A forwards-looking project in Lille textile region: CETI
October 31, 2012 - France
The fruit of a strong political commitment in cooperation with competitive cluster UP-tex, CETI is the fulfillment of an undertaking by an entire Region and an entire Eurometropolis to revive a textiles sector that is focused firmly on the future.
CETI has been made possible through the mobilization of all players in the innovative textiles sector and the financial support of the French government, Lille Métropole Communauté Urbaine, the Nord-Pas de Calais Region, Europe and the Nord Department. It is the culmination of the work undertaken by the public authorities since 2003 and represents an investment of over 40 million Euro.
An initiative of Lille Métropole Communauté Urbaine and straddling three towns, Roubaix, Tourcoing and Wattrelos, the Union district aims to provide a model for a sustainable urban area having all the functions of a town: housing, businesses, public services, leisure facilities, community services, shops, etc.
This 80 hectare reclaimed industrial site represents one of the most ambitious urban regeneration projects in France.
There are already over 1000 people working in the Union district out of an estimated 4000 planned by the year 2022; over 33 000 m² of buildings have been refurbished alongside almost 20 000 m² of new constructions.
By encouraging businesses with high technological added value to set up in the district, the Union will reinforce the growth strategy initiated by Lille Métropole, by adding another site to the already-existing centres of excellence: Euralille, Eurasanté, Euratechnologies and la Haute-Borne.
The Union is already the home of some corporate main offices such as Kipsta, the collective sports brand of Oxylane housed in the former Terken brewery, or Ankama a prosperous business that has created 450 jobs.
The Union site is structured around two sectors. The first is the visual arts, culture and media (represented by Plaine Image) and the second is dedicated to innovative textiles, to be located in the vicinity of the European Centre for Innovative Textiles (CETI).
CETI has been made possible through the mobilization of all players in the innovative textiles sector and the financial support of the French government, Lille Métropole Communauté Urbaine, the Nord-Pas de Calais Region, Europe and the Nord Department. It is the culmination of the work undertaken by the public authorities since 2003 and represents an investment of over 40 million Euro.
An initiative of Lille Métropole Communauté Urbaine and straddling three towns, Roubaix, Tourcoing and Wattrelos, the Union district aims to provide a model for a sustainable urban area having all the functions of a town: housing, businesses, public services, leisure facilities, community services, shops, etc.
This 80 hectare reclaimed industrial site represents one of the most ambitious urban regeneration projects in France.
There are already over 1000 people working in the Union district out of an estimated 4000 planned by the year 2022; over 33 000 m² of buildings have been refurbished alongside almost 20 000 m² of new constructions.
By encouraging businesses with high technological added value to set up in the district, the Union will reinforce the growth strategy initiated by Lille Métropole, by adding another site to the already-existing centres of excellence: Euralille, Eurasanté, Euratechnologies and la Haute-Borne.
The Union is already the home of some corporate main offices such as Kipsta, the collective sports brand of Oxylane housed in the former Terken brewery, or Ankama a prosperous business that has created 450 jobs.
The Union site is structured around two sectors. The first is the visual arts, culture and media (represented by Plaine Image) and the second is dedicated to innovative textiles, to be located in the vicinity of the European Centre for Innovative Textiles (CETI).