Terre Des Sciences

What Terre Des Sciences does

Terre des Sciences is a French non-profit association (association loi 1901) operating as a Centre de Culture Scientifique, Technique et Industrielle (CCSTI) based in Angers, France, with activities spanning the entire Pays de la Loire region. Founded in 1992 by research and higher education institutions in Angers, the organization holds the official "Science et Culture – Innovation" label from the French Ministry of Higher Education and Research. Its core activities include a Resource Center lending 30 exhibitions and 65 educational toolkits to member institutions, regional coordination of the annual Fête de la Science (476 projects across 94 communes in 2025), the Action Jeunes et Sciences educational program reaching approximately 437 students annually across 15 projects, and the Echosciences Pays de la Loire digital platform (2,475 published contents, 42,739 visitors, 109 referenced structures as of December 2025). Additional programming includes Les RDV Astro (astronomy), Biblio'Sciences (library partnership with 230 libraries in Maine-et-Loire), Nuit de la Science, and Ma Thèse en 180 Secondes doctoral training.

The organization is funded primarily through public grants from Région des Pays de la Loire, the Ministry of Higher Education and Research, FEDER European funds, local departments and municipalities, supplemented by institutional membership fees for access to the Resource Center. It serves four primary customer segments: teachers and educators, science mediators and animators, the general public, and institutional partners. The technology stack centers on the Echosciences territorial social network platform (articles, events, directories, resources, communities) and standard web/digital channels including LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube, Twitch, and BlueSky. No proprietary AI/ML capabilities are present in the offering.

In 2025, Terre des Sciences underwent significant organizational restructuring following reductions in regional public funding, losing 4 staff positions, eliminating departmental-level coordination of Fête de la Science in favor of reinforced regional coordination, and discontinuing historical activities including the École de l'ADN des Pays de la Loire and Vendée operations. Despite these constraints, 2025 set programmatic records on key metrics, and 2026 is scheduled to see the launch of Sciences Up (a new science-business innovation sensitization program) and the 4th edition of Action Jeunes et Sciences.

Name

Terre Des Sciences

Legal name

Terre des Sciences

Website

https://www.terre-des-sciences.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Terre des Sciences is a French non-profit CCSTI based in Angers that promotes scientific culture across the Pays de la Loire region through resource lending, educational programs, event coordination, and the Echosciences digital platform, serving educators, students, mediators, and the general public under the Ministry's Science et Culture – Innovation label.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Scientific Culture Services

NAICS

Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (7121), Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (712)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Hands-on Science Exploration & Experiments (Lab Kits, Science Clubs) (EDAMABAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Academic & Scientific Conferences (MPAGAGAD)

Keywords

• Scientific culture dissemination
• Science education programs
• Public science events
• Educational resource lending
• Regional science coordination

Headquarters

HQ city

Angers

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Annual membership fees allowing institutions (schools, libraries, associations) to access resource lending services and participate in programs. The membership is institutional rather than individual, tied to the establishment.
2. Public Funding and Grants: Major funding from government bodies including Ministry of Higher Education and Research, Region Pays de la Loire, European funds (FEDER), and local authorities (Departments, municipalities). Project-based funding for specific initiatives like Fête de la Science.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Terre des Sciences is a non-profit science culture center that lends a catalog of 30 exhibitions and 65 educational toolkits to institutional members (schools, libraries, associations) and coordinates regional scientific events such as the Fête de la Science, which deployed 476 projects across 94 communes in 2025. The organization also delivers structured educational programs (Action Jeunes et Sciences) reaching 437 students annually and operates the EchoSciences Pays de la Loire digital platform for science communication, while providing training, animation, and cultural mediation services to teachers, science mediators, and the general public in the Pays de la Loire region.

