to promote France’s economic attractiveness. The IFA network operates worldwide. In France, the IFA works in partnership with regional development agencies to offer international investors outstanding business opportunities and customized services. For further information, please visit www.investinfrance.org

]]> JOLY Vicent Wed, 18 Jan 2012 14:52:01 GMT Burgundy Wine Tour 2012 Helsingissä Burgundin aluen kauppakamari toteuttaa yhdessä UBIFRANCE’n Helsingin toimiston kanssa Burgundin viinien maistajaistilaisuuden hotelli Kämpissä 8. helmikuuta 2012 iltapäivällä. 23 Burgundin viinien tuottajaa osallistuu tapahtumaan. “Burgundy Wine Board (BIVB)” järjestää samana päivänä hotelli kämpissä Burgundin viinien luennon jonka aiheena on  « Discovery of a selection of Village appellations from Burgundy ». Molemmat tilaisuudet ovat suunnattu alan ammattilaisille. Lisätietoja antaa Leena Aradj (leena.aradj@ubifrance.fr)

]]> ARADJ, Leena Mon, 16 Jan 2012 13:25:24 GMT Ranskalaista designia Suomessa – Saint-Étienne, luova kaupunki Ranskan instituutti ja  Saint-Étiennen Cité du design -keskus tuovat Suomeen näyttelyn, jossa pääsemme tutustumaan moderniin ranskalaiseen muotoiluun. Näyttely on osa World Design Capital Helsinki 2012 virallista ohjelmaa.

Saint-Étienne, entinen teollisuuskaupunki, on löytänyt kulttuurista ja designista uuden suunnan. Maailmaa kiertäneessä  näyttelyssä nähdään innovaatioita osallistavasta kaupunkisuunnittelusta yllättävään arkipäivän tuotekehittelyyn.

Kaapelitehdas, Valssaamo
Avajaiset 30.tammikuuta klo 17
 
Näyttely 30.1 – 7.2.2012
Avoinna joka päivä klo 10-19
Vapaa pääsy
]]> JOLY Vicent Mon, 16 Jan 2012 09:03:06 GMT French touch in evidence at Spring Fair International 2012 The companies taking part in the French Pavilion are as follows. Further details can be provided on request. 

BANDIT MANCHOT (on stand M35)

BANDIT MANCHOT uses leather that is left over from manufacturing processes at the most reputable fashion houses. Only leather with a perfect finish, texture and colour is selected for the cards, bookmarks, bracelets and other gifts that the company makes. Each card produced is a de-luxe, unique, and often humorous way of conveying words and thoughts.

http://banditmanchot.net/en/

COLLEGIEN (on stand M33)

COLLEGIEN is made up of a team of designers who have had their own workshops in the département of Tarn (in southern France) for four generations, making innovative and fashionable collections. COLLEGIEN’s key product is a slipper sock that has a shaped, ergonomic sole, which has punched holes for aeration and is attached to a knitted sock. The sole is treated by relying on advanced anti-allergy technology. Besides, only natural materials such as cashmere, wool and cotton are used, making COLLEGIEN’s sock perfect for everyone, including babies. The sock comes in a range of colours and styles.

www.collegien-shop.com 

GOBILAB (on stand M4)

Created in June 2010, GOBILAB is an independent business run by three entrepreneurs. It will be presenting Gobi, the first eco-designed, French-produced and Bisphenol A (BPA)-free reusable bottle at Spring Fair International. Gobi was specifically designed to be easily integrated into an office or urban environment and to offer an appealing alternative to disposable cups and bottles. Portable and fun, this product has been thoughtfully designed to be easily filled, carried, cleaned, re-used and customised. 

www.gobilab.com 

INCIDENCE (on stand M39)

For the last 20 years, INCIDENCE has been redesigning everyday objects in order to make them more aesthetic, fun and functional. The company will present its original, tongue-in-cheek range of gifts and home accessories at the trade show; they include products that are suitable for the bathroom, for the kitchen, and for children. 

www.incidence.fr 

LAMALI (on stand M43)

For 20 Years, LAMALI has been collaborating with one fair-trade-certified organisation in Nepal. The company’s collections are designed in Paris and then created in Nepal, using the local artisans’ traditional knowledge and materials. LAMALI will present its selection of handmade colourful lokta paper garlands, mobiles and bunting, as well as its woollen accessories, at the trade show.

www.lamali.com 

LIB EDITEUR D’IDEES (on stand M37)

LIB EDITEUR D’IDEES, which was founded in 2009, produces top-quality items that are made in France and have been designed to high ecological standards. The first item produced by the company was its innovative cocktail stirrer which, in the shape of a dragonfly or bird, balances on the side of the glass. LIB EDITEUR D’IDEES works with high-quality partners and manufactures items of excellence at an optimal production cost.

www.lib-editeurdidees.com 

About The French Trade Commission UBIFRANCE

The French Trade Commission UBIFRANCE in London facilitates trade development betw een France and the UK. UBIFRANCE offers a wide range of services to French-based companies, so as to assist them in their business activities within the UK. As such, it organises B2B events in the form of conferences and networking opportunities, mainly in London.

