The CORIMER: A Collective Ambition for French Maritime Innovation

François Lambert, former Managing Director of GICAN, Director General of ENSM

When we first conceived the CORIMER, the objective was clear: to give the French maritime industry the means to match its ambitions. At the time, as Managing Director of GICAN, I observed the same paradox every day: innovative companies developing promising projects, yet too often lost in a maze of calls for proposals and administrative procedures. Action was needed, and quickly.

A One-Stop Shop to Unlock Innovation

Our first priority was simplification. How could we ensure that SMEs, who represent the majority of our members, spend less time compiling files and more time innovating? The answer was the CORIMER. We designed this new structure as the single point of entry for all stakeholders in the sector, a place where industrial needs, public authorities’ expectations, and funding opportunities could converge. The goal was simple: clarify, accelerate, and above all, make sure no one is left behind.

Strength in Unity

The CORIMER was not the result of a single initiative, but of a shared conviction: maritime innovation can only move forward if all actors communicate and coordinate. This is why we brought GICAN together with the Syndicat des Énergies Renouvelables, the Fédération des Industries Nautiques, Evolen, and companies from the oil and para-oil sectors. Together, we defined common priorities, aligned our strategies, and created a collective momentum that had never existed before. Because when facing the challenges of energy transition and global competitiveness, no one can succeed alone.

Protecting Our SMEs — The Backbone of the Sector

I still remember the conversations we had with our small and medium-sized companies. Their main concern? Being crushed by competition or, worse, becoming the prey of larger players. Our role, both at GICAN and within the CORIMER, was to defend them, support them, and give them the tools they needed to grow. We made sure that every company, regardless of size, could find its place within this new dynamic. Because a strong industry is one where everyone has a chance.

A Legacy and a Responsibility for the Future

Today, the CORIMER has become a reality, thanks in particular to my successor at GICAN, Philippe Missoffe, and his team. It embodies the ambition we shared: making France a leader in maritime innovation, capable of meeting tomorrow’s challenges. But the work is far from over. To those who have now taken up the mantle, I repeat the intuition that guided us from the start: keep listening, keep building bridges, keep innovating. Because it is together, and only together, that we will shape the future of our industry.

It sounds familiar, doesn’t it? HydroContest by ENSM is very much part of that same spirit!