The Place by CCI Achieves EU|BIC Certification: A Testament to Excellence in Business Innovation Support 

This certification, awarded exclusively by EBN, recognises The Place by CCI for its outstanding commitment to high-quality incubation, acceleration, and business support services that foster sustainable growth for start-ups and SMEs.

A Pillar of Innovation in Centre-Val de Loire 

With a strong foothold in the Centre-Val de Loire region of France, The Place by CCI plays a vital role in supporting entrepreneurs and SMEs across a wide range of industries, including cosmetics, digital transformation, food tech, aeronautics, logistics, and health tech. With five satellite offices strategically positioned throughout the region, the organisation has fostered a dynamic innovation ecosystem that connects businesses with research institutions, investors, and public-sector partners.

The EU|BIC Certification highlights The Place by CCI’s structured, results-driven approach to business support, reinforcing its ability to generate regional economic impact, foster job creation, and promote technology transfer.

Comprehensive Business Support for Startups & SMEs 

The Place by CCI offers a full-service value chain, ensuring that businesses receive tailored support at every stage of their growth journey: 

• Pre-Incubation & Incubation: Entrepreneurs benefit from expert guidance, networking events, mentorship programs, and access to state-of-the-art Maker Space facilities for prototyping and product development. 
• Acceleration & Growth Services: Scaling startups receive investment readiness support, internationalization pathways, and strategic mentoring to expand into global markets. 
• Strategic Partnerships & Ecosystem Development: Collaborations with key stakeholders, including Cosmetic Valley, Dev’Up Centre-Val de Loire, universities, and corporate partners, ensure an integrated approach to fostering innovation. 

Measurable Impact and Excellence 

he Place by CCI has demonstrated exceptional impact, with key achievements including: 

• An 88% survival rate for incubated startups after three years 
• The creation of 210+ full-time jobs in the past three years 
• Active partnerships with industry leaders and innovation hubs 
• A proven track record of supporting high-tech and sustainable business models 

This level of excellence positions The Place by CCI as an innovation powerhouse, contributing significantly to Centre-Val de Loire’s economic transformation. 

A Testimonial from Constance Baus, Head of The Place by CCI 

“Since 2012, the year of its initial EU|BIC certification, The Place by CCI has grown and significantly expanded its operational geographic scope. Originally located in the northern part of the Centre-Val de Loire region, the ‘CEEI-Chartres’ evolved into ‘The Place by CCI’ in 2017, with the progressive creation of satellite offices across the entire regional territory. By 2024, The Place by CCI has established itself as a regional organisation, comprising a CEEI and five satellite offices, coordinated by The Place by CCI28. 

The EU|BIC certification audit and label provided by EBN are fundamental to our organisation: it positions The Place by CCI and all its components within a well-defined framework, supported by a shared methodology and common indicators. It ensures that our beneficiaries—entrepreneurs, start-ups, and SMEs—receive certified quality support, access to programs, events, and activities, and integration into a national and international innovation ecosystem. This enhances the ‘Deal Flow’ of project applicants seeking support and increases the attractiveness of our services and the region. 

The certification also enables us to improve by showcasing our actions, sharing best practices, and drawing inspiration from the methods and initiatives of other CEEIs. It creates opportunities for partnerships and synergies within the EBN network, including communication, soft landing/market testing for start-ups, collaborations, and participation in international trade fairs and events. Membership in the EBN network and the EU|BIC label offers recognition that sets us apart from other incubation and acceleration structures, strengthening our integration and visibility in the regional innovation ecosystem. 

The audit offered an opportunity to reflect on our organisation, our partners, and, most importantly, our beneficiaries. We revisited or reformulated our processes, focusing on education, performance, and the rigor required to achieve the label. The Place by CCI is committed to implementing the recommended improvements from the audit report and continuing its process of continuous improvement across its entire scope, programs, and activities. 

We would like to thank the auditors and the entire EBN team, who have always been available to support us in this demanding but rewarding process, and a source of even greater performance in the future. 

Supported by the entire CCI network, The Place by CCI is also a dedicated team of over 15 people spread throughout the Region Centre-Val de Loire: start-up managers, communication experts, innovation and digital experts, business coaches, industry experts, etc. The success of The Place by CCI is first and foremost theirs! ” 

Looking Ahead: Driving More Innovation, Growth, and Success 

The Place by CCI’s EU|BIC certification represents not only a milestone achievement but also a commitment of The Place by CCI to continuous improvement, ecosystem building, and delivering world-class business support services. 

As it embarks on this chapter, startups, SMEs, and innovation-driven organisations in Centre-Val de Loire can look forward to an even stronger support system, greater access to funding, and new global opportunities.