What does GE Transportation do in France?
 

GE Transportation has been doing business in France for about four years. When we started out in 2006, I was the only GE Transportation employee here. We gradually reached the decision to set up the headquarters of one of our businesses – Intelligent Control Systems – in France. We have now actually moved the headquarters from the United States to France, for reasons that I will come to later. A few months ago, we went one step further by deciding to set up a big research and development facility here, and to launch a new program in addition to our existing operations.
 

What made GE Transportation choose France?
 

There are quite a lot of clichés about France, but the reality is rather different. In France, the level of technical expertise is extremely high. You will find engineers who are highly specialized in their field, are passionate about what they do and manage to pour this enthusiasm into their work, whether they are involved in theoretical research or market-oriented applied research. Labor productivity in France is high. Lastly, the political and legal context is favorable to firms like ours.
 

Did GE Transportation receive any government support?
 

Through our research program, we have received various types of aid from the French government, the IFA and other organizations, the main one being the Research Tax Credit. This is a very effective tax incentive, which enables us to make large-scale investments in research and development. In fact, France’s Research Tax Credit scheme is highly competitive and extremely effective.

We have also received job creation grants. We are delighted to be able to create new jobs in France, and we are also very happy to be given financial assistance for this purpose.

All in all, the range of financial support that we have received has helped us set up our business and introduce our program.
 

Is France a good location for R&D operations?
 

France has created an environment that is highly conducive to research and development. It has always had a strong tradition of innovation and invention, and I believe it still does. France is a great industrial nation but, above all, it is a leader in engineering and technological innovation. This is reflected in the study programs offered at French universities and grandes ecoles. A lot of major industrial firms have realized this and have decided to maintain their existing research operations in France or even, like us, to set up new research facilities.
 

What are GE Transportation’s future plans in France?
 

This year, we will set the ball rolling by creating around 50 new jobs in France and opening new offices at La Défense. We are here for the long haul. Once we have completed this first phase and successfully launched our new products, our goal is to consolidate our operations in France for the long term, not only for research and development purposes but also for the distribution of these new technologies in Europe. We have also made France our international headquarters for this business, which is set to develop and grow.