Clermont Auvergne University (UCA) has placed the collaboration with the socio-economic world at the heart of its innovation and knowledge valorisation strategy. To support this ambition, UCA established a dedicated technology transfer subsidiary in late 2019: Clermont Auvergne Innovation (CAI).
The purpose of CAI is to leverage the full spectrum of assets and expertise within the scientific community for the benefit of companies ranging from partnership development and intellectual property management to support for the creation of deeptech start-ups.
Clermont Auvergne Innovation, a complementary initiative alongside the SATTs (Technology Transfer Acceleration Companies), is part of the national Investments for the Future Programme (Plan d’Investissement d’Avenir) aimed at strengthening France’s innovation capacity and competitiveness.
Our mission?
As the operator of the University Innovation Hub (Pôle Universitaire d’Innovation – PUI) on behalf of UCA, our primary mission is to act as the interface between the university’s research laboratories and their partners—including companies—by simplifying and accelerating collaboration processes. Our objective is to foster stronger interactions and increase the impact of research driven innovation.
We bring together expertise and resources across the entire value chain, from invention scouting and intellectual property management to technology maturation and the creation of innovative start-ups.
Together, we can shape the innovations of tomorrow’s world!
Since the end of 2023, CAI has been certified ISO 9001:2015, reinforcing our commitment to excellence and continuous improvement
This certification, obtained within the PUI framework, reflects CAI’s dedication to delivering high-quality services and consistent service standards.
It guarantees:
- A mark of trust for clients
- Effective complaint management
- Continuous improvement of our processes
- Ongoing optimisation of our Quality Management System (QMS)
Our service offerings
Funding to support project maturation
Whether you are a researcher, university staff member, PhD candidate or post-doctoral fellow, we provide tailored support to help you unlock the full potential of your research.
We can assist you in:
- Revealing and leveraging the innovative value of your research results (particularly in terms of intellectual property)
- Turning your invention into a market-ready innovation through joint maturation and investment in your project
- Promoting your skills and expertise to socio-economic stakeholders
- Identifying and engaging the best partners for the co-development of your projects.
Our goal: help your results reach a higher level of technological and market maturity enabling the selection of the most effective valorisation pathway and maximising socio-economic impact.
Partnership development
Deeply rooted in the region’s innovation and socio-economic ecosystem, we help transform scientific discoveries into economic opportunities for companies.
As a single point of contact for companies, we:
- Help them identify and connect with the most relevant academic partners to overcome technological barriers, access scientific expertise (open innovation, services, etc.) or collaborate on R&D projects while sharing technological, human and financial risks
- Facilitate technology transfer and licensing to accelerate the uptake of breakthrough technologies research outcomes and strengthen companies’ competitiveness
Deeptech entrepreneurship support
Thanks to the integration in 2019 of the long-established BUSI incubator, CAI supports the creation of innovative companies in scientific, technical or technological fields, with a strong focus on deeptech.
We stand by your side throughout your entrepreneurial journey with a tailored pathway to structure, develop and accelerate your business project.
Whether refining your funding strategy or executing your business plan, our experienced team provides personalised one-to-one support to to help transform research-based innovations into mature, scalable, and sustainable ventures.
CAI and CAP I-TERR
CAP I-TERR is the University Innovation Hub (PUI) led by Université Clermont Auvergne (UCA), designed to boost research valorization and accelerate technology transfer to the socio-economic world—so that academic breakthroughs lead to new products, services, start-ups, and jobs across the region. Initially selected as a pilot site in 2021 and later confirmed as one of 24 national winners, the program brings together a strong consortium of eight founding members and around twenty associated partners. Activities are structured around five strategic priority themes: sustainable food and agronomy, mobility, cities and sustainable industrial production, sustainable and recycled materials and fuels, mobility and health and innovation for big data management.
Within this framework, Clermont Auvergne Innovation (CAI) plays a key role as a founding partner and operational interface between research labs and industry. CAI provides access to expertise, resources, and tailored support services, while contributing to the coordination of the regional innovation ecosystem, especially through the “Innovation House,” a flagship space meant to simplify collaboration, scale up research partnerships, and foster the creation of research-based start-ups.
CAI and the ARTEMIS project
ARTEMIS is a European University Alliance coordinated by Université Clermont Auvergne (UCA), aiming to turn higher education into a key driver of sustainable regional development, using mobility as a catalyst for innovation, cooperation, and territorial impact. Through a strongly action-oriented approach, the alliance connects education, research, innovation, co-creation and societal engagement, while promoting innovative learning formats, flexible European study pathways, and shared research infrastructures.
In the longer term, ARTEMIS seeks to strengthen the innovation and entrepreneurship capacity of its member institutions through dedicated tools and initiatives (such as EURECA, ADA and KIC-ART) and the deployment of living labs open to regional stakeholders.
As the project’s operator alongside UCA, Clermont Auvergne Innovation (CAI) is an active member of the ARTEMIS Alliance and contributes directly to the work package “Sustainable Innovation and Knowledge Transfer.” CAI supports the structuring of pathways from project outcomes to the wider innovation ecosystem, ensures continuity and alignment of innovation and entrepreneurship actions, and consolidates the project’s long-term impact within institutional higher education strategies.
Our shareholders
Our partners
