Interesting that the tech city/conglomerate, Sophia Antinopolis (http://www.sophia-antipolis.net/) is apparently being allowed to raise its own tax. Reeks of 15th century feudal duchies, to me. Anybody know more about this practice?
The original, with all the HTML links in place, I can send to whoever's interested.
J~
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From: contact at businessriviera.com To: <info at businessriviera.com> Subject: News Business Riviera Date: Wed, 14 Mar 2001 17:09:11 +0100
Dear Subscriber, businessriviera.com is pleased to provide you with the latest issue of its French Riviera business newsletter. Do not hesitate to use the archive service available for searching the comprehensive data base featuring all the previous newsletters articles. Good reading !
AGRO-FOOD
Pavillon Traiteur
The upscale delicatessen and catering company, Pavillon Traiteur, founded in 1990 and integrated into the MCL group since 1999, had a record year in 2000. The specialty food company based in Mouans-Sartoux earned turnover of 40 million francs, the result of a policy run by its manager, Marc Dussolier, concentrating on quality and diversity. Nice Matin L'Echo - Jean PHILIPPE - 15/02/01
BUSINESS SITES
Sophia Antipolis
Sophia Antipolis is changing its structure. Up till now, it has sat upon 5 "communes", or parishes (Vallauris, Valbonne, Antibes, Biot and Mougins). A joint management structure will be in operation by the autumn of 2002. The areas of responsibility of the organisation that currently watches over the site's global development, called Symisa, will pass to this new structure, expanding it to other communes near the park. In principle, in terms of fund-raising, this "intercommunal structure" will be authorised to raise a new tax, the TPU, or single business tax, at the rate of 16%, but this will not happen straight away- some years of operation will be necessary first. La Tribune - Michel BOVAS - 01/03/01
Arénas
The Arénas international business centre, located opposite the Nice Côte d'Azur airport, is in an expansive mode, with three development projects running concurrently. One of the plots will welcome a multi-theatre cinema, and the other two have been put aside for office projects. One, being built by Meunier Méditerranée, is for a World Trade Center including 25,000 sq. m. (270,000 sq. ft) of offices, and other, being developed by Bouygues Immobilier, is for a 16,000-sq.m. office building that will be put up for sale. Nice Matin - Pierre HILLION - 04/02/01
CICA
The new director of CICA, Jean-Louis Geiger, presented CICA's new event schedule. It focuses on two themes: organising monthly working groups on management and creating two "partnership forums" annually. Two other sections will be developed, one working on introducing local start-ups to the public market and the other focussing on an international project. SophiaNet - Jean-Pierre Largillet - 21/02/01
COMMUNICATION & MEDIA
Studios Riviera
The 7 million dollar injection of funds by the new owner Euromédia has provided Studios Riviera with a new lease on life. The studio is providing a home to thirty companies on its site, which will transform the studios into a real "communication village", and is reinvigorating its film-making activities. In addition, the studio is currently laying the groundwork to be the host for a media university. Nice Matin - Grégory LECLERC - 05/02/01
Corp SA
The new entity Corp SA has been created from the merger between two Nice communication consultancy firms, Image Innée and Com Point Com. As well as providing complementarities of expertise, the merger also gives Corp SA a base for expansion- it is expected to earn in the region of 7 million francs this year. Nice Matin L'Echo - Pierre HILLION - 08/02/01
EDUCATION
CERAM
A survey of the year 2000 graduates of CERAM, the management school at Sophia Antipolis, shows a highly satisfactory performance: with a starting salary of 213,000 francs a year, 81% of the young graduates found a job within two months of graduation, and nearly a third of them on the French Riviera. The students' profile, which is aided by the avowed orientation of the school towards "Technology Management", is particularly well suited to the companies in the new technology sector, including Accenture, Nortel Networks, Philips SemiConductors, Amadeus or computer companies such as Compaq and Cap Gemini. SophiaNet - Jean-Pierre Largillet - 03/03/01
