Polymeris Honored at the 2026 Quality Awards and Honors

Polymeris distingué aux Prix et Lauriers Qualité 2026

Polymeris was recently honored at the 2026 Quality Awards and Laurels organized by France Qualité (a French organization representing the community of professionals in quality, continuous improvement, and risk management). This national recognition celebrates the cluster’s commitment to performance and collective excellence. Polymeris is recognized for successfully transforming a complex merger of several entities into a collective project, while supporting a shift in scale at the national and European levels.

Through this award, the cluster’s entire dynamic - collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement—is highlighted, confirming Polymeris’s position as a leading player serving the industry.

This distinction is part of the momentum generated by the EFQM model, which enabled Polymeris to earn a 3-star rating last summer, confirming its commitment to sustainable performance and continuous improvement.

Laurier de la Qualité – Silver Level: Polymeris

Merger, growth, scaling up: Polymeris successfully completes its transformation while strengthening internal cohesion and stakeholder confidence Activity: The only competitiveness cluster dedicated to rubbers, plastics, and composites
Merger of various historical entities in 2021 – 590 members
Headquarters in Oyonnax (01)
Funding: approximately €3 billion (30% public funding and 70% private or project funding) by 2025.

Background and “research question”

Created following the merger of several organizations in 2021, Polymeris is the leading competitiveness cluster for the rubber, plastics, and composites industries. The organization brings together companies, research centers, educational institutions, funding bodies, and institutional stakeholders to accelerate innovation and industrial development in these sectors in France and Europe.

Since this merger, Polymeris has experienced strong growth and has gradually expanded its scope of operations, evolving from a primarily regional focus to an organization capable of operating at the national, European, and international levels.

The 2021 merger opens up new opportunities but also presents several major challenges: harmonizing practices from different structures, building a shared culture, managing a rapidly growing organization, and maintaining close ties with an ecosystem comprising members, public funders, scientific partners, and teams spread across multiple regions.

At the same time, Polymeris must demonstrate its ability to support major industrial transitions—particularly environmental and digital ones—while meeting the growing expectations of its stakeholders.

Steps taken and results achieved

To support this transformation, Polymeris has gradually structured its governance model and strengthened its management tools.

The strategy is developed collectively through regular planning cycles, in conjunction with calls for proposals from the national government and regional authorities. The organization is based on participatory governance, a weekly Executive Committee meeting bringing together management teams, and an annual strategic seminar to adjust directions and priorities.

To maintain close ties with its ecosystem despite its scaling up, Polymeris has developed a highly structured approach to stakeholder relations. Regional meetings, thematic clubs, expert committees, annual surveys, webinars, the MyPolymeris collaborative platform, newsletters, and social media enable ongoing dialogue with members, partners, and funders.

The MyPolymeris platform plays a central role in this dynamic. It facilitates the sharing of industry intelligence, exchanges among members, and the management of collaborative spaces dedicated to European projects, thereby strengthening the organization’s ability to engage a geographically dispersed community.

At the same time, Polymeris has undertaken a major internal restructuring effort. Key processes are being gradually standardized, digital tools are being enhanced, and performance is being managed through eight strategic indicators monitored monthly by the executive committee.

This transformation has been accompanied by a particular focus on the teams. Annual reviews, skills mentors, improved employee benefits, an onboarding guide, and hands-on management practices have helped create a particularly positive work environment. Evaluators notably highlight the sharp decline in turnover between 2023 and 2024, even as the organization continued to grow and transform.

The observed results demonstrate the robustness of the model implemented. Despite challenges related to the merger, the consequences of COVID-19, pressures on raw materials, and rapid changes in industrial markets, Polymeris has maintained good stability in its key performance indicators since 2021. Results are shared transparently with teams and investors, thereby strengthening stakeholder confidence.

The evaluators also highlight Polymeris’ ability to anticipate changes in its operating environment. The gradual integration of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals into its strategy, the development of clubs dedicated to the circular economy, and its involvement in several scientific and industrial networks illustrate this commitment to supporting the sector’s long-term transformation.

Patrick Vuillermoz, CEO, Polymeris: “The strategic alignment of all stakeholders toward clear, shared medium- to long-term objectives made our merger a success and now provides us with a solid foundation to continue our growth.”

The France Qualité Jury: “Mergers rarely fail for technical reasons. They most often fail because they fail to create a common culture and a shared vision. Polymeris’ success lies precisely in its ability to have transformed a merger into a true collective endeavor. It stands as a successful example of organizational transformation, demonstrating that it is possible to scale up while strengthening internal cohesion, the quality of leadership, and stakeholder trust.”