Title Corporate

Located in Southeast France, bordered by the Mediterranean and the Alps, Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur is the sunniest and the only region in France where two completely different but complementary environments are situated side by side: the French Alps mountain region, a link to continental Europe, and the Mediterranean region known for the free circulation of people, ideas and technical expertise. The region’s pleasant environment makes it one of the word’s leading tourist destinations (35 million tourists visit the region every year). It offers international connections from three international airports (Marseille, Nice and Toulon), and quality transport networks. The region hosts 35 world-class international conferences and events each year (the most famous being the Cannes Film Festival).

This attractiveness is the reason for the significant levels of Europe’s intellectual and technology resources that are concentrated in the region. It results in high levels of economic activity (the PACA region is ranked 19th among European regions for GDP), in sectors like telecommunications, microelectronics, life sciences, aerospace, maritime technology, multimedia, agro-food, chemicals and logistics.

Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur is France’s 3rd leading economic region and the leader (not including Paris) for new companies.

The region is dynamic and technologically advanced, with 8 clusters (soon to be 10), two of which are international: the “Secure Communications Solutions” cluster specialized in microelectronics, telecommunications, software and multimedia, and the “Mer” maritime cluster specialized in security and sustainable maritime development, in collaboration with the Brittany region.

Six other national clusters have been designated in the PACA region in perfumes-aromas-flavors, fruits and vegetables, optics-photonics, emerging and orphan illnesses, energy, and regional risk management.

To create jobs in the region, the PACA Regional Council supports the creation of regional innovation and economic development clusters (P.R.I.D.E.S) alongside national clusters to strengthen regional company networks and concentrate regional efforts.

Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur is also the chosen location for ITER, an experimental nuclear reactor to be situated in Cadarache. This decision shows the region’s potential for innovation and economic development.

Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region accounts for approximately 1,100 foreign companies representing 40,000 jobs. In 2006, PACA ranked 3rd for inward FDI, after Ile-de-France and Rhône-Alpes, with the number of jobs created having doubled since 2005.

PACA achieved particularly impressive results for R&D centers(Amadeus, Gemalto, etc.) and aerospace (Eurocopter, the world leader in helicopter construction, is based in Marignane and Thales Alenia, the world’s leading satellite construction company, is based in Cannes).