INDUSTRY
Luxottica
Only 2 years after acquiring Ray Ban, the Italian specialty glasses group is making a friendly take-over bid for Synglass Hut International, which concentrates on distributing sunglasses and watches. Luxottica would then significantly strengthen its position on the US market. In 2000, Luxottica achieved profits of 255.3 million euros - up 67.4% - from sales worth 2.4 billion euros. Les Echos - X.L. - 23/02/01
Acqua Lung
Acqua Lung (formerly La Spirotechnique), based in Carros since it was founded in 1947, has become the world's leading supplier of diving equipment for civil and military applications. With 600 staff throughout the world, including 90 at its Carros head office, Acqua Lung earned 847 million francs last year, and is expected to reach a billion francs this year. 98% owned by Air Liquide, the company has 14 subsidiaries in Europe, Japan, the United States and Mexico. The Carros site also houses a unit that produces regulating valves and all the valves and fittings used in diving equipment. Nice Matin L'Echo - Christiane Navas - 01/03/01
Thermatech
Fast-growing Thermatech, concentrating on thermal equipment for the electronics and petrochemical industries, has announced 2000 earnings of 214 million francs, due in particular to the two-fold increase in exports. This has led the company, which employs 125 throughout the world, half of which are at Sophia Antipolis, to look for new premises. Its outlook is also good in the industrial waste recycling area, a new line Thermatech entered into 10 years ago. CAD Web News - Jill HARRY et Catherine COLLET - 05/03/01
Eaton
Over the course of the year 2000, the US auto equipment maker Eaton strengthened the resources of its production in Monaco, which now employs 423, earning more than 278 million francs. La Tribune - Michel BOVAS - 05/02/01
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES
Add.X Technologies
Add.X Technologies, an information technology services specialist, achieved revenues of 30 million francs in 2000, representing growth of nearly 40%. The company, which has been very successful in gaining outsourcing contracts from large Rivieran companies (including Alcatel Space, Amadeus, IBM), has launched a recruitment plan for 50 specialised engineers to meet demand. CAD Web News - Jill HARRY et Catherine COLLET - 05/03/01
Amadeus
Although Amadeus saw its net profits decline by 25.8% in 2000, business is still proceeding at a good pace, with turnover up 15.3% at 1.56 million euros. The European travel booking operator is forecasting continued growth in turnover, in the region of 16-20%, and intends to expand its business on the North American continent after acquiring Vacation.com last November. Les Echos - C.P. - 19/02/01
Buying Partner
Buying Partner, a purchasing platform, has just finalized its first financing round, winning 11 million francs. Le Journal d'Internet - 01/02/01
Comm Time
Comm Time, a start-up based in Sophia Antipolis since it was founded in September 1999, has positioned itself in the niche of distributing and receiving digital video images, via a thoroughly integrated easy-to-set-up solution. The company, which has been growing briskly, is recruiting specialists in Rich Media, a video technique, and sales staff. Le Journal d'Internet - Alain Bernadoy - 01/02/01
Cross Systems
In January 2001, Cross Systems, a French Web agency formed in 1986, opened its offices at the CICA in the Sophia Antipolis technology park. The 4-person start-up team will be expanded over two years to 40. The company specialises in developing strategic solutions that combine the Web and mobile communications technology (mobile phones, PDAs, PalmPilots, etc.). CAD Web News - Jill HARRY et Catherine COLLET - 26/02/01
Etexx
Etexx, the Rivieran company that specialises in e-business for the textile industry, is about to complete its second fund-raising round, this time for 130 million francs. Given the company's current level of business, it should be able to count on turnover of 170 million francs by 2002. Le Journal d'Internet - 01/02/01
First Virtual Communication Europe
The Californian company First Virtual Communications has just set up its European subsidiary at Sophia Antipolis, in premises at the World Trade Center. FVC, founded in 1993 , develops and designs products to integrate video and audio telephony for the Internet, especially via a communications platform called "Click to Meet", aimed chiefly at cutting-edge companies and Internet services. CAD Web News - Jill HARRY et Catherine COLLET - 26/02/01
