La Reunion Research and Innovation Directory

Deep in the heart of the Indian Ocean, Reunion's 2,500 km² form a focal point for the planet's major challenges: how should we best meet the needs of a fast-growing population without endangering the ecosystems and biodiversity we all depend on? How should we adapt to the effects of climate change and dwindling energy supplies and fossil-based materials? How can we prevent and deal with the health risks accentuated by globalisation? How can we build individual and collective capacity and foster shared prosperity? Reunion's task is to transform these challenges into opportunities through its 3S smart specialisation strategy. More often than not, our island status is seen only as a handicap. In actual fact, it spurs us on to innovate by developing solutions that boost Reunion’s resilience, coupled with our ability to foresee and cope with various impacts and changes. It also means that we are currently experiencing phenomena and constraints that will affect other regions worldwide. Thus based on acquired know-how and experience, we will be able to share our expertise and guidance. The smart specialisation strategy is aimed at transforming our economy by building a new ecological and social development model based on innovation. The strategy is developed via a highly dense and dynamic research and innovation ecosystem: fully-committed public institutions, high-quality research platforms, research centres or specialised laboratories that are members of major regional and international networks, professional associations and clusters promoting innovation, training organisations and innovative co-working spaces, and public or private development support tools geared to the knowledge economy. In all, over 100 organisations are working on a daily basis to build a future fit for Reunion. Together, let's innovate La Reunion!