After a 25-year career in IT services companies in France and Canada, Amaury de Foresta wanted to put ethics back at the center of technology. Concern for data confidentiality and the growing threat of climate change were key drivers in creating the consulting firm Tree — an acronym for Responsible, Ethical, and Ecological Technology.
Innovating with AI
Tree Consulting helps all types of businesses, especially micro-businesses and SMEs, to innovate using artificial intelligence. “First, it’s about raising awareness of how AI works and its impacts, notably through our AI Fresco workshops. Then we look at what AI can practically bring to them.” Use cases range from automatic form generation to creating voice assistants or virtual reality tools. “The goal is usually to improve product functionality and optimize productivity. Then I write a roadmap for technical implementation.” The firm also supports large groups on AI governance with the help of two experts — one of whom, Marc-Antoine Dilhac, contributed to the European AI regulation. Tree Consulting also positions itself in business innovation “to promote a robust and sustainable economic model” and to support impact-driven projects.
Innovation, digital, CSR: building bridges between Montréal and Nantes
Amaury de Foresta brings a Canadian vision of innovation to Nantes. “Unlike in Europe, where a lot of time is spent thinking and designing before launching, the Canadian approach is more about learning by doing: you make small steps and experiment. To me, innovation rhymes with agility.” Setting up an office in Nantes was both a personal project and a desire to join the local ecosystem. “There are real bridges between Montréal and Nantes, especially in technological and digital innovation. Nantes offers great momentum both in digital and CSR, and real business potential.” Although the new Nantes office will operate nationally, Tree Consulting intends to anchor itself locally. “I aspire to join networks and surround myself with local partners.” Shortly after opening in Nantes, Tree Consulting took part in a panel discussion at the Data & AI Fair during Nantes Digital Week 2025.
“A decisive support” from Nantes-Saint-Nazaire Développement
“As a member of the Audacieux community in Montréal, I already knew Nantes-Saint-Nazaire Développement. Their help with my move to Nantes was invaluable: a year ago, I did a scouting visit to validate my business model and start developing partnerships. Elsa Venisse helped me meet many ecosystem players — that support was decisive!”
Tailored support for Tree Consulting’s arrival
Tree Consulting received custom support for its setup, including:
- Integration into the Audacieux network in Montréal with targeted contacts.
- Connections with strategic players in Nantes to refine the company’s positioning.
- Sharing business experience with other Québec companies established in Nantes.
- Support to develop a local network with key partners.
- Access to major events like the Data Fair to increase visibility and presence.
When Nicolas Durand gave a tour of the Atlantic coast to South Korean officials, they were stunned by the sight of seaweed covering the rocks. “The fact that we leave this resource unexploited is beyond their understanding,” says the co-founder and president of Sea4Earth. While Asia, especially Korea, is a major exporter of nori (the seaweed used in sushi), the cultivation of edible seaweed in Europe accounts for just 0.1% of global production. “Seaweed producers struggle to find markets due to a lack of suitable industrial infrastructure,” explains Durand, an agricultural engineer by training. “And production volumes are too low to attract major food companies.” Sea4Earth intends to change this by simultaneously developing large-scale seaweed production and its industrial processing.
Equipping our coasts with seaweed farms
The cornerstone of the project is a “4.0” land-based macroalgae farm concept. “These are connected farms designed to combine optimal yield with low energy consumption.” Depending on the setup, the farms could include an on-site processing area. A prototype is currently being tested with CEA Tech in Cadarache, with plans to deploy it along both the Mediterranean and Atlantic coasts.
Potential in shellfish farming areas
Shellfish farming zones offer a unique opportunity, especially regarding the utilization of seaweed growing on oyster farms. “Today, seaweed that covers oyster bags is considered more of a nuisance than a resource. We propose seeding oyster bags with edible seaweed, which would not only create a new harvestable product but also provide shellfish farmers with an additional source of income through a new activity.” Initial successful tests have already been conducted in Charente-Maritime, with support from CAPENA (Aquaculture, Fisheries and Environment Center of Nouvelle-Aquitaine), the regional shellfish committee CRC17, Fermes du Soleil, and a few pioneering oyster farmers.