NavLink
NavLink of the USA has just opened its Internet hosting centre at Sophia Antipolis. The Centre, available to companies of the work halls net, will eventually cover 3000 sq. m. by the end of 2001. CAD Web News - Jill HARRY et Catherine COLLET - 05/03/01
Atos Origin
The Franco-Dutch computer services firm Atos Origin increased its turnover by 3.8% over last year on a pro-forma basis (following the merger of the two companies last October), with earnings of 2.83 billion euros. Les Echos - 22/02/01
Hitachi
The Japanese electronics group has just inaugurated it new research laboratory, the fourth in Europe, at the CICA. The Hitachi Sophia Antipolis Laboratory, which comes under Hitachi France, is dedicated to mobile and satellite communications. The small team will work on the new generation of communications systems, in collaboration with Eurecom and INRIA. Nice Matin L'Echo - Jacques GANTIE - 01/03/01
Sema Group
The 300 employees of Sema Group, previously dispersed throughout the Riviera, have been brought together at the Sophia Antipolis site, in premises of 3,500 sq. m. (37,500 sq.ft), under the Millenium programme. Nice Matin L'Echo - 01/03/01
Lucent Technologies
Lucent Technologies has opened the customer service centre of its e-Services Group in Sophia Antipolis. Still to come, a 3000-sq.m. incubator (32,000 sq. ft) scheduled for delivery this coming May, to house companies working on the third generation of mobile phones. CAD Web News - Jill HARRY et Catherine COLLET - 05/03/01
Lucent Technologies
Lucent Technologies, the US telecommunications equipment maker, is planning to sell its fibre optics subsidiary, Optical Fiber Solutions, acknowledged as one of its most promising branches (with a staff of 6,000). The intended goal is to reduce the group's debt, while refocusing its concentration on 3G mobile telephone systems and routing and switching equipment. Les Echos - R.M. - 22/02/01
Neurocom
Neurocom, the leading French Internet security integrator, has just signed off on two major contracts, one with Air France and the other with the national lottery operator, la Française des Jeux. Neurocom, which employs 350 people (since it acquired Omi in July 2000), is due to list on Paris's answer to the Nasdaq, the Nouveau Marché, by June. In 2000, the group doubled its turnover, to 130 million francs. The Nice regional agency, based at Nice and Sophia Antipolis for development issues, will grow from 40 to 60 staff members, taking into account the possible relocation of the Netsecure subsidiary (20 workers) from Paris. SophiaNet - Jean-Pierre Largillet - 01/03/01
Soditech
After only 4 months of business, the Aix en Provence office of Soditech, an engineering firm originating in Cannes, is going to expand from 7 to 40 staff before long, and is expected to bring in 30 million francs in fees. Among its clients, the Aix office includes the CEA Cadarache, Pechiney and STMicroelectronics. La Tribune - Michel BOVAS - 02/03/01
Qwam System
Qwam System, based in Paris, is involved in developing a solution to put electronic content to good use. Qwam System's research team, based in Nice, will hold a seminar in Sophia Antipolis on 22 March, organised in partnership with the Sophia Antipolis "Enterprise House", concerning the optimisation of content and the creation of effective web portals. SophiaNet - Jean-Pierre Largillet - 01/03/01
Prévisite
Paris-based Prévisite, less than one year old, specialising in "virtual visits" over the Internet, opened an office in Saint-Laurent du Var six months ago. Of its total staff of 48, six people are based at Saint-Laurent, led by Stéphane Caron. The agency has entered into a contract with the regional tourism committee to develop virtual panoramic visits of the various sites on the French Riviera, to be accessible on the tourism committee's web site. Prévisite, which has set up eight regional agencies, is planning to develop abroad by creating a network of agencies first in Southern Europe, and then in Northern Europe. Nice Matin L'Echo - Aurélien Giesbert - 01/03/01
Trusted Logic
