Some partnerships go beyond simply having a logo on a jersey. Since 2024, CODRA, an IT engineering firm based in Massy (France), has been supporting the Rugby Club Massy Essonne with a clear ambition: to forge connections, support the local area and bring people together around shared values. In a video interview, Eric Oddoux, chairman of CODRA, looks back at the company’s history, its local roots and the reasons behind its commitment to RCME.
Founded in 1986, CODRA is now a family-run business with 200 employees, specialising in software development. From its headquarters in Massy, the company develops solutions used in demanding environments: transport, energy, buildings, hospitals, data centres and critical infrastructure. Its motto sums up its journey: supporting innovation to make a difference in everyday life.
The CODRA–RCME partnership: strong local roots
CODRA’s history is closely linked to the Essonne region. Originally based in Courtabœuf, the company moved to Massy in 2016 to support its growth. This decision marked an important milestone: CODRA became a fully-fledged Massy-based company, integrated into the local economy and community life of the area.
The partnership with RCME is a natural extension of this. For Eric Oddoux, joining the club’s network serves several objectives: to develop relationships with local businesses, to encourage participation in sport, to contribute to the training of young people, and to create a unifying dynamic within the company. Through rugby, CODRA rediscovers a language that is familiar to it: that of collective effort, trust and long-term commitment.
Software innovation and business value for infrastructure
CODRA stands out through two complementary areas of activity. Its engineering department supports the development of bespoke software projects, whilst its product department designs recognised solutions such as Panorama Suite, a SCADA platform, and COOX, MES software designed for managing industrial production.
These tools address specific challenges faced by manufacturers and infrastructure operators: reliability, performance, service continuity and scalability. All development and R&D work is carried out in Massy, further strengthening the link between technological innovation and local roots. With annual growth of around 10 per cent and projected turnover of €31 million by 2025, CODRA is continuing to grow whilst retaining its family-run identity.
RCME team spirit: cohesion and local development
The reason rugby resonates so strongly with CODRA is that it embodies the values the company lives by every day. In a technology-focused SME, just as on the pitch, every success is built on teamwork, cohesion, innovation and pushing oneself to new heights. The projects undertaken by CODRA demand rigour, solidarity and responsibility, particularly when they involve systems operating continuously within critical infrastructure.
The partnership with Massy Essonne Rugby Club is already yielding tangible benefits: new business contacts, exchanges with peers, local visibility and a stronger internal dynamic. Above all, however, it conveys a message: a company can actively contribute to its local community by supporting sport, young people and local economic development.
Through this commitment, CODRA reaffirms its desire to be more than just a technology provider. The company is asserting its role as a local player, actively involved in the life of Massy and the Essonne region. Discover this story in pictures in the interview with Eric Oddoux.