Industrial resources supporting sustainable food
Sea4Earth’s farm model could produce 900 tonnes of seaweed per hectare, or 90 tonnes of dried product, “a yield far higher than cereal farming, with significantly lower water consumption,” emphasizes Nicolas Durand. “Seaweed is a superfood—extremely nutritious with minimal environmental impact. At a time when shifting to more plant-based diets is urgent, it offers a truly sustainable alternative.”
Sea4Earth’s project focuses on producing both sushi sheets and incorporating seaweed into common food products. The company is currently developing an industrial pilot plant with the CTCPA (Technical Center for the Preservation of Agricultural Products) in Avignon to manufacture sushi sheets made in France. Once validated, the industrial process will be rolled out in the first factories in southern France and along the Atlantic coast.
The company is also running R&D projects on new products, particularly in the Pays de la Loire region. A partnership is about to be finalized with a food industry player in the Nantes area.
A supportive ecosystem for macroalgae in Nantes and the Pays de la Loire
Although the company is headquartered in Marseille, its operational activities will be based in Aix-en-Provence—Sea4Earth Méditerranée—and in Nantes—Sea4Earth Atlantique—where it has already established connections within the ecosystem. “Nantes Saint-Nazaire Développement has helped us quickly connect with the local agrifood and innovation stakeholders.”
Founded in July 2023, Sea4Earth plans a fundraising round in 2026 to launch its first integrated farm and processing site. In parallel, it is contributing to the national roadmap for the seaweed industry. “We believe it’s essential to reduce dependence on Asia for a product that will play a key role in our future food sovereignty.”
Learn more about Sea4earth
With over 1,000 employees worldwide, Doris Group is a leading player in engineering, project development, and energy-related services. Originally focused on conventional energy, the company—founded in 1965—has built significant expertise in renewable energy, particularly offshore wind power.
“We supported the development of fixed-bottom offshore wind in the UK, a pioneering country in this field, and contributed to many floating wind projects in various countries,” says Olivier Langeard, head of the new Nantes branch.
Innovative solutions in emerging energies
Doris Group operates across the entire project lifecycle—from design to operations—offering engineering, project management, technical support, and more. The company works on innovative concepts in renewable and emerging energies, such as:
- Deep-sea water-based air conditioning for Kingston Airport in Jamaica,
- An offshore hydrogen production unit at the base of a wind turbine in the UK,
- And the Nerehyd floating platform, developed in partnership with Lhyfe to produce green hydrogen offshore near Saint-Nazaire.
“We combined our expertise in hydrogen production with our offshore development experience,” explains Olivier Langeard.
Nantes, a strategic hub for Marine Renewable Energy
Former R&D Manager at Doris France in Paris, Olivier Langeard moved to Nantes a few months ago as part of the Lhyfe partnership.
“The idea of setting up a team here focused on marine renewable energy became obvious due to the region’s strong potential. In the short term, we aim to build a team of four to five people, depending on market opportunities, to work on marine operations, naval architecture, mooring systems, seabed studies… and perhaps even wind propulsion.”
Olivier Langeard praises the key role played by Nantes Saint-Nazaire Développement in “opening doors and helping us integrate into the local ecosystem.”
From Nantes, Doris Group is already working on several major programs such as:
- HOPE, a prototype for offshore hydrogen production with Lhyfe,
- And the future FloWatt tidal farm in Normandy.
Learn more about Doris Group
Decarbonizing the sectors most reliant on fossil fuels through the production of low-carbon molecules—that is the ambition of Elyse Energy. Based in Lyon, the company is a pioneer in its field. Since its creation in 2020, it has been developing production units for low-carbon molecules, primarily fuels, destined for maritime and air transport, as well as the chemical industry, where they are used as base components.
