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Innovation clusters
Perfumes, food aromas, cosmetics, aromatic
ingredients (aromatic plants)

Perfumes-Aromas-Cosmetics
(PASS)
Main Interests
Farming activities in the production of aromatic and medicinal
plants.
Industrial activities in aromas, cosmetics, coloring agents, biocides,
agribusiness and natural aromatic industry.

155 Members
Major companies and mid-size companies: V. Mane & Fils,
Robertet, Charabot, Payan Bertrand, etc.
Including 11 foreign companies: Bayer CropScience (Germany),
Cargill (United States), David Michael & Co. (United States),
Firmenich (Switzerland), Kerry Ingredients (UK), etc.
97 SMEs: Azur Fragrances, Gelyma, Oleos, Solidages, etc.
24 public-sector research bodies: Laboratoire Chimie et
Environnement, Laboratoire de Chimie des Molcules Bioactives
de Nice-Sophia Antipolis, Universit dAvignon, Universit de
Provence, Universit Europenne des Senteurs et des Saveurs
(European University of Flavors and Scents Uess) in Forcalquier,
cole Suprieure de Commerce (IPAG), etc.
15 local authorities
Total number of employees at cluster members: 5,600

Percentage of foreign-owned
cluster establishments*
Percentage of cluster employees
working for a foreign-owned group*

35%
14%

R&D within the cluster

51

Total number of collaborative

projects within the cluster

1.4 million

Central government funding*

1.3 million

Local authority funding*

*in 2010

Example collaborative project

IMMUNOSEARCH
Partners: Immunosearch, Mane and
Robertet, Iris Pharma, SkinEthic SA, Institut de
Pharmacologie Molculaire et Cellulaire, I3S,
French National Institute for Research in Computer
Science and Control (INRIA)
Description: The project is working on alternatives
to animal testing to guarantee product safety.

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FURTHER information at investinfrance.ORG

Perfumes-Aromas-Cosmetics (PASS)
Cluster Strengths
T he Provence-Alpes-Cte dAzur region boasts
outstanding resources in this sector:
- Leading region in France for producing cosmetics and
perfumes, with over 55% of national output.
- Leading region in France for aromatic perfume and medicinal
plant production, and the worlds leading region for lavender
production.

International Outlook
Cooperation with foreign clusters
Partnership with the Association for the Development of
Medicinal Aromatic Plants in Morocco (ADEPAM) and the
Tunisian Association of Medicinal Plants (ATPM).
Participation in international trade shows: World Perfumery
Congress, In Cosmetics, Food Ingredients Europe, Natural
Ingredients, etc.

A unique region in Europe by concentration of companies

in the sector:
- 25% of the industrys companies have their headquarters in
France.
- 120 of the 130 essential oil distilleries in France.
- Frances leading cluster for new perfume formulations.
- Fully covers the industrys value chain, from growing perfume
and aromatic plants and producing natural oils to finished
products.
Key figures for the sector:
- Total of 10,000 jobs in the local industry.
- Nearly 400 companies in perfumes, cosmetics and food
aromas.
- 13 public-sector research centers, bringing together 32
laboratories, including an international analytical chemistry
center for natural aromatic materials in Grasse and a sensory
analytical laboratory in Forcalquier.
- Two training centers: the Association de Formation Continue
des Entreprises Grassoises (ASFO) and the European University
of Flavors and Scents (UESS).

CONTACT

further examples of collaborative projects

Project

Participants

Description

NATUBAVAL

4 partners: Laboratoire de chimie des molcules

bioactives et des armes, Naturex, Acphytarom, Sofia
Cosmtiques

Research on plants with antibacterial, antifungal and

anti-infective properties to replace petroleum-based
preservatives and parabens in comestics.

VALOPLASMA

4 partners: Volia Propret, cole des Mines, CEP

Armines, Mane&Fils

Processing a specific type of waste using plasma

technology that helps significantly to reduce total waste
and puts biomass to better use.

Philippe Claud - Chief Representative

contact@pole-pass.fr
+33 (0)4.92.42.34.84
48, avenue Riou Blanquet - BP 21017 - 06131 GRASSE cedex
www.pole-pass.fr