foreign capital
Alpes Maritimes
per year
With a unique geographical position, nestled between the sea and the mountains, dreamy landscapes, a vibrant heritage and a constantly buzzing cultural universe, the Côte d’Azur is a legendary, attractive and desirable location. Above all, it offers a priviledged setting for the growing number of people who choose to come to develop their skills thanks to a stimulating ecosystem on growing and forward-looking markets. Its strategic position, at the heart of Europe, makes it a gateway to the world.
The Côte d'Azur
A territory of large-scale projects
The Côte d’Azur is pursuing its European metropolis ambitions through large-scale development projects which support its specialised fields and consolidate its international appeal. After Sophia Antipolis, the leading European technopole dedicated to information technologies, the Côte d’Azur Eco-Valley at the entrance of Nice, is the first Operation of National Interest (OIN) fully dedicated to developing eco-technologies and Smart Cities. A leading territory in the fields of research and innovation, the Côte d’Azur offers companies exceptional potential thanks to a pool of specialists, excellent research laboratories and professional networks which encourage cross-fertilisation between companies and universities, SMEs and key accounts, public research and R&D centres.
Internationality
The number of Foreign-Owned Companies has continued to rise since the start of the 2000s. The Côte d’Azur plays host to 2,072 foreign-owned companies and employs 36,000 people from 68 different countries. These companies are supported by a favourable geographic area, high quality transport infrastructure and ecosystems organised into clusters. The Côte d’Azur boasts France’s second largest international airport. It provides exceptional connectivity with the rest of the world, with more than 100 direct destinations in 33 countries and daily flights to destinations in Europe, North America, the Middle East and Asia.
A powerful ecosystem at the service of sectors of excellence
- IA - With more than 300 researchers, the Côte d´Azur obtained the 3IA label in 2019. This Interdisciplinary Institute of Artificial Intelligence (3IA) is part with four others in France of the national program for artificial intelligence.
- HealthTech - academic research at the forefront of innovation with 313 companies representing 3.1 billion euros in turnover
- IT - An R&D center which includes an international scientific park with Sophia Antipolis, 1,740 establishments have a turnover of 4.91 billion euros. New Space is the 1st industrial sector in the region with 250 companies and 5.5 billion turnover
- Aromas Nutri-Cosmetics - 8% of global GDP generated by aromatic production is achieved in Grasse representing 730 million euros of turnover
- CleanTech - Nice is the 4th SmartCity in the world with 641 establishments and 1.3 billion euros in turnover
An international pool of talent
- Talents: 1st reason for investment according to international decision-makers
- Among the 3 territories in France labeled 3IA
- French Tech labeled region
- IDEX Label of Excellence for the Côte d´Azur University
- The university: more than 35,000 students, 20% of whom are international
- SophiaTech Campus represents 2,500 students, 800 researchers and 200 doctoral students in electronics, ICT & Mathematics
- 8 technological clusters
A premium offer of sites adapted to the activities
- Attractive prices in corporate real estate and suitable infrastructure
- Flexible nurseries and incubators for the establishment of startups and SMEs
- Nice Côte d'Azur and ECO Vallée, 1st European City of Health, 1st Headquarters of France Silver Eco
- Cannes, 2nd city of congresses in France after Paris
- Grasse, world reference in the perfume, cosmetics, pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries
The advantages for investment and for innovation on the Côte d'Azur
- A tax credit of 30% of R&D expenses up to € 100M for all companies, and 5% beyond
- PAT, aid intended to promote the establishment and development of creative businesses with sustainable jobs and activities
- ARI as part of the development of activity and employment in connection with the local economic environment
- Local mechanisms (Ariane, De Minimis, Soft landing, etc.), subsidies, subsidized loans, deferred loan repayment, tax exemption, etc.
- Funding available through collaborative projects labeled via active competitiveness clusters
An innovative region thanks to its many research centers
per year
km of coastline
golf
