The testimonial of Pierrick Auvray – SEALACIAN approved project
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Pierrick Auvray is the young CEO of C.RIS Pharma, a pharmaceutical research company which he founded in 2003 in Saint-Malo after obtaining his doctorate and gaining several years’ experience in the pharmaceutical industry. 

A specialist in biology, pharmacology and oncology, he launched the Sealacian project which was officially recognised by the Brittany Maritime Cluster in January.  He is responsible for the project which involves three other partners – the Innova Proteomics Company in Rennes, the PE2M Marine Biology Lab at the University of Caen and the Ecole nationale supérieure de chimie (Advanced Institute of Chemistry) in Rennes.  For Pierrick Auvray, the Maritime Cluster’s dynamic structure offers opportunities for businesses.  

Has the Maritime Cluster helped you find project partners?

Yes and no!  All three partners were obvious, as I’d known them through different research work I’d done, but I didn’t really know at what point to involve one of them in the project.  The idea was to have a highly collaborative and practical project to enable us to progress rapidly.  It was my discussion with Christian Charles at the Maritime Cluster which made things clear for me and helped me structure the collaboration and phasing of the project properly.  I was then able to put together a project where everyone slotted in well.    

Obtaining official recognition from a globally focused economic competitiveness cluster firstly gives added value to the project and to the company.  Recognition is a form of communication which has brought us new and very varied contacts, not necessarily requesting our services, but in terms of discussions and requests for advice.  It gets us known as a cutting-edge company and a business capable of working with others.  

Isn’t it rather time-consuming for the director of a small to medium-sized company to put together a project approval dossier and participate in the life of the Maritime Cluster? 

Playing a part in the Maritime Cluster and submitting a project for approval provides the opportunity to meet Breton businesses we don’t know well enough.  Networking is crucial.  It enables us to identify and involve scientific and indeed other more entrepreneurial skills.  The Maritime Cluster network has to develop and enrich itself: it’s not a matter of limiting it to regional boundaries, but of knowing and effectively exploiting the skills which exist in Brittany, because proximity facilitates collaboration.  

And what about the funding you expect to get for your project?  

That comes post project approval!  I am indeed approaching the DGE, the ANR and the Region for support, and it is quite clear that priority is given today to projects recognised by the clusters of economic competitiveness – another important point therefore.