Trusted Logic, a Paris start-up specialising in the security of software for embedded-chip cards and terminals, is setting up its research and development centre at Sophia Antipolis, and will hire more than 20 new staff over the next three years. The company earned 16 million francs this year. Le Journal d'Internet - Jean-Pierre Largillet - 01/02/01
UDCast
UDCast, a recent Rivieran start-up, founded by four former INRIA researchers, specialises in developing ready-to-use software to integrate unidirectional links transparently, which allows for information, e.g., from satellites, to be distributed over the Internet. The company, employer of 16, has just raised initial funding of 12 million francs. Nice Matin L'Echo - 01/03/01
InterSystems
US-based InterSystems, the leader in the market for management systems databases over the Internet (e-MSDB), has decided to set up an office in Sophia Antipolis, with the goal of developing marketing, installing and servicing InterSystems solutions. CAD Web News - Jill HARRY et Catherine COLLET - 19/02/01
Opteway
The start-up from the Riviera, Opteway, has just changed its manager. Mr Patrick de Roquemaurel is replacing Jean-Claude Vrignaud at the head of the company, which now employs 85 people in Sophia Antipolis. The young company is also changing pace, progressing from the launch phase to the production of its Opt(e)go "geolocated" services. SophiaNet - Jean-Pierre Largillet - 05/02/01
NavLink
US-based NavLink, which specialises in designing and integrating Internet systems and networks, is investing 30 million dollars in Sophia Antipolis to open a data centre covering 3000 sq. metres (32,000 sq. ft). The centre will house between 5,000 and 10,000 servers fed by two high-speed local loops. NavLink is thus equipped to take on network infrastructure management for Internet service providers and operators. It is the company's first data centre in Europe. A 30-person team, dominated by engineers, will operate the centre 24/24. La Tribune - Michel BOVAS - 07/02/01
RealViz
RealViz, a Rivieran start-up that has successful made inroads into the market for image processing software, has just undertaken its third fund-raising round, obtaining 65 million francs from its original investors. It will use the funds to develop new services on the Internet, most particularly 3D content. RealViz earned 17 million francs in 2000, and is expected to exceed 50 million in 2001. Les Echos - 12/02/01
Alcatel Space Industries
The regional orchestra of Cannes Provence Alpes Côte d'Azur could soon have a new sponsor. Andantino, an association formed at the initiative of Alcatel Space Industries in December 1999, federating fifteen companies in the region that provide sponsorship, is considering a support deal with the orchestra. Support from the association has already given the orchestra the opportunity to record a disc featuring C27five French composers (Debussy, Milhaud, Roussel, Jolivet and Ibert) which it completed at last year's Midem media conference, under the direction of Philippe Bender. Nice Matin L'Echo - Aurore BUSSER - 08/02/01
Géoimage
Founded in 1989 in Sophia Antipolis, Géoimage specialises in digital cartography systems applied to the environment. For a year now, the company has paid attention to the growing wireless telephony market. It now offers a special range of cartographic databases for mobile operators. This new market opportunity is expected to triple Géoimage's turnover, which is 2000 was 20 million francs. Nice Matin L'Echo - Jean PHILIPPE - 08/02/01
Thermatech
Thermatech, a specialist in thermal treatment for micro-electronic and petrochemical components, has announced a 58% rise in 2000 earnings, to 32.6 million euros (215 French francs), higher than expected. This growth is largely due to the international market, which generated business worth 11.6 million euros, i.e. 234% growth. Nice Matin L'Echo - P.C. - 08/02/01
Kep Technologies
After shifting the head office of its holding company from the Paris region to Sophia Antipolis in April 2000, Kep Technologies Group (electronics, precision sheet metal working and scientific instrumentation) is now planning to unite its research and development activities. This concentration of energies in the technology park is connected with a planned acquisition of a local company. Nice Matin L'Echo - Laura VALERI - 15/02/01
Scorex-Experian