An e-methanol production unit, in partnership with Lhyfe
Established in France, Spain, and Portugal, Elyse Energy is expanding to Saint-Nazaire as part of the development of a green hydrogen production site in the Montoir-de-Bretagne port area. The project was awarded to hydrogen leader Lhyfe following a call for tenders by the Grand Port Maritime Nantes Saint-Nazaire. Lhyfe and Elyse Energy have partnered to produce 150,000 tonnes of e-methanol per year from green hydrogen.
Multiple industrial decarbonization projects underway
This young SME is already leading major projects, notably in the Rhône Valley, the Pyrénées-Atlantiques, and Spain.
“These projects are part of a national decarbonization strategy, which includes the development of technical and technological solutions,” explains Mathieu Hoyer, Director of Development. “They provide France with the means to decarbonize the most challenging sectors—those where alternatives are still limited—and contribute to energy sovereignty by producing molecules locally.”
Joining the decarbonization ecosystem in Saint-Nazaire
Elyse Energy is positioning itself within Saint-Nazaire’s strong momentum toward maritime economic decarbonization.
“We’ll also be able to rely on CO₂—another component of methanol—valorized through projects like GO CO₂, which plans to capture and transport the gas from major industrial emitters along the Atlantic coast, particularly cement plants, to the Saint-Nazaire area.”
Olivier Cuny, Elyse Energy’s representative in Saint-Nazaire
As Business Manager for the Northwest region, Olivier Cuny settled this summer at the Maison de l’Entreprise in Saint-Nazaire, supported by Nantes Saint-Nazaire Développement.
“I am proud to take part in an ambitious maritime transport decarbonization project, rooted in its territory, with one of the first ports in Europe to commit to providing alternative fuels.”
Learn more about Elyse
agileDSS: “In Nantes, you can feel a strong energy in the digital ecosystem”
Founded two decades ago in the heart of Montreal, AgileDSS has become a leading company in Quebec in the field of data consulting (business intelligence, big data, and artificial intelligence). Its experts store, structure, and analyze corporate data and transform it into management reports, dashboards, or algorithms using flexible and agile delivery approaches. AgileDSS is involved at all stages of a data project, from strategic consulting to the integration of innovative solutions and automation.
Active in sustainable economy sectors
“We apply our expertise in many innovative and sustainable sectors, such as insurance, healthcare, telecommunications, transport, and especially in green energy, wind power, electric charging stations, etc.,” explains Alexandre Langlois, partner and co-owner of agileDSS. “We are also involved in maritime transport, where we help monitor data to predict maintenance, optimize shipping routes, and more. Today in France, there is a strong focus on cloud migration, an area where we are much more advanced in Quebec.” The Quebec company AgileDSS counts among its clients Canadian leaders in wind energy such as Boralex and Innergex.
Established ties between Nantes and Quebec
Exchanges between Nantes Saint-Nazaire Développement and AgileDSS began in 2019, during a delegation trip from Nantes to Montreal, as part of the partnership between Printemps Numérique in Montreal and Nantes Digital Week. Following this first meeting, Julien Messu, agileDSS’s Markets & Talents Director (originally from Guérande), became an Audacieux de Nantes in Montreal. After expanding in Quebec City, the company decided to go on the offensive in the international market, and Nantes quickly became an obvious choice through the ties already established between the two cities during previous delegations.
A dynamic ecosystem and many joint events between Nantes and Quebec
At the end of 2023, Nantes Saint-Nazaire Développement helped agileDSS’s leaders meet with several key organizations in Nantes such as ADN Ouest, La Cantine Numérique, higher education schools (Epitech, Polytech…), university laboratories, and AI startups. “The Nantes digital ecosystem is very structured and very mature, with a university and excellent research labs. There are many joint events between Nantes and Quebec, especially in the digital sector. Nantes has a dynamic ecosystem, you can feel a strong energy here in our field and in many other innovative and green sectors like renewable energy.”
