On 5-6 April 2012, in Montpellier (Languedoc-Roussillon, France) the Days of Russia and Kazakhstan in Languedoc-Roussillon were held. In the framework of these Days, a French-Russian brokerage event took place on the industrial application of membrane technologies. The BE was organized by the European Membrane House, Enterprise Europe Network Partner in Montpellier - Transferts LR; financial support was provided by the Region Languedoc-Roussillon.
Languedoc-Roussillon is a leader among French regions in the development and application of membrane technologies. European Membrane Institute, within the University of Montpellier, conducts fundamental advanced research on the development of membrane technologies for energy, medicine, environment. A local company, IMECA, supplies facilities for purification of most bottled water produced in France. This brokerage event was focused at the water and food applications; its main goal was establishment and development of contacts between French and Russian developers and users of membrane technologies.
Olga Tarasova from the Russian Technology Transfer Network took part in the brokerage event and presented RTTN and technology offers and requests of RTTN clients. She mentioned the RTTN’s international cooperation experience and special links to France (e.g. the Franco-Russian technological network - RFR), as well as the Cooperation Agreement concluded in 2011 between the Agglomeration Montpellier, Obninsk and Kaluga region. Presented were the following companies and R&D teams: MSLab (St.Petersburg), STANIS Industries (Obninsk), Express-Eco (Obninsk), Reatrack (Obninsk), Department of Pyrometallurgical processes of metallurgical faculty at South Ural State University.
Extended presentation of Obninsk companies resulted from the support provided by the Agency for Innovation Development of Kaluga region; it is an example of operation of the integrated Gate2RuBIN centre, being created in Kaluga region. Also, this event contributed to the establishment of new friendly links between RTTN/ Gate2RUBIN with European colleagues – Transferts LR (France), Membrane Innovation Centre and Czech Membrane Platform (Czech Republic).
The established contacts will enhance the research, technological and market capacities of Russian companies and promote industrial application of advances technologies for membrane purification and filtration that increase the energy efficiency and environmental friendliness of industrial productions.