On 21st May 2025, we celebrated an important partnership at our Tallinn offices as part of our ongoing international collaboration efforts as we hosted Valérie Gooris, representing Sophia Antipolis, and Amine Bennani, International Project Manager – risingSUD.
More than an institutional visit, it was an encounter that reaffirmed our vision: to build genuine bridges between Europe’s most vibrant innovation ecosystems. Ekaterina Gaychuk, Head of Marketing, and Ilona Lebedeva, Senior CRM at Wallester, received the delegation, who led discussions about our current relationship and future opportunities. Also on the agenda was Wallester’s plans to expand its operations in the south of France, the growth of our French team, and our planned relocation to new, larger offices this summer.
An Ecosystem Where Science and Technology Thrive
Located in the French Riviera region, Sophia Antipolis is dedicated to science and is considered much more than a technology park: it is a vibrant hub where research and entrepreneurship coexist daily. With an area of 2,400 hectares, it houses universities, research centres and offices. Each year, 6,000 students enrol to study on the campus, while 43,000 people are employed by a variety of businesses, including 4,500 scientists.
From Valbonne to the Future: A Growing Alliance
The meeting serves to reinforce the already solid bond we have built with the community since we opened our offices there in 2023. From there, our relationship has scaled significantly, culminating in our designation as Platinum Partner of the Sophia Antipolis Foundation. This achievement positions us amongst the main donors supporting the centre.
As a public service entity, the Sophia Antipolis Foundation is dedicated to advancing scientific and technological innovation for the benefit of society and the environment. It plays a key role in raising the international profile of the Sophia Antipolis technology park, engaging with global scientific, economic, and institutional communities. By fostering forward-looking initiatives, the foundation promotes the park’s culture of innovation and scientific excellence.
The foundation’s overarching mission is to position Sophia Antipolis as a global reference point through the high calibre and impact of the initiatives it supports. Its areas of focus include artificial intelligence (3IA), biotechnology and biocontrol, healthcare, sustainable transportation, and smart city development.
The day concluded with a cocktail reception at the French Residence in Tallinn, hosted by Mr Emmanuel Mignon, His Excellency the French Ambassador to Estonia. This event brought together representatives from RisingSUD, Sophia Antipolis, and key players from the Estonian tech scene.
The evening offered insightful perspectives on how Estonian companies can expand into France and beyond.
Southern France as the Next Technology Destination
The meeting also served as a prelude to the participation of Valérie Gooris and Wallester’s Andrei Zubovits at Latitude59, Estonia’s premier technology event. There, they will engage with Estonian startups, investors, and partners, with Valérie highlighting the tremendous potential of establishing oneself in the innovative landscape of Valbonne and beyond, a space where research, science and entrepreneurship converge. For Wallester, this collaboration represents a unique opportunity to integrate further into the financial infrastructure of Southern Europe. In this manner, we seek to attract international talent and actively contribute to the development of new products and technologies within the scientific environment offered by the innovation park.
