Attending the MOU signing were: Véronique Péquignat, International Manager, Rhone Alps Economic Development Agency; Hervé Fradet, Director, Rhone Alps Economic Development Agency; David E. Rodgers, Director, Strategic Energy Analysis, DOE/EERE; Ron Benioff, International Programs Manager, NREL; Daniel Harris, Minister Counselor for Commercial Affairs for the U.S. Embassy; Jean-Pierre Chardon, President, Tenerrdis; Claude Graff, Past President, Tenerrdis; Jean-Daniel Tordjman, Ambassador

AEPI, with the support of Denver-based CORA (Colorado Rhone-Alpes Economic Development Partnership), identified Colorado as a potential economic development partner for Grenoble-Isere. The regions share similar economic ecosystems and approaches to business and boast comparable synergies between higher education, research, and industry. In partnership with CORA, AEPI has over the past two years run several events in Colorado and in Grenoble. TENERRDIS and NREL were among the numerous businesses and government agencies from both France and the United States to take part in these programs. The purpose was to raise the awareness of businesses and government agencies in Colorado of the benefits offered by Grenoble-Isere and to identify possible areas for collaboration on key technologies. TENERRDIS and NREL were able to immediately identify areas in which they were complementary; the partners decided to explore the possibility of joint development in the field of renewable energies. The memorandum of understanding is the result of these efforts to build ties between the two regions.

CORA, an initiative of the French-American Chamber of Commerce in Colorado, was founded in 2008. The network facilitates introductions and initiates collaboration between businesses, research labs and other potential partners, especially in the field of new energy technologies.

TENEERDIS has developed a strategy built on networking with the world's top labs—and NREL is the United States’ leading renewable energies research center.

The memorandum of understanding signed by TENERRDIS and NREL covers solar energy (photovoltaics and CSP) and smart grids. TENERRDIS counts two particularly active members in these fields: INES (the French National Institute for Solar Energy) and Grenoble Institute of Technology. The two-year, renewable memorandum of understanding will bolster joint actions and the sharing of best practices on issues of common interest. The agreement could, in the medium-term, be extended to other innovative fields.

“In order for regional economic development to happen, research and industry must come together. AEPI facilitates these connections and plays an active role in forming partnerships with strategic regions around the globe. The fact that we chose Colorado was no accident—the state’s synergies between research and industry drive the local economic ecosystem, very similar to what we see here in Grenoble-Isere,” said AEPI Director Herve Fradet.

“TENERRDIS, a hub for new energy technologies, and NREL, a leading new energy research lab, have now established the foundation for joint technology development,” said TENERRDIS Chairman Jean-Pierre Chardon. “This represents a turning point for TENERRDIS. Under former Chairman Claude Graff, the cluster broke new ground with its international strategy. The memorandum of understanding is proof that these choices were—and are—the right ones,” Mr. Chardon said.

“NREL feels strongly about the benefits international R&D collaboration can bring. These partnerships deliver added value and provide considerable leverage for enhancing technological performance while reducing costs. NREL is pleased to be working with TENERRDIS, a partner of choice in Grenoble-Isere, with whom we share common goals for the development, deployment, and commercialization of renewable energy and energy efficiency solutions,” said NREL International Lab Program Manager Ron Benioff.

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