Récréasciences C.C.S.T.I

What Récréasciences C.C.S.T.I does

Récréasciences C.C.S.T.I is a French non-profit association (loi 1901) founded in 2000 and headquartered in Limoges, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, operating as a Centre de Culture Scientifique Technique et Industrielle (CCSTI) for the Limousin territory covering four departments (Haute-Vienne, Creuse, Corrèze, Lot). The association vulgarizes, diffuses, and promotes science through an itinerant mediation model that brings programming directly to schools, cultural centers, community social centers, and the general public. Its service portfolio comprises over 30 hands-on scientific animations, 50 traveling exhibitions, the RécréaDôme (an inflatable portable planetarium for astronomy education), and the RécréaLab (a digital fabrication laboratory equipped with 3D printers, drawing machines, and robotics for teaching coding and digital creativity).

The organization runs signature recurring event brands including the Big Brain Show (a conference-entertainment format now in its sixth edition), the Semaine du Cerveau (a 28th-edition brain science week coordinated with the Société des Neurosciences), the Fête de la Science, the Nuit de la Recherche, and the Donne ta langue au chercheur citizen-researcher dialogue series. Digital content distribution is operated through the Sciences.live and Curieux.live platforms, hosting video replays, articles, and curated science media. Special projects include Num'Éthique (a responsible digital initiative funded by the AFNIC Foundation in 2024), Pix'Elles (a digital inclusion program for women in the Beaubreuil priority neighborhood), Arts Hybrides (combining arts, digital, and science with ALIPTIC), and Dialogue / Futur Vert (an environmental dialogue program with high school students).

Revenue mechanics are dominated by public funding from the Région Nouvelle-Aquitaine, departmental council, Limoges Métropole, and the Rectorat de l'Académie de Limoges, supplemented by membership fees. Programming is predominantly free to the public under a freemium model, with a catalog of paid animations and exhibitions accessible to schools and cultural actors via catalogue.recreasciences.com. The association operates within the NACSTI regional network of four CCSTIs and maintains a partnership-driven model with the Université de Limoges, CNRS, INSERM, and other public research institutions. Leadership comprises a board led by President Cédric Massart, a directorate headed by Directrice Marie Doneda, and a small operational team of approximately 6-8 staff.

Name

Récréasciences C.C.S.T.I

Legal name

Recreasciences CCSTI

Website

https://recreasciences.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Récréasciences C.C.S.T.I is a non-profit science communication center in Limoges, France, providing itinerant science animations, traveling exhibitions, a portable planetarium, and a digital fabrication lab to schools, cultural centers, and the general public across the Limousin territory, funded primarily through regional and municipal public grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Limoges

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Public funding and institutional partnerships: As a non-profit association (loi 1901), Récréasciences operates primarily through public funding from regional council (Région Nouvelle-Aquitaine), departmental council, municipality (Limoges Métropole), and national education (Rectorat)
2. Membership fees: Revenue from member subscriptions and adhesion fees for individuals and organizations supporting the association

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Récréasciences C.C.S.T.I is a French non-profit association (loi 1901) that delivers science popularization and mediation services across the Limousin territory. Its portfolio includes 30 hands-on scientific animations, 50 traveling exhibitions, an inflatable planetarium (RécréaDôme), a digital fabrication laboratory (RécréaLab), and signature event series such as Big Brain Show, Semaine du Cerveau, and Fête de la Science. Primary audiences are schools, cultural venues, priority neighborhoods, and the general public across Nouvelle-Aquitaine.

Product overview

Récréasciences C.C.S.T.I operates as a science communication center serving the Limousin territory. The organization offers a portfolio of science mediation services centered around 30 hands-on animations and 50 traveling exhibitions for schools and public audiences. Key offerings include the RécréaDôme (inflatable planetarium) and RécréaLab (digital fabrication laboratory with 3D printing and robotics). The organization runs signature event series including the Big Brain Show (conference-entertainment format), Semaine du Cerveau, and Fête de la Science, alongside projects like Num'Ethique (responsible digital) and Arts Hybrides. Digital presence includes Le studio platform with video replays and Sciences.live. The association is a member of NACSTI and collaborates with the University of Limoges on Science avec et pour la Société initiatives.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Big Brain Show: Conference-entertainment format combining scientific presentations with interactive quiz games
• Donne ta langue au chercheur
• Club Méd'iation
• RécréaLab
• RécréaDôme
• Dialogue - Des lycéens engagés pour demain
• Sciences.live
• Curieux.live

