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WATER-ENVIRONMENT 2008, January 7   ERM, the winning spin-off     Founded in 1989, the company “Studies research materials” (in French, ERM) has been developing its service offer in the analysis of materials, the weathering of historical monuments and hydrogeological studies. Fifteen people are on the payroll. The Grand Palais of Paris, Total, the French radioactive waste management agency, Greater Poitiers…All of these entities have something in common, which is that they have availed themselves of the know-how particular to the moderate-sized company called “Studies research materials” (ERM), whose headquarters are to be found in the midst of Hydrasa (*), a Poitiers University laboratory. It is by no means coincidental that the structure created in 1989 by Jean-Claude Parneix has retained its operational facilities inside the Natural Sciences building. “As for myself, I once belonged to the laboratory, indicates Jean-Claude Parneix, cofounder of the specialized bureau. Our staying close to it has enabled us to benefit from a hypertrophied R&D department.” Within the scope of its three activities – analysis of materials, weathering of historical monuments and hydrogeological studies -, ERM indeed performs “numerous laboratory studies”. Moreover, 90% of its present-day team (15 people, including 10 engineers) come from either the Hydrasa laboratory or the ESIP. Technology transfer With sales to the tune of a million euros, ERM is propping itself up on a sturdy foundation allowing it to engage in large-scale projects. A concrete example? At this time, Jean-Claude Parneix and his team members are binding themselves to a European program that should, in the event that it gain official acceptance, lead to a transfer of technology from a public Helsinki-based laboratory to Poitiers. “I am drawing up our application with the help of Poitiers University. Were we to be awarded this program, we would be awarding ourselves a sum of money greater than 500,000 euros so as to hold up our side of the bargain”, adds the one-time OECD consultant. A verdict will be rendered by the end of 2008. As regards programs with a European dimension, the director is determined to refute the argument according to which they would not be suitable for moderate-sized French companies. “I think they need to become part of the culture. One must harbor a project predicated upon the tool, and not the other way around.” Personally speaking, Jean-Claude Parneix recognizes that the “5% of his sales obtained in export” are due to contracts negotiated in the scope of a preceding European program -- and that is undoubtedly just the beginning. (*) UNMR CNRS 6532 Hydrogéologie, Argiles, Sols et Altérations Contact: Jean-Claude Parneix - jean-claude.parneix@erm-poitiers.fr – 05 49 46 18 11 The Biopole en masse at Eurobio 2008 Read ...   Water information days (September 23 – September 25) Read ...   The rose and its genetic transformation Read ...   Christian Huyghe aims for “excellence” read...   Creating “medical branches” read...   A neuro-cardio-vascular pole is taking root read...   Valagro on the horticulture market read...   ERM, the winning spin-off read...   GMOs under debate in Poitiers read...   Isabelle Cameleyre, new representative read...   Cystic fibrosis: The molecule of hope read...   Irfaq, a manufacturer of innovations read...   CHU: State-of-the-art quality read...   Soil organic matter under examination read...   Parexel: The Cap provides its support read...   Philippe Michonneau: “The Biopole, fertile soil” read...   Painless monitoring of hepatitis read...   The Biopole structured as an association read...   Futuramat steps up the pace read...   Technova, or life in 3D read...   B Braun burnishes its image read...   Proteomics platform: The CHU strides ahead read...   The three missions of the University Botanical Garden read...   Clinsight in the big leagues read...   Natural energies for an autonomous building read...   Aster-Cephac turns into SGS Cephac read...   The previously unseen heart read...   BIOalternatives diversifies its markets read...   Two Poitiers-based projects awarded read...   IUT pores over biofuels read...   Poitiers, the biotechnology capital read...   PAREXEL wagers on the human factor read...   Saunier and associates wish to diversify read...   Biocydex and BioXtract move forward hand in hand read...   The grass of champions read...   Ianesco steadfastly believes in its future read...   A tumorotheque, what is the purpose it serves? read...   TechnAvOx has turned the corner read...   Larime is aiming for 40 beds in Poitiers read...   Poitiers is out to promote its research read...   A true Biopole milestone read...   A regional cancerology pole in the pipeline for 2007 read...   Nobel prize winners in Poitiers read...   A platform offering numerous advantages read...   @rtMolecule fashions in its own way read...   It’s plastic, it’s fantastic read...   The Poitiers hospital (CHU) stakes its claim read...   BIOalternatives exports its know-how read...   The physiological and computer science engineering program turns 30 read...   The Biopole takes center stage at Investiga read...           Legal mentions