Monaco-based Scorex, in a strategic alliance with the computer services provider Experian, is positioning itself on the electronic credit market. Originally specialising in credit scoring (automation of loan applications), the company is now launching a Web version of its Transact-Experian platform (management of instructions for loan applications) used by 150 clients spread throughout the world. Concurrently, other products such as a client relationship management package, are being launched. The company earned revenues of 330 million francs in 2000. Nice Matin L'Echo - Claudine AUDIBERT - 15/02/01
Hitachi
Hitachi Europe, a subsidiary of the Japanese group that is already a partner of Eurocom in Sophia Antipolis, has just inaugurated its new laboratory devoted to mobile and satellite communications at CICA. The entity called "HSAL" (Hitachi Sophia Antipolis Laboratory) is currently made up of 5 employees, who are developing new generations of mobile communications (telephone, PC, multicasting) and internet via satellite. SophiaNet - Jean-Pierre Largillet - 20/02/01
Volkswagen
In February, Volkswagen, the German car manufacturer, set up a research laboratory on mobiles, called "m.futurlab". It has a complement of 3 researchers currently, and is scheduled to expand to 5. SophiaNet - Jean-Pierre Largillet - 20/02/01
Right Vision
Right Vision, Europe's leader in Internet Appliances services, which is based in Mouans-Sartoux, earned 3 million euros (20 million francs). A record result, considering that the company was only formed at the beginning of 2000. Prospects for 2001 are even more promising, with a forecast 42 million euros in earnings, based chiefly on development of the company's range and presence in Europe. Right Vision now employs 100. SophiaNet - Jean-Pierre Largillet - 22/02/01
Conférence TIMIAC
TIMIAC 2001 Friday March 30, Sophia Antipolis Theseus International Management Institute, Europe¹s centre of expertise in high-tech entrepreneurship, announces the ŒPeering Through the Hype conference, the year¹s most provocative and objective look at Internet-centric business models. Which have proved sustainable? Why? What have we learned from past hypes? What is peer to peer (p2p)? What is its relevance to the business community? Will p2p concepts re-write the rules of the Net? This day-long event featuring expert speakers and intensive break-out sessions is building a reputation as an unmissable opportunity for networking and ideas exchange for market-leading innovators and thinkers, investors and analysts, and ICT professionals and managers. Join them! Theseus - 15/02/01
Tornado-Insider
Tornado Insider will tour Europe in the Tornado Tour Bus with the objective of finding Europe’s hottest New Economy startups while “taking the temperature” on high-tech Europe. The tour will be stopping at the Theseus Management Institute for the Sophia Antipolis event on the 15th of March, electing the hottest regional startup, which will then go forward to the Tornado Insider UpStart Europe event in Paris (May 7-9th) where the European Super Nova (overall winner) will be elected. Startups are invited to sign up to the competition! Theseus - 15/02/01
Castify Networks
Castify Networks, a young company from the Cote d'Azur, formed last year to develop a high-speed television via internet system, is now launching a major recruitment drive, for 60 staff members, including 25 development engineers. At the same time, the company is moving into new 600-sq.m. premises at the Sophia Antipolis technology park. Growth forecasts are positive, with gross earnings for 2002 expected to in the range of 100 million francs. La Tribune - Michel BOVAS - 19/02/01
Asophia Software
Asophia Software (formerly Xsupervisor II, and acquired in 2000 by the Singapore company CNA Engineers) is doubling its staff (to 55 in all) and will open offices in Paris, San Francisco and Singapore by the end of 2001. The company, which is based in Sophia Antipolis, has developed a software solution called "Manufacturing Execution System", designed for the industrial sector to manage supply chains. Among Asophia's recent clients are Philips, Alcatel and Plastic Omnium. CAD Web News - Jill HARRY et Catherine COLLET - 12/02/01
Didgets
Didgets Inc., from California, whose Research and Development Centre is based in Sophia Antipolis (10 employees), develops and markets software for promotional content aimed at advertisers on the Web. The application not only lets advertisers manage promotional messages, but also to study the behavioural data and the results of campaigns. The solution has now been extended to any wireless medium, including WAP phones and PDAs (personal digital assistants). Didgets is scheduled to inaugurate its new HQ in the New York World Trade Center on March 15. CAD Web News - Jill HARRY et Catherine COLLET - 12/02/01