The French Trade Commission UBIFRANCE in London is organising a French pavilion at Spring Fair International, which will take place at the NEC, in Birmingham (England), from 5 to 9 February 2012. The pavilion will display the latest in gifts and home accessories coming out of France. 

Journalists wishing to attend should contact Ms Katherine Woods, Press Officer of the French Trade Commission UBIFRANCE in London.

For further information about the Spring Fair, please go to:  http://www.springfair.com/ 

For further information about UBIFRANCE in the UK, please go to: www.ubifrance.com/uk/

]]> JOLY Vicent Mon, 16 Jan 2012 08:53:45 GMT Nord-Pas-de-Calais extends Welcome to N France to FRUIT LOGISTICA 2012 The 400m² Welcome to Northern France pavilion (in Hall 22, Booth F14) will host 17 French companies presenting their region’s fresh produce or their packaging/logistics know-how.

The Nord-Pas-de-Calais region offers many benefits to businesses, including its prime location, close to Brussels, London and Paris. (The Eurostar journey from London to Lille takes 90 minutes.) Nord-Pas-de-Calais ranks third among French food-growing regions, with the sector’s turnover set to reach €11.5 billion in 2011. A third of all potatoes produced in France are grown in the region, which ranks first nationally for endives, second for onions, and third for cauliflowers, in terms of volumes produced.

Among the new features on the Nord-Pas-de-Calais pavilion will be T&B Vergers’ new Quality Guarantee, which ensures full traceability of fruit from the place of production to its dispatch through the channels of distribution. Verduyn will introduce its two new packaging modes — in punnets or in P-Plus packages of more than a kilo — as well as a new range of knife-peeled carrots.

Bayard Distribution will present its upscale brand of potatoes and introduce a new microwavable package, and NEGONOR will showcase a new range of organic potatoes for making chips or mash.

To enhance the visitor experience on the pavilion, there will also be a daily showcase by a chef using produce from the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region.

The full list of exhibitors on the Welcome to Northern France pavilion is as follows. Further information is available on the websites that have been listed and can also be provided upon request. 

Agrochange is a potato brokerage company which works with over 600 producers in France (www.agrochange.com). 

Bayard Distribution, already mentioned, produces and distributes potatoes (www.bayard-distribution.com). Olivier Négoce is a potato trading specialist (www.oliviernegoce.fr), and Condilys, for its part, has been trading in potatoes since 2003. 

Lucas Lemaire is a   family-run company trading in potatoes and onions (www.lucaslemaire.com). NEGONOR (www.negonor.com), already mentioned, and Verpom (www.verpom.com) are both specialists in potatoes and onions. Wecxsteen is a company that is also active in the potato market in northern France (www.groupe-wecxsteen.com).

Perle du Nord has been a specialist in endives for the past 20 years (www.perledunord.com), whereas T&B Vergers, already mentioned, trades in (and packages) both apples and pears (www.tbvergers.fr).

Verduyn, mentioned above in this press release, prepares fresh vegetables (www.verduyn.fr), while Wostin is a bean-sprout specialist (www.wostin.fr). For its part, PICVERT produces, packages and markets baby leaves for a range of salads (www.picvert.info).

Klim Top Controls provides refrigerating equipment (www.klimtop.eu), while Dunfresh, which is based in the port of Dunkirk, specialises in temperature-controlled warehousing and logistics         (http://www.conhexa.com/dunfresh_eng.htm).

The Nord-Pas-de-Calais pavilion will also showcase the Port of Dunkirk, the second most important French port for trade with Britain (www.portdedunkerque.fr), as well as Agence Maritime Rommel PLC, an expert in international logistics based in northern France (www.amragency.com).

About Nord-Pas-de-Calais

The Nord-Pas-de-Calais region will host the Welcome to Northern France pavilion at FRUIT LOGISTICA 2012 at the Messe Berlin exhibition centre, in Berlin (Germany), from 8 to 10 February 2012. The pavilion will be situated in Hall 22, Booth F14.

A comprehensive exhibitor catalogue is available upon request from Ms Katherine Woods, Press Officer, or from the Welcome to Northern France pavilion. 

For further information about Fruit Logistica 2012, please go to: http://www.fruitlogistica.de/en/

For further information about Nord-Pas-de-Calais, please go to: www.cci-international.net

]]> JOLY Vicent Mon, 16 Jan 2012 08:59:22 GMT