A year ago in January 2008, Emertec Gestion launched Emertec 4. Since its 1999 creation by CDC Entreprises and CEA, the company, which manages different seed funds in new high-tech businesses, has created four funds, i.e., Emertec, Emertec 2, Emertec Energie Environnement (3E), and Emertec 4. The 23 million-euro Emertec fund, which has been operational since January 2000, has invested 17 million euros in 15 businesses working in microelectronics, instrumentation, advanced materials, and chemical engineering, to date. The 22 million-euro Emertec 2 fund , which has been operational since 2005, invests in new micro- and nanotechnology businesses. Launched in 2003, the 15.5 million-euro Emertec 3E fund is for businesses in the energy and environment industries.
The Emertec 4 fund focuses on sustainable development and mobility. The recently completed financial round raised 60 million euros, of which 20 million euros from CEA, and the rest from several "demanding" investors, including major industry operators such as Alstom and GDF-Suez, banks such as Groupe Caisse d'Epargne and Groupe Banque Populaire, and also the RATP (Paris mass transit operator). "Our investment strategy covers all areas but is balanced between major technological advances, i.e., authentic technological breakthroughs where we will be taking risks, and fairly robust growth projects, since there are several opportunities today - in the area of renewable energies in particular and the environment, in general," summed up Emertec Chairman of the Board Bernard Maître.
Each project file retained for Emertec 4 will be getting 3 to 5 million euros and will not be allowed to exceed the regulatory limit of 10% of the fund, i.e., 6 million euros. Early next February, the first project sponsors will be announced; their projects will "comply with the trends" of sustainable development and the aspiration for mobility.
