Kit media
Created in 1960, the CIFL (Interprofessional Committee of Laboratory Suppliers) is a professional association of suppliers of laboratory products, services and instrumentation in the fields of research, analysis and control, on the French market. Christophe Blaisse, the new chairman of the committee elected in June 2015, unveils his roadmap: helping members adapt to their environment, setting up qualified training courses, and developing the image of Forum Labo - Biotech.
You are the new president of the CIFL since June 2015, what is your career path?
I have a university degree in physicochemistry and am the director of the laboratory division at Mettler Toledo. I have always worked in the world of the laboratory, mainly in sales and marketing functions, both at distributors and manufacturers.
I am familiar with the CIFL and its bodies since I have been a member of the Board of Directors since 2010 and therefore elected President in June 2015.
Accepting the presidency of the CIFL and defending the interests of our members and the laboratory profession is a real challenge and a personal challenge.
With the CIFL, we must meet the expectations and questions of each of our members who are characterized by a variety of companies in terms of activity and size. Thus, my desire is to stimulate the notion of sharing and exchange that remains the very essence of our association.
The world of the laboratory is constantly changing. What is your roadmap for the CIFL to best support the players in the profession?
I want to lead three major projects in parallel:
First, continue the missions of my predecessor, Patrice Pasquier, by helping companies adapt to their environment by putting in place decision-making tools such as market research, surveys and statistics. I would like to further facilitate meetings between members and with private and public decision-makers of the profession in the context of clubs, committees and dinner debates.
Accelerate the development of business-to-business training by setting up sessions tailored to our business, e-marketing or finance, to help our companies and their employees progress. This large associative project, with trainers selected for their knowledge of our market, is negotiated at very attractive rates for our members.
Finally, continue to evolve Forum Labo - Biotech, the large showcase of the laboratory, to make it the scientific rendezvous of our profession.
Precisely, you launch and organize Forum Labo - Biotech Lyon on March 30 and 31, 2016, why this edition in the region?
With its 12 competitiveness clusters, clusters and universities, the development of its biotech division, its historical reputation in the field of chemistry and pharmacy, the proximity of the Swiss and northern Italian markets, the Lyon region is strategic for our profession. In addition, the Rhône-Alpes/Auvergne and PACA regions account for about 20% of the French laboratory market. These advantages, combined with the ideal location and quality of service of the International Convention City, convinced us of the need to meet with scientists and decision-makers in the region.
We can already announce that Forum Labo - Biotech Lyon has already exceeded its objectives with more than 150 exhibitors gathered on 2,000 m2 of exhibition. We will offer high-level training and conferences and organize effective business meetings to save time for visitors and exhibitors.
Of course, we'll be back in Paris - Porte de Versailles for Forum Labo - Biotech Paris from March 29 to 31, 2017.
The laboratory profession is very involved in the environment. In the aftermath of the COP21 in Paris, what are the new opportunities to look forward to?
A new business segment, ecotechnologies, is very attractive in this environmental field. It is a set of services, products and technologies that reduce environmental impacts, optimize natural resource consumption and improve energy efficiency.
Eco-industry has a potential of around 125 million euros (or 7% of the laboratory market) in sectors as diverse as energy, chemicals, agri-food and biotechnology. This great challenge for our companies will be to develop and adapt the targeted devices and techniques specific to this new market.
Finally, in your opinion, what are the main technological revolutions of the profession in the next 5 years?
The main technological advances in our profession will be linked to the expectations of decision makers and users. Our various surveys show that automation, robotics and connectivity of our devices are important and recurring demands. They increase productivity and performance in laboratories and are part of the Lean Lab approach.
Scientists are also very sensitive to the design of equipment and products that offer them greater ease of use and greater safety in the laboratory.
Beyond technological developments, the expectation of our customers is very high at the service level with an increased demand for the development of methods and solutions adapted to their analytical needs, the co-development of specific instruments, the guarantee of traceability of data, the certification of our devices and assistance for the accreditation of their laboratories.
Finally, we expect outsourcing of analyses to continue to grow in the coming years, particularly in the areas of the environment and agri-food.
Find out more: www.cifl.com
