What Cluster Aquitaine Robotics does

Cluster Aquitaine Robotics is a French non-profit association (association loi 1901) founded in July 2013 and headquartered in Pessac, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, that functions as a regional robotics cluster. The organization coordinates a network of approximately 152 robotics actors in the region, including industrial companies, research laboratories (INRIA, LaBRI, XLIM, Institut Pprime), and training institutions (ENSEIRB-MATMECA, ESTIA, Bordeaux INP, Université de Poitiers). Its core services fall into three categories: (1) member services including a daily newsletter, monthly Matinales networking events, training sessions, and collective exhibition spaces at trade shows (Global Industrie, SIDO, SIANE, SEPEM); (2) R&D project support via an independent labelling committee established in May 2015, which has certified 13 of 18 projects reviewed, including high-profile initiatives such as the Bucky cobotic riveting system for aerospace (Aerospline/Figeac Aero) and the Numii AI-based posture analysis system (AIO, CES Las Vegas 2019 Innovation Award winner); and (3) end-user services that match companies seeking robotics solutions with qualified integrators in the network.

The cluster does not develop proprietary technology but acts as a coordination hub across the regional robotics value chain. Revenue derives from member contributions and institutional support, with co-founders ADI Nouvelle-Aquitaine (the regional development and innovation agency with 80 specialists) and Bordeaux INP (Institut National Polytechnique), plus financing from the Conseil régional Nouvelle-Aquitaine. The cluster maintains a small operating team of approximately seven people and is governed by an elected Bureau with co-presidents Christophe Riboulet (PRODITEC) and Ouiddad Labbani-Igbida (XLIM/ENSIL-ENSCI), plus vice-presidents covering integrator/SME relations, institutional relations, AI, Industry 5.0, training, territorial synergies, and collaborative projects.

Strategically, the cluster is anchored in pan-European and national networks: it is a founding member of FFCR (Fédération Française des Clusters de la Robotique), a member of euRobotics (the European Commission's official robotics liaison), EIT Manufacturing, and Aerospace Valley. These memberships provide access to EU and national funding calls, cross-cluster project pipelines, and the broader European robotics roadmap. The cluster's go-to-market motion is community-led and partner-mediated: it does not sell products but rather distributes coordination services, certification, and visibility to its member base, while acting as an intermediary between integrators and end-users.

Name

Cluster Aquitaine Robotics

Legal name

Aquitaine Robotics

Website

https://aquitaine-robotics.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Aquitaine Robotics is a French non-profit cluster founded in 2013 that coordinates a network of 152 robotics actors across industry, research labs, and training institutions in Nouvelle-Aquitaine, providing R&D project labeling, networking events, and access to regional, national, and European funding opportunities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Robotics Industry Cluster Coordination

NAICS

Business Associations (813910)

SIC

General Industrial Machinery & Equipment, Nec (3569)

akta.pro primary industry

Industrial & Warehouse Robotics (HDAAAIAA)

Keywords

• Robotics cluster services
• R&D project labelling
• Industrial robotics network
• Collaborative robotics ecosystem
• Integrator end-user matching

Headquarters

HQ city

Pessac

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Member contributions and institutional support: The cluster is supported by Agence de Développement et d'Innovation Nouvelle-Aquitaine and Bordeaux INP as co-founders, with financing from Conseil régional Nouvelle-Aquitaine. Revenue derives from member fees and public institutional support.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Cluster Aquitaine Robotics is a non-profit industry cluster that coordinates the Nouvelle-Aquitaine robotics ecosystem by providing labelling services for collaborative R&D projects, networking events for its ~152 members, and matchmaking between robotics integrators and end-user companies. It acts as a regional hub connecting manufacturers, integrators, research laboratories, and educational institutions working in robotics, cobotics, drones, AI, and industrial automation.

Product overview

Aquitaine Robotics is a robotics cluster organization (association loi 1901) that supports the robotics industry in Nouvelle-Aquitaine through member services including project labeling/certification, networking events (Matinales), R&D collaboration support, and business development assistance. The cluster has labeled 13 projects including Bucky (cobotic riveting system), Numii by AIO (posture monitoring), and various robotics innovations. It supports student robotics teams like NAMeC competing in RoboCup. The organization connects 152 robotics actors including companies, research labs, and training institutions, providing access to regional, national, and European funding calls.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Comité de Labellisation (Labelling Committee) Independent project labelling service that evaluates and certifies collaborative R&D robotics projects submitted by cluster members. For robotics manufacturers, integrators, research labs, and end-user companies seeking credible validation of collaborative projects.
• Services aux Adhérents (Member Services) Membership-based services package including access to the cluster's robotics ecosystem of ~152 members, networking events (Matinales), and visibility for member projects. For robotics companies, integrators, research labs, and institutions in Nouvelle-Aquitaine.
• Services aux Utilisateurs (User/Integrator Matching) Matchmaking service connecting end-user companies seeking robotics, cobotics, drone, or AI solutions with qualified regional integrators. For end-user companies in logistics, manufacturing, healthcare, and other sectors.
• Matinales (Networking Events) Recurring regional networking events for cluster members and the broader Nouvelle-Aquitaine robotics ecosystem, organized by the cluster's communication and events function. For members, partners, and prospective members in robotics, cobotics, drones, and AI.