Kast Telecom
Kast Telecom, the telecommunications operator that specialises in high-bandwidth solutions, has recently launched a range of offers, concentrating on high-speed Internet. These offers, which are described on the portal www.kasteurope.net, are available in the regions where Kast has deployed its first fibre-optic local loops - most notably in Cannes, Nice and Sophia Antipolis. At the same time, Kast Telecom has performed its first experiments in DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) which allows Internet and voice connections at the same time on a single high-speed SDSL connection. CAD Web News - Jill HARRY et Catherine COLLET - 12/02/01
Echo
The Echo search engine (employing 80 people at Sophia Antipolis) has been acquired by Wanadoo, France Télécom's internet arm. CAD Web News - Jill HARRY et Catherine COLLET - 12/02/01
Esual Software
Esual Software, founded in 1999, is continuing to grow in the e-merchandising market, developing solutions that optimise on-line sales. A financing round for 4 million euros has given it the means to open an R&D centre in Sophia Antipolis and an office in the UK, and to pursue development of new software solutions. The company is on track to earn revenues of 4.5 million euros in 2001 (as against 1 million in 2000). CAD Web News - Jill HARRY et Catherine COLLET - 19/02/01
LEISURE
UGC
Film group UGC has applied to Cannes authorities to build a 15-theatre multiplex on a 3 ha site at Cannes La Bocca. La Tribune - Michel BOVAS - 21/02/01
LIFE SCIENCES
CLL Pharma
Founded in 1995, CLL Pharma is now one of the most dynamic pharmaceutical laboratories in the area of generic medicines. At the source of its success is a well-developed strategy to obtain the authorisation to develop molecules in the form of generic medicines once the patents that belong to the large pharmaceutical firms expire. In addition, CCL Pharma has invested into galenic research (new formulations) to prolong the life-cycle of its medicines. The outlook for 2001 is in line with the laboratory's expansion: it is scheduled to list on the Nouveau Marché (the growth segment of the Paris stock market) next autumn (expected to raise 15-20 million francs)- and it has purchased an 1800 sq. m. building in Sophia Antipolis to bring together its diverse research and development activities. CLL Pharma now has around 30 employees. Nice Matin L'Echo - Jacques GANTIE - 01/03/01
Galderma
The Galderma R&D laboratory, a subsidiary of the L’Oréal group, is soon to decide on a project to extend its current facilities to the Sophia Antipolis technopole. Stay tuned. Nice Matin L'Echo - 01/03/01
Theramex
The pharmaceutical laboratory Merck Lipha, which acquired the Monaco laboratories of Théramex in 1999, has announced a significantly higher (25%) consolidated turnover of 8.95 billion francs. Among the fast-growing business, women's health - a specialty of Théramex - has become one of Merck Lipha's major paths of development. The Théramex laboratories contributed 706 million francs to the 2000 earnings figure. Les Echos - Marie-Annick Depagneux - 22/02/01
Seporga
The Seporga Laboratories, specialising in dermo-cosmetological research and founded 36 years ago, enjoyed a brilliant year 2000, which was rewarded by two distinctions: a "Research Oscar" awarded by Cosmétique Magazine in June and an Innovation Trophy handed out by the French patents agency INPI. The laboratory's expertise is dependent on various technologies that let it produce the active principles of cosmetics. Each year, three or four products are given life, most especially as a result of the efforts of the Research team at Sophia Antipolis. CAD Web News - Jill HARRY et Catherine COLLET - 05/03/01
Orgasynth
Orgasynth Industries, a Grasse-based company which has switched from aromatic production to synthetic chemistry, is making good headway on the generic medicines market. Employing a hundred people and earning turnover of 120 million francs, the company has decided to invest 18 million francs into the Grasse site to bring it up to compliance with the production standards required by the US market, its principal target export market. Orgasynth Industries, an independent group listed on the Second Marché since 1996, has 5 production sites in France. Nice Matin L'Echo - Christiane Navas - 22/02/01
