The regional economic strategy on the horizon for 2020 is founded on the development of excellence chains around the specific strengths of Bretagne. It is based on a momentum of «projects» aimed at engaging Bretagne on the road to a renewed, competitive and job-creating economy.
In the Breton language, «Glaz» refers to a shade of green, blue and gray. Blue evokes the sea and the technological innovations it triggers, like tidal turbines, and eco – the development of agriculture and the preservation of the environment. The gray symbolizes the digital, the new collaborative models; the «silver economy»1, but also refers to the gray matter, the core of innovation. Finally, it is a model of sustainable development, capable of reconciling economic performance, social progress, energy and ecological imperative.
Ten strategic lines
«The Glaz Economy incarnates a common vision of all contributors in the region to move forward, conquer new markets, create added value and jobs,» summarizes Loïg Chesnais-Girard, the new president of the Regional Council of Bretagne. The dynamics aim to accompany ten strategic sectors in order to promote their decompartmentalization, their transformation or their emergence: food, naval, health, digital, tourism, biotechnology, boating and materials, vehicles and mobilities, defense and security, and finally energy transition and renewable marine energies.
Seven areas of innovation
The Glaz Economy also defines seven priority areas of innovation, reflecting the region’s scientific and economic excellence and responding to the future markets: social and civic innovation for an open and creative society; a sustainable development chain for quality food, marine activities for blue growth, technologies for the digital society, health and well-being for a better quality of life, advanced technologies for industrial applications, ecological and energy engineering for the environment.
More than financial support
The Glaz Economy translates to a significant financial effort of the Region and its partners, proposing bank financing and guarantee tools. Innovative enterprise creators can get an honor loan from the PHAR fund in order to consolidate the transition from idea-to-project. The BRIT fund, led by the Deposit Office and the Initiatives France network, is intended to facilitate the takeover of very small companies (TPEs) or small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) by strengthening their own funds. Finally, the GOCA fund, which is common to the Greater Western Regions, takes holdings in young technology entities with high development potential. In order to simplify the decision-makers’ approach, the Region has launched the site «entreprise.bretagne.bzh», listing all the tools and financing solutions available in Bretagne.
However, the Glaz Economy approach is not limited to a financial support policy. The global approach also requires shared, responsive, and efficient regional governance. It is reflected in particular through the intensification of exchanges through the networks of entrepreneurs, research laboratories and training centers. When an entrepreneur wants to invest in the region, the entrepreneur is invited to meet all the actors in his/her field and the research centers that work on the subject concerned.
1- Silver Economy: economy linked to population aging
