Clustering Research, Education, and Entrepreneurship: Nanotech Innovation at MINATEC in Grenoble

This article presents a case study on MINATEC, a regional innovation cluster in Grenoble, France, encompassing several entities: applied and basic research institutes, a university, and incubation and technology transfer facilities. MINATEC was created to foster development in the field of micro- and nanotechnologies. It is organized in a systemic way intended to make the most of interactions among its institutions to create synergistic relations. Established in 2006, MINATEC operates under an organizational model that connects basic and applied research, higher education, and support for start-ups and technology transfer. These features make MINATEC a relevant case study for both public and private innovation managers.