Products and services

• Animations scientifiques Over 30 hands-on science activities covering topics such as archaeology, astronomy, biology, chemistry, electricity, physics, and robotics, available for schools and the general public.
• Expositions scientifiques A collection of 50 traveling exhibitions available for loan to schools, cultural venues, and event organizers across the Limousin territory.
• RécréaDôme (Planétarium itinérant) An inflatable planetarium bringing the starry sky and astronomical discoveries to schools, community centers, and public events throughout the region.
• RécréaLab (Fablab) A digital fabrication laboratory offering activities with 3D printing, robotics, drawing machines, and computer-assisted music creation for science mediation.
• Big Brain Show A conference-entertainment format combining 30-minute scientific presentations with audience participation quizzes, inspired by late-night shows and game shows, held at venues like Espace Jules Noriac in Limoges.
• Le studio (Sciences.live, replays, articles) An online studio featuring video replays of events, articles, and curated web content, including the Sciences.live platform for science-related digital media.
• Num'Ethique

Quantifiable outcome

• 150 establishments per year
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered strategic, core and minor.

• ALIPTICstrategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Partnership for Arts Hybrides project - combining arts, digital technology and science for innovative mediation
• Université de LimogescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Primary institutional partner; co-develops science-society projects including 'Donne ta langue au chercheur' and SAPS label initiatives. The university and Récréasciences jointly operate science popularization programs.
• Région Nouvelle-AquitainecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor regional funder and partner supporting science popularization events, Dialogue project, and territorial development across Limousin
• Limoges Métropole / Ville de LimogescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMunicipal partner supporting local science events, priority neighborhood programs (Quartiers d'été, Cité éducative), and community outreach
• Rectorat de l'Académie de LimogescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner for school programs and educational initiatives including 'Un chercheur dans ma classe'
• NACSTI (Network of CCSTI Nouvelle-Aquitaine)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork consortium of 4 CCSTI in Nouvelle-Aquitaine (Cap Sciences, Espace Mendès France, Lacq Odyssée, Récréasciences) organizing Club Méd'iation forum and regional initiatives
• Société des NeurosciencesstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for Semaine du Cerveau organization, providing scientific expertise for brain science outreach events
• INRAPstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for European Archaeology Days, archaeological mediation workshops and conferences
• DRAC Nouvelle-AquitainestrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional cultural authority supporting arts hybrids projects and cultural mediation initiatives
• CNRSstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerScientific research partner providing researchers for events and expert contributions to science popularization
• Fondation AFNICstrategicStrategic or Co-development Partner2024 winner of 'Le Numérique au service d'une société équitable' call for projects for Num'Éthique responsible digital project
• Planète SciencesstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerRelay partner for science popularization activities in the territory
• Les Petits DébrouillardsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAssociation partner in science mediation network

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Lacq Odyssée: CCSTI in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region (Pyrénées-Atlantiques) and NACSTI partner. Delivers science exhibitions and educational animations in a comparable non-profit CCSTI model.
• Planète Sciences: National French association promoting science and technology among young people through hands-on activities and projets. Récréasciences acts as a local relay for Planète Sciences, indicating direct operational overlap.
• Espace Mendès France: Poitiers-based CCSTI within the same NACSTI network. Provides science culture mediation with traveling exhibitions, conferences, and educational programming across Poitou-Charentes.
• Cap Sciences: Bordeaux-based CCSTI and fellow member of the NACSTI Nouvelle-Aquitaine network. Operates a science center with exhibitions, animations, and public events directly comparable to Récréasciences' Limousin operations.
• Les Petits Débrouillards: National French science popularization association running hands-on science activities for youth. Run by a chartered network of regional branches in a model that closely mirrors Récréasciences' mediator approach.

Others

• CCSTI Réseau national: National network coordinating French CCSTIs (including NACSTI). Récréasciences participates in this ecosystem, providing funding, coordination, and advocacy at the national level.

Broad incumbents

• Palais de la Découverte: Historic Paris science museum (now part of Universcience) offering interactive exhibits and educational programming. Represents a broader, higher-scale incumbent in formal science education and public engagement.
• La Cité des Sciences et de l'Industrie: National flagship science center in Paris operated by Universcience. Provides exhibitions, educational content, and digital platforms at much larger scale, serving as a broader incumbent in the same science-mediation category.
• Universcience: Public institution overseeing both La Cité des Sciences and the Palais de la Découverte. Sets national policy and digital platforms for science culture in France, relevant as a benchmark and ecosystem actor.

Regional players

• Science Animation: Occitanie-based CCSTI offering traveling exhibitions, events, and science mediation services. Comparable mission and operating model but serving a different French region.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/recreasciences
• Facebookfacebook.com/recreasciences
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/recreasciences
• Instagraminstagram.com/recreasciences
• TikToktiktok.com/@recreasciences

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Récréasciences C.C.S.T.I