Quantifiable outcome

• 70% efficiency gains achieved by cobotic deployments
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, secondary and minor.

• FFCR - Fédération Française des Clusters de la RobotiquecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2013Aquitaine Robotics is a founding member of FFCR, which supports the development of regional robotics clusters in France. The federation coordinates national robotics strategy and provides framework for regional cluster collaboration.
• euRoboticscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAquitaine Robotics is a member of euRobotics, the European robotics association that serves as the official liaison with the European Commission for robotics research roadmap development. Membership provides access to European project calls and partner connections.
• EIT ManufacturingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAquitaine Robotics is a member of EIT Manufacturing, an innovation community within the European Institute of Innovation and Technology connecting major manufacturing sector actors in Europe. Brings interdisciplinary expertise to enhance European manufacturing competitiveness.
• Aerospace ValleycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAquitaine Robotics is a member of Aerospace Valley, the first world-class competitiveness cluster for aerospace. The cluster's Vice-President for Training leads the 'Solutions for the Factory of the Future' ecosystem of excellence.
• ADI Nouvelle-Aquitaine (Agence de Développement et d'Innovation)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerADI Nouvelle-Aquitaine provides operational support to the cluster and serves as co-founder. The agency offers innovation support, incubation, and development of future-oriented filieres with 80 specialists across 7 regional sites.
• Bordeaux INP (Institut National Polytechnique)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBordeaux INP serves as co-founder of the cluster. The institute is represented by Vice-President for Training Denis Lapoire who is co-founder and Secretary of the cluster.
• Conseil régional Nouvelle-AquitainecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Nouvelle-Aquitaine Regional Council is a founding member providing financing support to the cluster. The region also supports the Usine du Futur program benefiting cluster members.
• Aquitaine Science Transfert (AST Innovations)secondaryTechnology or IntegrationThe Technology Transfer Acceleration Company brings intellectual property expertise and contract law competencies to the cluster, supporting members with IP protection and technology transfer.
• CREAHd (Cluster Construction Ressources Environnement Aménagement et Habitat durables)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerCluster partner in sustainable construction and habitat sector, providing cross-sector collaboration opportunities.
• GdR Robotique (CNRS)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch Group on Robotics created by CNRS, providing academic research network connections for cluster members.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• EIT Manufacturing: EU-wide innovation community for manufacturing under the European Institute of Innovation and Technology. Aquitaine Robotics participates as a member; EIT operates similar accelerator, funding-call, and ecosystem-building services but at continental scale.
• euRobotics AISBL: Brussels-based European robotics association and the official liaison with the European Commission for the robotics roadmap. Aquitaine Robotics is a member; euRobotics is a comparable coordinating body operating one level up (pan-European) with similar matchmaking and policy roles.
• Aerospace Valley: World-class French competitiveness cluster for aerospace and embedded systems, of which Aquitaine Robotics is a member. Comparable as a regional coordination hub but with a much larger scope and budget focused on aerospace rather than robotics per se.

Others

• INRIA: French national research institute for digital science and AI, a partner of Aquitaine Robotics and home to several cluster member labs (INRIA Bordeaux Sud-Ouest). Comparable as a key stakeholder in the French robotics R&D ecosystem rather than a direct competitor.
• CEA List: French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission's institute for digital systems, robotics, and AI. Comparable as a French research actor that labels and funds robotics projects, intersecting with Aquitaine Robotics' labelling and member services.

Regional players

• Minalogic: French competitiveness cluster based in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes focused on micro-nanoelectronics, software, and digital systems. Comparable as a French regional tech cluster coordinating R&D and funding access, though focused on digital components rather than robotics.
• Systematic Paris-Region: Large French competitiveness cluster serving the Paris-Region covering digital systems including robotics, AI, and Industry 4.0. Comparable as a French regional tech cluster, but operating in Île-de-France with a much larger industrial base and ecosystem.
• Bretagne Développement Innovation: Economic development agency for Brittany that runs regional innovation programs including robotics/IoT. Comparable as a French regional ecosystem coordinator but broader in scope than Aquitaine Robotics' robotics-only focus.

Direct peers

• Robotics Place: Regional robotics cluster covering Occitanie (Toulouse), with similar mandate to federate industry, research labs, and training institutions around robotics and cobotics. Most directly comparable as another FFCR member serving a French regional ecosystem.
• FFCR - Fédération Française des Clusters de la Robotique: National federation of French regional robotics clusters of which Aquitaine Robotics is a founding member. Acts as a coordinating umbrella and shared policy voice, with overlapping member services around labelling, funding access, and trade-show presence.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/AQ_Robotics
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cluster-aquitaine-robotics

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles19 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Cluster Aquitaine Robotics