Product overview

Terre des Sciences is a Centre de Culture Scientifique, Technique et Industrielle (CCSTI) - a science education and cultural center. The organization operates as a network coordinator and service provider rather than a traditional product company. Its offerings include: the Resource Center (centre de ressources) lending 95 educational materials (30 exhibitions and 65 toolkits); major programs like the annual Fête de la Science (coordinated regionally, 450+ projects), Action Jeunes et Sciences educational program for schools, EchoSciences digital platform (social network for science); event series such as Les RDV Astro (astronomy), Biblio'Sciences (library partnerships), and Nuit de la Science (evening events); training and support services including Ma Thèse en 180 Secondes thesis presentation competition. All services focus on making science accessible to the public through mediation, networking, animation, formation, and cultural action.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Echosciences Pays de la Loire: A territorial social network platform for sharing science culture initiatives, launched in 2021. Statistics: 2,475 contents published, 366 contributors, 42,739 visitors, 109 referenced structures (as of December 2025).
• Action Jeunes et Sciences
• Fête de la Science en Pays de la Loire

Products and services

• Centre de Ressources (Resource Center) A lending service for institutional members (schools, libraries, cultural centers) providing 30 exhibitions and 65 educational toolkits/activity kits covering science topics from professional discovery to hands-on experiments, supporting science education across age groups from cycle 1 to post-bac.
• Action Jeunes et Sciences A regional educational program for middle and high school students in Pays de la Loire that engages approximately 437 students annually across 15 projects in 13 establishments, with thematic tracks including critical thinking and ecological transition.
• EchoSciences Pays de la Loire A regional social network platform launched in 2021 for sharing science news, events, resources, an annuaire of CSTI actors, and community engagement. As of December 2025, it contains 2,475 published contents, 366 contributors, 42,739 visitors, and 109 referenced structures.
• Fête de la Science en Pays de la Loire Annual national science festival coordinated regionally by Terre des Sciences since 2017 (held October 2-12 each year). The 2025 edition set a record with 476 projects deployed across 94 communes and 17 Villages des Sciences, reaching approximately 40,000 visitors including 15,400 students.
• Les RDV Astro An annual free astronomy program offering conferences, animations, and interactive events exploring astronomy, space exploration, and scientific/technological advances, organized in partnership with Ciel d'Anjou and ESEO student association Curiosity.
• Biblio'Sciences A science mediation program delivered in partnership with the BiblioPôle of Maine-et-Loire department, offering cultural and scientific programming across 230 libraries to create meeting spaces between citizens and scientific actors of the territory.
• Nuit de la Science An evening science event featuring workshops, interactive experiments, games, demonstrations, short conferences, and surprising animations delivered by scientists and enthusiasts, scheduled for October 2, 2026.
• Ma Thèse en 180 Secondes A doctoral thesis communication competition where PhD students present their research in 3 minutes, with Terre des Sciences providing training in storytelling and pitch delivery for participants.
• École du Végétal A partnership program with Végépolys Valley competitiveness cluster offering actions to sensitize youth to plant sector professions, including animations, games, exhibitions, and professional discovery activities that reach approximately 800 students annually.
• Sciences Up A sensitization program for students showing how science contributes to innovation in enterprises, developed in collaboration with Entreprendre pour Apprendre (EPA), with thematic focus on Artificial Intelligence as an accelerator for business innovation.

Quantifiable outcome

• 476 projects deployed in 94 communes during 2025 Fête de la Science
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 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

