Normandy has five internationally renowned equine research centers as well as, since 2005, a competitiveness cluster called Hippolia, which brings together more than 200 members (industrial and service companies, research and training centers, other organizations, etc). Its mission is to increase the competitiveness of the businesses related to the equine industry, in particular by improving their ability to innovate and work in partnership. The only competitiveness cluster dedicated to the equine sector, Hippolia had in 2019 supported 141 projects since its creation, bringing together 250 partners and 7.5 million euros in investments. It is notably at the origin of Equi-Ressources, the national agency for employment and training in the equine sector, founded in 2007 in partnership with Pôle Emploi, the Regional Council of Basse-Normandie, and the IFCE (French Institute for Horses and Riding). Hippolia also created the only specialized master's in the equine sector - the MESB (Master's in Science and Management of the equine sector) - launched in 2008 in collaboration with AgroSup Dijon, the University of Caen, and the University of Kentucky.