In July 2005, the French government officially recognised 66 competitiveness clusters, major tools for the State’s industrial policy. Sixteen of them are global clusters or clusters with a global vocation. The government will spend an average of 500 million euros p.a. between 2006 and 2008 to finance the research and development projects being undertaken in the clusters.

They are based on cooperation between companies, research units and educational centres and are designed to stimulate innovation with a view to economic development.

Brittany has four such clusters, two of them with a global vocation i.e.

• the global Media & Networks competitiveness cluster,

• the global Sea Brittany competitiveness cluster, in partnership with the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region,
• the Valorial cluster for the foodstuffs of the future,
• the Top-of-the-Range Automobile cluster, in partnership with the Pays de la Loire and Poitou Charentes regions.

Rennes Atalante is a member of the four competitiveness clusters in Brittany, playing its part in relaying information and providing leadership. Moreover, through its promotional actions (exhibitions, quarterly newsletter, contacts with the media etc.), it is also helping to increase awareness of the clusters.