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Business in the palace of the Empress

30 Mar 2015 - R.A.

In 1855, in an early example of crowd funding, the citizens of Marseille decided to offer Empress Eugénie, the wife of Emperor Napoleon III, a sumptuous palace overlooking the Old Port of Marseille.

IBF_2015_DG_Address_all.jpg
With a plenary session and 14 thematic workshops organized with the support of the ITER Organization, the ITER Domestic Agencies and their main suppliers, the 2015 edition of the ITER Business Forum provided a broad overview of the status of the project as it enters a new and crucial phase.
Since its first edition in Nice, France (2007), the ITER Business Forum has been the place where representatives of industry, large or small, can access in-depth information about the ITER Project, its progress, needs and forthcoming tenders.

The 2015 edition of the ITER Business Forum (IBF/2015) was organized with the support of the European Domestic Agency Industrial Liaison Officer (ILO) network, Agence Iter France, the Marseille-Provence Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and local authorities (the Regional Agency for Innovation and Internationalization, the Bouches-du-Rhône Department Council, the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur Regional Council, and the Municipality of Marseille).
It is also the place where a representative from a giant company like Mitsubishi (Japan) or KEPCO (Korea), can sit at the same table as a manager of a four-person business in Holland and discuss business and partnership opportunities. What can you do for me? What can I do for you? Can we combine our expertise for ITER?

Attending conferences and presentations, meeting "one-to-one" with other companies, or visiting the exhibition hall, were more than 860 people from the industries or laboratories of 26 countries, representing an exceptionally wide range of expertise.

For Sabine Portier, the French ITER Industrial liaison officer (and the key organizer of the event together with her colleague Philippe Olivier), there is reason to be satisfied: "We have registered a record number of attendees ─ this is the sign of a growing interest in ITER from industry worldwide. They understand the huge challenges of the project and they're willing to tackle them. In terms of expanded expertise and also of image, ITER can bring considerable benefits."

They said:   Senator Jean-Claude Gaudin, Mayor of Marseille:"For the past ten years, we have all been mobilized to rise to the great challenge that ITER represents. Our efforts have been rewarded. We know that in supporting today's research we are creating the jobs of tomorrow."   Bernard Bigot, Director-General, ITER Organization:"On 6 March, when I took up my duties, I symbolically renounced my nationality because the most important feature of ITER is its international nature. Hence I now consider myself an ITERnational citizen..."   Jean-Marc Filhol, head of the ITER Department at the European Domestic Agency (Fusion for Energy):"Long-term studies show that for every 100 euros invested in industry by the European Space Agency, there has been an average return of approximately 300 euros thanks to spin-off activities. We can expect comparable levels of return from the investments being made for ITER."   Jérôme Pamela, director of Agence Iter France, on behalf of Daniel Verwaerde, the new French High Representative for the ITER Project:"The record crowds - more than 800 participants for this IBF 2015 - are a clear indicator of how well this program is doing, a program that has no equivalent worldwide. ITER embodies one of the greatest challenges facing humanity."
"We're a small company in Denmark specialized in machining stainless and high alloy steels," explained the sales and export manager for Triplecut A/S, Jacob Hougaard. "Does a project like ITER need our competence? I believe so, but we're small and we lack visibility. So the problem for us is to meet the right people and this is the perfect place: I have 9 one-to-one meetings scheduled with companies that, for the most part, are already involved in ITER. I'm trying to find how we can fit into the big picture."

Unlike Hougaard, Cock Heemskerk, from Holland, is already an ITER Business Forum veteran. His four-person company, Heemskerk Innovative Technology BV, is specialized in remote handling procedures and simulations. For some time now, it has been involved in the new, "more remote-handling-friendly design" of the mobile mirror that reflects and redirects the energy beam of the ITER electron cyclotron upper launchers.

"But like any company," he smiles, "we would like more contracts. And this is the place where I know I can make contacts with all the Domestic Agencies that are procuring systems for ITER and show them what we can do. I have set up ten appointments over two days and I have a movie to show that is irresistible..."

His company has already benefitted from its association with ITER. "By pushing us to the limit of what is doable, ITER has expanded our expertise," says Heemskerk. Another smile and he adds: "I have a long-term vision, both for ITER and for my company..."

