• Soitec

1992: Two former CEA-Leti engineers, André-Jacques Auberton-Hervé and Jean-Michel Lamure launched production of SOI (Silicon-on-Insulator) wafers, a technological breakthrough.
2005: Soitec became the world’s leading manufacturer and supplier of SOI wafers.
2006: Awarded the Prize for Creative Audacity by Jacques Chirac
2007: The company leads the market, having created 750 jobs in Grenoble-Isère, transformed into a global company and achieved annual turnover of €370m, an increase of 41.5%. More info

• Capgemini

1967: The firm was founded by Serge Kampf in Grenoble, in a modest two-room apartment
1990s: The firm expanded its operations in Europe and worldwide through the acquisition of numerous IT services companies
1990s: In parallel with the development of IT and the emergence of the information and communication society, Capgemini consolidated its position as one of the top-five IT consulting and services companies in the world
2008: Capgemini, which reported sales of €8.710bn for 86,495 employees, a 33% increase since 2004, maintains a strong presence in Grenoble, drawing heavily from the area’s academic and scientific skills pool to maintain its forward momentum. More info

• Airstar

1992: Pierre Chabert had an original idea for a type of decoration: a light incorporated into a balloon
1994: Production of the Lunix was launched
2005: Airstar became a major supplier to the film industry, event management and security.
2007: 250 balloons per month, turnover of €4.2m, 75% from exports, and 62 jobs created. More info