“Here, company leaders make themselves available to meet us”
“In Nantes, we’ve been very well received. We appreciate this kindness, which feels very similar to what we’re used to in Quebec. Here, you find large companies where the leaders make themselves available to meet you, which wouldn’t happen in Paris or other large French cities. What interests us is creating a close connection to explain how data can help businesses. For us, this is extremely important!” says Ludovic Péronet, partner and co-owner of agileDSS.
Discover agileDSS
Wind power: e3 IdentiFlight France, an innovative bird protection solution, chooses Nantes to set up its French subsidiaryDetecting and identifying the presence of protected species to reduce bird mortality on wind farms is the goal of the system developed by Boulder Imaging, based on technology created by its subsidiary IdentiFlight. The principle: a set of 8 wide-angle cameras capable of identifying approaching species scans the wind turbine environment 360° and detects birds in the vicinity. A high-definition camera then takes over to “recognize” the species present. When a protected species approaches, the wind turbine is stopped.
15 species already classified
Developed using artificial intelligence technology, “the strength of this solution lies in the precise classification of birds,” explains Yoann Payelleville, director of e3 IdentiFlight France. The system can differentiate between species like the red kite and the black stork, both protected and commonly found in France, as well as the white-tailed eagle. “The presence of sensitive species is often an obstacle to the development of wind farms. Our system, which minimizes downtime, allows us both to ensure the protection of birds and to optimize wind farm performance.” In the Grand Est region, the implementation of a wind project was made conditional on the use of the IdentiFlight system. Over 250 systems are currently deployed across wind farms in the United States, Australia, Uzbekistan, Germany, and France. Around fifteen protected species have already been classified by the system, a number expected to double in the coming months.
Developing a team in Nantes
One of the first European companies to take an interest in this solution, German company e3, specialized in wind farm development, partnered with the American firm to distribute the product in Germany, Austria, and France. The creation of e3 IdentiFlight France will enable coverage of the French market. It is led by Yoann Payelleville, a seasoned expert in wind energy after fifteen years at German wind turbine manufacturer Enercon. Based in Vertou, near Nantes, the French subsidiary aims to gradually expand to around ten employees within three to four years. “Close to Paris by high-speed train and attractive for its quality of life, Nantes offers all the right assets to attract profiles with expertise in wind energy development and knowledge of ornithology.”
Learn more about e3 identiflight
The Canadian engineering firm Atelier 7 hz brings its expertise in acoustics and vibrations to Nantes“Ensuring a comfortable sound and vibration environment in living spaces” is the mission of Atelier 7 hz. Based in Montreal and Quebec, the 15-person engineering firm provides acoustics and vibration consulting services for building construction and environmental noise monitoring. Atelier 7 hz primarily works during the design phase but also monitors construction phases and performs performance verification measurements. The firm is involved in large-scale projects such as the Vaudreuil-Soulanges hospital near Montreal (comparable in size to the Nantes University Hospital). 7 hz’s scope extends beyond buildings: “we measure noise and vibrations inside, but also nuisances generated by highway construction or train traffic,” explains Raphaël Duée, founder and president.
Connected monitoring stations
Through a research tax credit granted by Canadian authorities, Atelier 7 hz has developed “permanent monitoring stations” for tracking noise and vibrations. Powered by solar panels, these autonomous devices are installed near construction sites, highways, or airports to monitor their acoustic and vibrational environment. The collected data is transmitted in real-time to a server. “We’ve developed an additional feature based on artificial intelligence that can detect events like the passage of an airplane or train, providing detailed statistical analyses,” says Raphaël Duée.
From Montreal to Nantes
After twelve years in Quebec, Raphaël Duée decided to return to Europe with his family, with the goal of replicating the company’s success. “I have no roots in Nantes and my wife is Canadian. After studying several cities, Nantes appeared to offer the right environment for both family life and professional development, thanks to its energy, the presence of major projects, and proximity to the ocean. I also appreciated the more relaxed approach to work relationships here. Nantes Saint-Nazaire Développement gave us the keys to understand the local environment and facilitated our first steps,” he explains. Next step: business development, with the goal of building a new team to cover the western region of France.