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Entreprendre pour Apprendre (EPA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Collaboration on Sciences Up program to help students understand how science drives business innovation. EPA brings entrepreneurship education expertise while Terre des Sciences provides scientific mediation and coordination.
• Le Mans UniversitécoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025University in Sarthe involved in multiple programs including EMI residency activities, Actions Jeunes et Sciences coordination, and éLUCIDE project on critical thinking.
• AMCSTI (Association des Muséums et Centres de Culture Scientifique, Technique et Industrielle)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021National network for scientific culture institutions. Terre des Sciences participates in national Echosciences governance committee and represents regional CSTI interests.
• Végépolys ValleycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2006Competitiveness cluster for plant sciences established in 2005, merged with Cereales Vallée in 2019. Partnership since 2006 for 'École du Végétal' programs including student encounters, professional discovery games, and plant sector exhibitions. Serves regional plant industry innovation and public awareness.
• BiblioPôle du Département de Maine-et-LoirecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with the public reading service of Maine-et-Loire department (serving 230 libraries) for co-constructing scientific mediation programming in libraries across the territory. The BiblioPôle provides infrastructure and local reach while Terre des Sciences contributes scientific expertise and content.
• Académie de NantescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional academic authority involved in educational programs including Sciences Up and Actions Jeunes et Sciences, providing access to schools and educational framework alignment.
• ANRT (Association Nationale de la Recherche et de la Technologie)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational association for research and technology involved in the Sciences Up program coordination, bringing national perspective and research industry connections.
• Chaire UNESCO RELIAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUNESCO chair at Nantes University involved in Sciences Up program, providing academic research connections and international perspective on science-industry links.
• Université d'AngerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMain university partner in Angers for various programs including Actions Jeunes et Sciences, Nuit des Chercheurs, scientific events, and doctoral training (MT180). Provides researchers and research facilities.
• CLEMI des Pays de la LoireminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional center for media education involved in journalistic residency activities and teacher training programs.
• CHU d'AngerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity hospital partnering for science outreach at the hospital, bringing scientific activities to pediatric and oncology patients during Fête de la Science.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• La Casemate: CCSTI in Grenoble serving the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region with science culture programming, exhibitions, and educational activities. Directly comparable to Terre des Sciences as a regional CCSTI with similar mission, membership model, and event coordination (Fête de la Science).
• Cap Sciences: CCSTI based in Bordeaux serving Nouvelle-Aquitaine with science exhibitions, educational resources, and events. Comparable to Terre des Sciences as a regional coordinator of scientific culture, member of the AMCSTI network, and operator of lending exhibitions/toolkits.
• Science Animation: CCSTI in Toulouse (Occitanie) coordinating scientific culture for the region, including Fête de la Science regional coordination. Comparable to Terre des Sciences in operating model, regional coordination role, and AMCSTI network membership.
• Récréasciences: CCSTI based in Clermont-Ferrand (Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes) offering science exhibitions, school programs, and public events. Comparable to Terre des Sciences as a regional non-profit CCSTI providing resource lending and educational programming.
• Les Petits Débrouillards: National science education association offering hands-on science workshops and educational programs nationwide. Comparable to Terre des Sciences in mission of making science accessible to youth and general public through participatory approaches.
• Espace des Sciences (Rennes): CCSTI in Brittany (Rennes) operating science exhibitions, a planetarium, and educational programs. Comparable to Terre des Sciences as a regional CCSTI with permanent exhibition infrastructure and AMCSTI network membership.
• Traces (CCSTI Lyon): CCSTI in Lyon (formerly Espace Marcel Charvolin) coordinating scientific culture events and educational programs in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes. Comparable to Terre des Sciences as a regional CCSTI with event coordination and resource lending activities.

Broad incumbents

• Universcience (Cité des Sciences et de l'Industrie): National public institution unifying the Cité des Sciences et de l'Industrie and Palais de la Découverte in Paris. Comparable to Terre des Sciences as a CCSTI but operating at much larger national scale with permanent exhibition venues and broader public programming.
• Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle: National natural history museum and research institution in Paris offering public exhibitions and educational programming. Comparable to Terre des Sciences as a public-facing science dissemination institution, though operating at much larger national scale.

Others

• AMCSTI: National association of museums and scientific culture centers (Association des Muséums et Centres de Culture Scientifique, Technique et Industrielle). Comparable to Terre des Sciences as the umbrella network for CCSTIs, in which Terre des Sciences participates in governance.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@echosciencespaysdelaloire
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/terre-des-sciences
• Instagraminstagram.com/terre_des_sciences

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 Terre Des Sciences