PRESS RELEASE
20.01.2021
THE COGNAC SECTOR WILL BUILD AN EMBLEMATIC SITE DEDICATED TO INNOVATION, TRAINING, AND OVERCOMING FUTURE CHALLENGES IN THE HEART OF COGNAC
During the Nouvelle-Aquitaine President Alain Rousset’s visit to Cognac and the BNIC, along with the President of the Conseil Départemental of Charente and President of Grand-Cognac, Mr Jérôme Sourisseau and the Mayor of Cognac, Mr Morgan Berger, on Wednesday 20 January, the Cognac sector announced plans to implement its development, innovation and ecological transition strategy in a brand-new emblematic centre. Located on the banks of the Charente river in the heart of Cognac, this site will bring together all of the BNIC’s departments, while welcoming a diverse array of partners and key industry players. The construction of this R&D innovation centre dedicated to collaboration and professional training will begin in 2023.
© BNIC / Stéphane Charbeau
Today, the Cognac sector announced its plans to build an R&D innovation centre dedicated to collaboration and training in order boost its competitiveness and pursue its sustainable development strategy in a constantly evolving context. This project, located on an 8,000 m2 site on the banks of the Charente River (*), epitomises the BNIC’s strong architectural and environmental ambitions. Combining history and modernity, this dynamic space will be resolutely turned towards the future.
A place of work and discussions, the centre will also pilot the sector’s scientific and technical innovations and welcome private and institutional partners, while illustrating the Cognac sector’s commitments to sustainable development and willingness to support the region, particularly the town of Cognac. This investment will also boost the region’s reputation as a high-potential, innovative hub, while raising its national and international profile.
For the first time in its history, the BNIC will bring together over one hundred scientific experts, technicians, lawyers, sales representatives, administrative staff and IT specialists from its various departments all under one roof. Reception areas will also welcome BNIC partners for short- and long-term collaborations. Above all, this centre will be a place where Cognac professionals can meet and decide on the main lines of action for their committed, dynamic and time-honoured sector.
*The building plot is located between rue Etienne Augier, rue du Port and rue Alfred de Vigny in Cognac.
ABOUT THE BNIC AND ITS SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL ACTIVITIES
The BNIC, or Bureau National Interprofessionnel du Cognac, represents, develops and preserves the Cognac Protected Designation of Origin, both in France and abroad. In the 160 countries where Cognac is sold, this AOC provides consumers with a guarantee that they are buying an outstanding wine spirit. Comprising an equal number of members from the winegrowing and commercial sides of the industry, the BNIC is a coordination and decision-making body which brings together almost 4,300 winegrowers, 110 professional distillers, and 270 merchants operating within the appellation. The BNIC defends the interests of Cognac producers and consumers, with an unwavering commitment to everyone with an interest in this appellation. Its R&D activities are supported by the Technical and Sustainable Development division (Viticulture Unit), an Agro-Industrial Technical Institute recognised by the Ministry of Agriculture. Its team of engineers, technicians, and researchers work throughout the entire Cognac production and marketing chain, from vine quality to consumer health and safety, taking into account the technical issues raised by production and négociant firms in the Cognac sector thanks to state-of-the-art analysis laboratories (accredited by the Cofrac French accreditation committee), vineyard experiments, and pilot winemaking and distillation facilities.