NicOx
The Nicox pharmaceutical laboratory has announced the initial highly-promising results of a study performed in vitro on cancer cells treated by nitro compounds of aspirin developed by Nicox. These results show that NO-aspirin (Nitric Oxide Aspirin) has an extremely positive effect in reducing the proliferation of cancer cells in colon cancer. The next stage of the work will concern animal studies. These results were presented at the 11th international congress on cancer treatment in Paris. Communiqué d'entreprise - 08/02/01
Elaiapharm
The drug laboratory, Elaiapharm, unable to meet current liabilities since August 1999, has now been ordered by the courts to restructure, a process that will be co-ordinated by a new manager, Philippe Dubost. A new strategy, to be put in place for the medium term, should help the laboratory out of its crisis, lowering costs, since rental accommodation is available and outsourcing some activities, so that the company can return to an even keel by 2002. The laboratory is also pursuing negotiations with various pharmaceutical groups for processing contracts, including, in particular, a contract for 2.4 million units for the Dutch laboratory Lundbeck. Nice Matin L'Echo - Christiane NAVAS - 08/02/01
Arkopharma
Arkopharma, Europe's leading phytotherapy laboratory, announced an 11.5% increase in earnings to 177 million euros (1.116 billion French francs), partly due to growth in exports of 30.7%. To deal with this growth, the laboratory is planning to build a new production site on the Carros zone. SophiaNet - Jean-Pierre Largillet - 19/02/01
SERVICES
Assystem
As a result of its thorough restructuring in 1999, Assystem has rationalised its business to concentrate on two core activities: engineering and design (39% of business) and technical assistance (52%). Hit hard by the decline in the nuclear industry, which accounted for a large part of its business, the company has focussed on other sectors: the automobile industry, aeronautics and space (including Alcatel Space as a client) and telecommunications. Turnover came to 1.58 billion francs in 2000, and is forecast to grow significantly in 2001. With 3000 employees (including 250 in the south-east "PACA" region) the group is looking to hire 1500 new employees and strengthen its research and development activities. It intends to found an R&D centre - to be called Assystem Innovation - soon in Sophia Antipolis, with a staff of 100. Nice Matin L'Echo - Laura VALERI - 01/03/01
BE System
BE System, an industrial engineering office based in Cannes, has announced that it will open a new facility in Marignane in June so that it can work for Eurocopter. The Lyons and Toulouse agencies are also scheduled to grow in the near future. BE System currently employs 150- the Marignane satellite will have 10 staff. La Tribune - Michel BOVAS - 02/03/01
Menway
Menway, a newcomer to Sophia Antipolis, specialises in recruitment and HR in the high-tech sector. CAD Web News - Jill HARRY et Catherine COLLET - 05/03/01
Circé
Founded in 1994 in Cannes by a former lieutenant-colonel in the Gendarmerie, the company Circé (from the French acronym for international consulting and confidential economic intelligence) has grown solidly in the economic intelligence market. Today based at Nice-Arénas, Circé employs 15 people and has offices in Paris, Lyon, Lausanne and in three East European countries. In 2000, the company's sales exceeded 20 million francs, 98% of which was earned outside France from a customer base of large commercial, industrial and financial groups. Nice Matin L'Echo - Pierre HILLION - 15/02/01
TRANSPORT
SNCM
The SNCM, ferry operator from the mainland to Corsia, has announced revenue increases of 32% for 2000 over 1999 in traffic to Corsica, thanks to the NGV fast ferry and the weekend packages the company has introduced. Nice Matin - G.T. - 10/02/01
Lufthansa
Germany's Lufthansa will launch a new daily air link between Nice and Dusseldorf in Germany on March 25. The new route will complement Lufthansa's existing menu of daily flights, to Frankfrut and Munich (each 4 a day). Nice Matin L'Echo - 15/02/01
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