With a plenary session and 14 thematic workshops organized with the support of the ITER Organization, the ITER Domestic Agencies and their main suppliers, the 2015 edition of the ITER Business Forum provided a broad overview of the status of the project as it enters a new and crucial phase.

"Ten years after the Members decided to build ITER in Saint-Paul-lez-Durance, France, we are now fully engaged in the industrial phase of the project," said ITER Director-General Bernard Bigot to the members of the press who covered the event. "Contracts of EUR 6.5 billion are underway for ITER construction and manufacturing."

"In Europe," added Jean-Marc Filhol, who heads the ITER Department at the European Domestic Agency, Fusion for Energy, "it can be estimated that contracts with industry are already creating over 15,000 person-years of employment."

Close to ITER, where approximately 1,500 people work for the ITER Organization, Agence Iter France or Fusion for Energy on site, 1,100 indirect jobs have been created over the past few years according to Jerôme Pamela, director of Agence Iter France. Companies that have opened offices or agencies close to the ITER site have created 400 jobs locally.

Two of them—KEPCO from Korea and Amec Foster Wheeler from Great Britain—received the label "Invest in Provence" during the business forum from the hands of the President of the Marseille-Provence Chamber of Commerce.

Eight years ago at the time of the first edition of ITER Business Forum, site clearing activities were just beginning and only one Procurement Arrangement—the documents that govern the procurement of plant systems, components, or site construction—had been signed. The platform is now teeming with activity, two large buildings are completed, 16 others are at various stages of construction and the number of Procurement Arrangements has passed the 104 mark (out of 139), representing 90.53 percent of the project's total in-kind value.

And in factories on three continents, the ITER machine is becoming more and more tangible every day.

 

In his welcome address, new ITER Director-General Bernard Bigot (left) introduced his action plan and insisted on the necessity of an integrated ITER Team (ITER Organization Central Team plus Domestic Agencies) behaving as a single ITER representative with suppliers.
Since the first edition in 2007, the ITER Business Forum has been the place where representatives of industry, large or small, can access in-depth information about the ITER Project, its progress, needs and forthcoming tenders.
In the Exhibition Hall, one of the stands highlighted all the ways in which France supports ITER. Speaking on behalf of Daniel Verwaerde, the new French High Representative for the ITER Project, the director of Agence ITER France Jérôme Pamela said, "ITER embodies one of the greatest challenges facing humanity."
What can you do for me? What can I do for you? Can we combine our expertise for ITER? "One-to-one" meetings were the place to find answers.
Over 860 people from 26 countries attended the IBF conferences, met "one-to-one" with other companies, or stopped by the exhibit booths.
Switzerland, although not a member of the European Union, participates in the European fusion program and in ITER as a member of Euratom.
The Japanese Domestic Agency was present at IBF/15 in Marseille along with representatives from 18 Japanese companies.
Tokamak-shaped donuts are an indispensable feature of ITER international events. Laurent Schmieder of the European Domestic Agency (right) is willing to try one.
The spectacular venue of IBF/15—the Palais du Pharo in Marseille—overlooks the new Mucem museum (far left), the 17th century Fort Saint-Jean, and the Old Harbour of Marseille, founded by Greek merchants in the 6th century B.C.
IBF/2015 was the last day of work for ITER Deputy-Director-General Carlos Alejaldre, from Spain, who is retiring after a long career in fusion.
Sabine Portier (centre), Secretary-General of the ITER Industrial Committee, played a key role in organizing IBF 2015.
The ITER Organization stand proposed a series of videos documenting progress on the worksite in Saint-Paul-lez-Durance and in the factories of the ITER Members.
Two companies who have opened agencies close to ITER—KEPCO from Korea and Amec Foster Wheeler from Great Britain—received the label "Invest in Provence" from the hands of the President of the Marseille-Provence Chamber of Commerce. "I am proud to be Marseillais!" said Jik Lae Jo, vice president of KEPCO, in French.
"We are now fully engaged in the industrial phase of the project," said ITER Director-General Bernard Bigot. "Contracts of EUR 6.5 billion are underway for ITER construction and manufacturing."
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