Beginning with startups: There are already more than 8,000 in the Paris Region alone, with more arriving every day. You may have already heard of Station F, the world’s biggest startup campus, but there are hundreds of other incubators and accelerators in the region to help entrepreneurs grow their company. On top of that, France has been working hard to open up and become more business friendly by creating a simplified tech visa program and some of the best R&D tax credits in the OECD (30% of R&D expenditure is tax-deductible). Plus, with over a million companies established in the region and 27 Fortune 500 headquarters, it’s no coincidence that businesses are choosing the Paris Region to find their future clients.

Companies large and small also benefit from the astounding diversity of sectors present in the region, covering everything from cleantech to the film industry. This allows different sectors to innovate and build together, thus achieving more than they could on their own. (If you’re interested in learning how we match startups with larger corporations looking for such innovation and ideas, learn more here about how we help foster such meetings).

If you’re looking to source fresh talent, look no further than the region’s world-class universities, from business schools like HEC and ESSEC (both ranked in the top 5 Management masters according to The Financial Times) to elite engineering schools like Polytechnique. In fact, the Paris Region is known for its education system and cosmopolitan student population, which helps explain why it is also home to the largest research talent pool in Europe.

Compared to other global cities like London and New York, the Paris Region offers another competitive advantage: affordable real estate and the largest stock of office space. The numbers speak for themselves, as evidenced by the chart on the left. And when it comes to the transportation, few places can match the convenience and variety of options of the Paris Region. The Grand Paris Express project will add an additional 68 metro stations to the existing network over the next 10 years, as well as 4 new metro lines. For longer distance travel, there are 3 international airports and one of the most advanced high-speed rail networks in the world. But transportation doesn’t stop at people — the Paris Region is an ideal hub for logistics and shipping, with Europe’s #1 road network and #2 port system to get your goods to market.

All of this is great for business, but let’s not forget about quality of life. 75% of the Paris Region is made up of green space, rivers and lakes, while the city center itself boasts the most gardens and parks of any European capital. An unrivaled number of museums, theaters, cinemas, sport venues and clubs, restaurants and food markets await. International families can rest assured knowing that affordable childcare and international schools with 17 language options are available throughout the region.

Companies looking to do business or invest in France will find the Paris Region to be a welcoming environment. If you’d like to know more, feel free to contact us directly with any questions.