The New Caledonia Technopole (ADECAL Technopole) was set up in late 2011 to respond to a demand - widely shared by the public authorities, tertiary education and reserach stakeholders and the corporate world - to use innovation as a leverage for economic development and diversification.
More specifically, its goals are about facilitating emergence of innovative projects and industries. Particularly through valorization of terrestrial and marine biological resources, alargenly untapped potential, and contributing to enhance New Caledonia competititiveness and attractiveness through innovation.
As part of the implementation of local development policies, the Technopole is a support tool for caledonian companies in the fields of innovation, development and technological transfers. It would allow for stronger linkages between the coporate world, public and private research, tertiary education and the public authorities, more particularly in the following fields:
- sustainable agriculture and aquaculture ;
- biotechnologies ;
- engineering sciences ;
- digital industries.
From an operational point of view, ADECAL Technopole is structured around two thematic poles, "marine ecosystems" and "terrestrial ecosystems", and a transversal "innovation support" pole.
The 3 poles work through 7 experimentation and technology transfer centres or pilot production plants, an incubator for innovative businesses created from public research and an accelerator for start-ups, as well as a team in charge of monitoring implementation of new projects and technological monitoring.
The 70-strong Technopole personnel work on sites located in 10 municipalities, spread over the 3 provinces of New Caledonia. They also draw support from local, national and international public and private partners.
With regard to governannce, ADECAL Technopole is a non-gain organisation which 20 members sitting at the General Meeting represent the public authorities, private sector organisations and research organisations. Full members, which provide for its core funding, are the French Government, New Caledonia Governement and the 3 Provinces (Loyalty Islands, North and South).