AGENCE DE DEVELOPPEMENT ECONOMIQUE DE LA NOUVELLE CALEDONIE ASSOCIATION

Their core work

ADECAL is the economic development agency of New Caledonia, a French overseas territory in the Pacific. They serve as the local Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) node, helping SMEs in New Caledonia and French Polynesia access European innovation support, technology transfer, and international partnerships. Beyond SME support, they participate in biodiversity research and biotechnology funding networks, reflecting New Caledonia's exceptional natural heritage and the agency's role in bridging Pacific island ecosystems with European research frameworks.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In the early period (2015-2017), ADECAL balanced two tracks: SME innovation support through EEN and biodiversity/ecosystem research tied to overseas territories. The biodiversity work included science-society engagement, policy dialogue, and nature-based solutions — reflecting New Caledonia's unique ecological position. From 2019 onward, the focus narrowed almost entirely to EEN innovation management activities, suggesting the agency consolidated around its core SME support mandate.

ADECAL is consolidating around its EEN role as Pacific gateway for European SME innovation services, with less involvement in research-oriented projects.

How they like to work

ADECAL is exclusively a participant — never a coordinator — which fits their role as a regional EEN node within larger European networks. With 62 unique consortium partners across 28 countries, they operate in broad, multi-partner networks typical of EEN and ERA-NET structures. They are a connector rather than a leader, bringing Pacific island perspectives into large European consortia.

Despite being based in a small Pacific island territory, ADECAL has collaborated with 62 partners across 28 countries — a remarkably wide network driven by their membership in pan-European EEN and ERA-NET consortia.

What sets them apart

ADECAL is one of the very few H2020 participants from the Pacific region, representing New Caledonia and French Polynesia. This makes them a unique bridge between European research frameworks and Pacific island contexts — particularly valuable for projects needing overseas territory representation, tropical biodiversity expertise, or Pacific market access. For consortium builders needing EU outermost region or overseas country/territory coverage, ADECAL is a rare and practical choice.

Highlights from their portfolio

• BiodivERsA3
  Seven-year ERA-NET project consolidating European biodiversity research, where ADECAL brought the often-underrepresented perspective of Pacific overseas territories and their exceptional ecosystems.
• ERA CoBioTech
  Six-year biotechnology cofund — notable because it connects a Pacific island agency to European biotech research funding, an unusual geographic pairing.